DESIGN IT.
Guiding much of the design and building process was a deep appreciation for materials. A stone wall now stretches up from the basement to the third storey as the visual spine of the home. On the ground floor, the stone sweeps into a curvaceous hall, hugging a circular courtyard showcased by disappearing glass doors. The curve is echoed outside with aged vertical timber sleepers reclaimed from Melbourne’s iconic St Kilda pier.
“The rest of the materials in the house contrast with those rustic and character-filled elements,” says Mikayla. She’s worked hard to maintain balance, hanging timber plinths on walls of feathered concrete and throwing touches of timber around the kitchen for good measure. Cut-outs and storage work to personalise and add warmth but also link the areas: in the formal living room, the wall stops short to allow a bookshelf to wrap all the way into the parallel study; a complete cut-out in the casual living room is shared with Steph’s study behind; and storage plinths marry the living and dining areas. A subtle repetition of circles, from an oversized ottoman to pendant lights and hooks also unite the home. “Design elements are softened throughout with these shapes,” says Mikayla.