Hamptons style: Expert advice from a real-life renovation

East Coast elegance goes casual on the Mornington Peninsula

cheat sheet

Style of home A four-bedroom Hamptons-inspired weatherboard house on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula. This project was 18 months from design to completion, including the six-month construction phase.

With the sea and sand little more than a stroll away, this new yet established-looking home on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula offers a welcome leave pass from the frenetic pace of everyday life. Its coastal vibe is a constant reminder of the lifestyle on offer. For owners Jade and Chris, who built the house for their young family through their construction company, Headline Builders, the home was always intended to be as relaxed as it is stylish. Dappled with sunlight and anchored by vast expanses of white, it’s Hamptons in spirit but with a contemporary Australiancoastal treatment. “We’ve always loved white weatherboard houses, and our brief was bright spaces with cathedral ceilings and the extensive use of natural stone – with a colour scheme that would stand the test of time,” says Jade.

The home’s airy layout and design came courtesy of local company The Little Brick Studio, while Kate Walker Design (KWD), based in Mount Martha, took charge of the interiors, imbuing the residence with a light and natural palette. Texture plays a crucial role, with occasional bursts of playful colour coming to the fore. “We were very excited about this project, because the aesthetic of the home really allowed us to explore some of our favourite materials,” explains KWD founder and

director Kate Walker. “It came naturally to us, and we were able to dive deep into the design style with ease.”

DREAM IT

As the owner-builders, Jade and Chris relished the opportunity to start with a clean slate in an area renowned for its village atmosphere, waterfront eateries and glorious beaches. Most of all, the parents to Xavier, 4, Goldie, 2, and now Paris, 8 months, wanted to build a carefree family home that reflected their love of all things light and organically beautiful.

“We love this part of the Mornington Peninsula – it’s right near our favourite beach, where we’ve spent many summers, and there are great shops and cafes nearby,” says Jade.

When the family are at home, there are plenty of design features to enhance their lives. Near the entrance, a sweeping staircase makes a strong sculptural statement as it twists around a ground-floor table and centrepiece, while stacked sliding glazed doors at the rear open to the covered deck and bring the outdoors in. At the heart of the home, the ‘rock-star’ marble kitchen with built-in workspace and charging nook merges classic Hamtpons elements with family-friendly function.

In addition, there’s a mudroom off the garage, which enters straight into the laundry. “It was designed with this active family in mind,” says Kate, who is thrilled with the result.

entry Once inside, visitors are greeted by a grand staircase and an oak-veneer Classique table from Big Chair. Cabinetry, two-pack polyurethane in Dulux Snowy Mountains Quarter. Sustainably harvested coral, Coastal Living. The approach to the home (opposite) takes in the weatherboard-style BGC Nuline Plus cladding, painted Dulux Grey Pebble Quarter.

exterior The pool area wraps around the living space and vast limestone fireplace with Tuscan Rubble finish from Limestone Australia. Delray day bed, Coastal Living.

Jade and Chris’s wishlist + A sense of space “This was achieved through the cathedral ceilings and large open-plan zones,” says Jade. + The celebration of daylight “This house oozes natural light,” says designer Kate. “It streams in through the expansive floor-to-ceiling windows downstairs and the plantation shutters upstairs.” + A strong link with the outdoors “For us, the outside is as important as the inside,” says Jade. “The turquoise pool brings such a resort vibe.” living & dining areas Engineered European oak flooring graces the main spaces. Custom sofas and armchairs by Coastal Styling are paired with Cesta rattan dining chairs and a Norfolk teak dining table, both from Satara. A Rinnai gas fireplace keeps the space warm.

kitchen Five-star finishes abound, with Super White Dolomite stone through KWD, weathered-oak doors from Farmers, and Armac Martin ‘Leebank’ handles from The English Tapware Company. Wicker pendant lights, Coastal Living.