Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Look Behind the Bold Facade of This Inner-City Home
Ever wondered what lies behind the modern facades of new builds? We take a look inside this Perth home
Luke and Karlee Aitken are a young couple who wanted to build a new home that made use of every centimetre of their small lot in Perth, WA. Their home is designed to complement their urban lifestyle in Mount Lawley, an inner-city suburb known for its buzzing restaurants and bars. With the plans completed, the Aitkens approached Limitless Building to construct their house, selecting the materials and finishing specifications. “They wanted a raw, dark, industrial oasis with its roots firmly grounded in the vibrant urban culture of its surrounds,” says Katherine Barnes, project coordinator at Limitless Building.
Ultimately, however, the small lot size dictated the form of the building, with the living areas on the ground floor, opening to the backyard, and four bedrooms upstairs.
The exterior materials bring the client’s vision for a “raw, dark, industrial oasis” to life, with black Weathertex cladding juxtaposed against white Sto render, creating a bold contrast.
The exterior materials bring the client’s vision for a “raw, dark, industrial oasis” to life, with black Weathertex cladding juxtaposed against white Sto render, creating a bold contrast.
The entrance to the house opens to the main living and entertaining areas of the home.
Smart wiring links living spaces to a network hub, ensuring the home is future-proof and technology-ready. “An intercom system with gate automation at both the street and the lane provide security and the ability to offer guests access from the comfort of their living area,” says Barnes.
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Smart wiring links living spaces to a network hub, ensuring the home is future-proof and technology-ready. “An intercom system with gate automation at both the street and the lane provide security and the ability to offer guests access from the comfort of their living area,” says Barnes.
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Behind the living zone is the dining area, kitchen and home office.
Like the exterior of the house, the kitchen is bold, with black joinery providing a dark backdrop, and granite benchtops and splashbacks offering a lighter, textured contrast.
“The bespoke custom cabinetry draws your attention, and the benchtops and splashbacks soften these bold tones,” says Barnes.
“The bespoke custom cabinetry draws your attention, and the benchtops and splashbacks soften these bold tones,” says Barnes.
Storage is neatly concealed within the cabinetry as is the black refrigerator.
Honed Bianco Ghiaccio benchtop and splashback: Granite Warehouse; Black Woodmatt joinery: Polytec
Honed Bianco Ghiaccio benchtop and splashback: Granite Warehouse; Black Woodmatt joinery: Polytec
A cavity sliding door from the kitchen opens to the laundry and the powder room passageway for extra privacy. These rooms also have cavity sliding doors.
The laundry is in keeping with the aesthetic of the house, with the same stone benchtops used in the laundry, powder room and other wet areas, and a mosaic tiled splashback behind.
Salvador Grey benchtop: Zuccari
Salvador Grey benchtop: Zuccari
The home office is tucked neatly into the corner of the dining area. A narrow window to the side allows natural light into the space and a connection to the backyard. The custom built-in storage is designed to blend seamlessly with the white walls, keeping the area looking minimalist and clutter-free.
The outdoor area is nestled along the north side of the house to take advantage of the sun. Large sliding glass doors open the living and dining area to the outdoors where there is an alfresco area and pool.
The client commissioned Australian illustrator Matthew Yong to paint a mural on the wall bordering the pool and outdoor space.
“They wanted to inject a refined playfulness. It’s the perfect ode to the street-art culture the laneways of Mount Lawley are so famous for,” says Barnes.
Browse more beautifully designed pools for inspiration
Browse more beautifully designed pools for inspiration
Polished concrete floors throughout the ground floor of the home are in line with the client’s desire for a modern industrial aesthetic, while providing a neutral backdrop for furnishings and artwork. The concrete blends the downstairs living spaces together, while engineered timber flooring flows up the staircase and into the sitting room and bedrooms.
Upstairs, four bedrooms encircle a shared sitting space that offers a private area for the couple to unwind. “Natural light pours into every bedroom upstairs, creating a calm space in contrast to the hustle of inner-city living outside,” says Barnes.
The main bedroom enjoys a view over the graffiti-covered laneways, drawing a sense of the vibrant neighbourhood inside. The custom bedhead, made with Cedar West Squareline cladding (the couple chose a 17-millimetre profile with black shadowline), is a feature designed to complement the black timber throughout the interior and exterior of the home.
The main ensuite has a dark and moody palette with a grey stone benchtop – the same stone found in the laundry and powder room downstairs – and grey porcelain tiles on the floor and walls. It Includes a double shower and laundry shute.
Rectified porcelain floor and wall tiles: Tiles Expo; Salvador Grey benchtop: Zuccari; Black Woodmatt joinery with black finger rails: Polytec
Your turn
What are your favourite design elements in this home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below. And if you enjoyed reading this story, like it, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Want to see another great Australian home? Check out this Houzz Tour: A Cottage Extended Up and Out in an Unusual Fashion
Your turn
What are your favourite design elements in this home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below. And if you enjoyed reading this story, like it, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Want to see another great Australian home? Check out this Houzz Tour: A Cottage Extended Up and Out in an Unusual Fashion
Who lives here: Luke and Karlee Aitken and their dog, Oska
Location: Perth, WA
Size: 224 square metres (256 square metres including the access way), with four bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms
Builder: Limitless Building
The house is located in a graffiti-covered laneway in the trendy heart of Mount Lawley. The small site presented a challenge for the design team as the Aitkens wanted to maximise interior space, while allowing for a backyard and pool.
Limited access to the site also proved challenging. “Loading materials on-site via a narrow laneway required careful coordination and a well thought-out strategy,” says Barnes.