THE BIGGER PICTURE

Transformed from a small cottage into a home fit for a family of four, this contemporary Sydney house is ready for the future

Pamela and John Chauvel had lived in their little cottage, just a five-minute walk from Sydney’s Coogee Beach, for 24 years before it became apparent a change was needed. They loved the house, but after the birth of their second child, the archaeologist and financial advisor realised that they urgently needed more space. There was never talk of moving, though – for this couple, the solutions existed exactly where they were.

‘It’s just such a beautiful spot, so we kept changing our house rather than changing the location,’ explains Pamela. Initially, they added an extra storey to the cottage, but as the children grew into teenagers it became clear that a more revolutionary change was needed. They approached local architect Mary Ellen Hudson to draw up a plan to make the very most of the property’s narrow seven- by 35-metre footprint.

‘One of the main driving forces was John’s wish to get the car off the road,’ recalls Pamela, laughing. ‘He would say, “we just need a garage, something simple and a larger living space with some private areas.”’ What they ended up with is a contemporary home split across four levels with its own lap pool and pond.

Mary’s vision included a sculptural funnel that tapers from the roof towards the ground-floor living areas. It’s designed to draw light into the centre of the house, but also acts as a dramatic focal point, with its timber-strip cladding. Its architectural lines are mirrored by Pamela and John’s furniture choices. Mainly bought during the couple’s stay in America a few years ago, they include a classic ‘Cherner’ chair by designer and architect Norman Cherner.

The key decorative feature in this home is the walls themselves – a mix of sandstone, concrete and wood. They lend the interior its cocoon-like feel, but they were selected mainly due to their practical and sustainable qualities. The sandstone on the basement level was salvaged from the foundations of the original house, while concrete on the ground floor acts as a natural insulator, holding heat in the winter and keeping things cool during the summer months. There is no need for air conditioning here – louvred wooden screens on the upper levels allow sea breezes to circulate.

‘We wanted something solid that would transcend time and wear well,’ explains John. He and Pamela have now been in their newly expanded home for a few years and, for them, it only gets better. ‘The concrete gets chipped; the bench becomes stained, and it all looks as if it was part of the design.’ meharchitects.format.com

‘IT’S JUST SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SPOT, SO WE KEPT CHANGING OUR HOUSE RATHER THAN CHANGING THE LOCATION’

THE KEY DECORATIVE FEATURE IS THE WALLS THEMSELVES – THEY LEND THE INTERIOR ITS COCOONLIKE FEEL

Exterior Extended and modernised over a number of years, the owners were keen to renovate rather than move away from this location near the beach Hallway One in a series of photographs by Robert Fielding (a contemporary indigenous Australian artist) is seen here on the wall, which is clad in strips of stained cedar. A ‘Cherner’ chair by American designer Norman Cherner – available at Twentytwentyone – is placed at the bottom of the concrete staircase ➤

Dining area ‘Beat’ pendant lights by Tom Dixon hang above a solid walnut dining table by MCM House in Sydney. The chairs are from the same shop, reupholstered in leather by master sadler Neale Begg. A work by Australian painter Giles Hohnen hangs on the wall

Above Two comfy ‘Byron’ beanbag chairs from Sydney shop Eco Outdoor are placed by the sliding glass doors just off the dining area, with a view of the garden and pool Kitchen Cabinetry crafted from walnut veneer by Sydney-based Duwa Joinery contrasts with the architectural quality of the poured-concrete floor, ceiling and sculptural island. For similar wooden bar stools try Cox & Cox

Living room A large painting by New York-based artist Mark Zimmerman hangs above this suede sofa – The Sofa & Chair Company offers similar modular designs. Two ‘Model 711’ armchairs designed by Fredrik A Kayser for Vatne Møbler in the 1960s, bought at De Mobler, and a pair of ‘Flo’ side tables by Patricia Urquiola for Driade complete this intimate space, which is tied together by a rug from Bloomingdale’s. In the corner, a trio of ‘Cigar Bubble’ pendant lights by George Nelson for Herman Miller are suspended above a vintage sideboard

Study Situated in the hallway leading to the kitchen and dining area, a bespoke built-in desk is an ideal home office, with the architectural lightwell keeping things bright. The rug was bought on a trip to Fez, Morocco. For a similar office chair, try the ‘Hailey’ by Made ➤

Opposite In the hallway leading to a bedroom upstairs, a patchwork runner from The Rug Experts in Sydney brings pattern to the concrete floor. For a similar plinth, try the ‘Marble Cubic’ by Norm Architects for Menu Bathroom A bespoke concrete sink and tap from Candana are paired with a bulb pendant light from Hub Furniture in this compact but sleek space

Bedroom Tranquil in all-white, with its diagonal sliding door and curved wall, this bedroom’s main focus is the bespoke shelving and a wooden bench with built-in storage. The pendant light, matching the one in the bathroom, was also purchased from Australian store Hub Furniture. A rug from Sydney-based The Rug Experts introduces warmth and colour Garden Perfect for entertaining, this shady, landscaped space features a lap pool and an outdoor cooking area See Stockists page for details