Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Natural Focus for an Entertainer's Dream Beach House
Grand in scale yet tranquil in character, this contemporary beach house pays homage to its natural environment and coastal landscape
Nestled against a backdrop of stunning sand dunes, coastal bush and far-reaching ocean views, this beach house was primarily designed to entertain a large number of guests for parties and extended stays. The owners, a semi-retired couple, needed a weekend retreat where they could accommodate their large family, plus an extensive number of corporate guests, so they approached Tony Hobba Architects to create the ultimate ocean residence.
Once the main build was complete, the challenge of creating calm and inviting interior spaces on such a grand scale fell into the hands of FMD Architects, who inherited the concept design prepared by Tony Hobba Architects and were engaged to develop the interior project. “From the outset, my project team and I viewed each space as an interior landscape that merged with the surrounding external landscape,” explains Fiona Dunin of FMD Architects.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A semi-retired couple
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Size: 6 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms/powder rooms
Once the main build was complete, the challenge of creating calm and inviting interior spaces on such a grand scale fell into the hands of FMD Architects, who inherited the concept design prepared by Tony Hobba Architects and were engaged to develop the interior project. “From the outset, my project team and I viewed each space as an interior landscape that merged with the surrounding external landscape,” explains Fiona Dunin of FMD Architects.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A semi-retired couple
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Size: 6 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms/powder rooms
In the grand entrance, a colossal wall of locally sourced stone creates a rustic backdrop to the contemporary staircase, while the muted glass pendant light reflects the sun-kissed landscape outside. To accentuate the use of natural materials, the designers chose to display a pared-back untreated wooden bench against the roughness of the stone wall, creating an interesting juxtaposition of textures.
The main living space offers breathtaking ocean views, while laid-back module seating slows the pace down and keeps the interior feeling restful against the intense ocean hues.
“The entertaining spaces need to be flexible and able to cater for two people to 50 at any one time,” says Dunin. “Even though the house is on a grand scale, the rooms feel relaxed yet remain sophisticated, while modular furniture that can be repositioned helps to create the flexibility the owners required.”
A sophisticated entertainment system is neatly disguised behind a timber wall, while an array of comfy seating options allow guests to take in the striking view and a movie simultaneously.
“The balanced selection of imported and local furniture, lighting and materials celebrates the quality of local design within a global design environment,” says Dunin.
“The balanced selection of imported and local furniture, lighting and materials celebrates the quality of local design within a global design environment,” says Dunin.
A contemporary yet practical combination of timber and stone creates a hard-working kitchen that can withstand plenty of action. With so many guests passing through this residence, every surface had to be user-friendly and hardwearing.
Bespoke storage cupboards built around the kitchen peninsular unit display a beautiful natural grain that is tactile and inviting. Large expanses of benchtop separate the cooking zone from the seating area and provide plenty of space for a drinks station or nibble platters when it’s time to entertain.
A clustered pendant light mirrors the glass lighting in the hallway, and picks up on the earthy colours of the flora outside the window.
Beautiful craftsmanship is demonstrated in the open shelves that create a backdrop to simple, classic furniture for a timeless look that won’t date.
All the rooms, including the bedrooms, have been individually designed to reflect the differing vistas seen from their windows. “The room’s proximity to the neighbouring beach determined the colour scheme,” explains Dunin. “For example, the closer to the dunes, the lighter the room colour, while those orientated to the coastal bush adopted deeper, richer tones. However, while each space is considered individually, the overall design of the house is consistent in palette and details.”
Lightweight curtains in sandy tones allow plenty of light in without compromising on privacy, and crisp linen in tranquil colours evokes a sense of serenity.
Paint and tile colours were chosen to reflect the deep reds, oranges and earthy tones found in the local stone and flora. An appealing wall rack in this bathroom offers a handy spot for towels, while the wooden elements in the room help to warm up the cool tiles.
A peekaboo window creates the ultimate bathing experience in this indulgent tub, while a carved stone basin brings the attention back down to earth with its streamlined, edgy design.
Here, robust wooden textures are teamed with delicate mosaics in cool stone colours, mimicking the natural palette that exists outside.
In this slick all-white bathroom, trendy wall tiles give it a distinctive contemporary character that sets it apart from the other bathrooms. However, it’s still tied in with the rest of the house through the use of wooden details.
Throughout the house, but particularly in the social and relaxed entertaining spaces, the designers have incorporated the owner’s personal collections in the decor for a homey touch. “Personal objects and mementos have been carefully curated and coordinated into the spaces, creating unique interiors tailored to the owners’ lifestyle,” says Dunin.
Pared-down bench seating creates a relaxing ambience in the games room, where the owners enjoy entertaining.
The huge indoor pool is a luxurious addition to the serene interiors, and is perfect for laps.
A spectacular view is experienced from the terrace, ensuring this dream abode is nothing short of mesmerising inside and out.
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TELL US
Now you’ve taken the tour, let us know your thoughts on this beach house in the Comments below.
“From inside to out, our design concept focussed on using calming, natural materials and wholesome earthy colours that draw from the local environment and counterbalance the intense blue ocean hues,” says Dunin. “The interiors had to defer the striking landscape and subtly merge with it to create a seamless relationship with the interior built form and nature.”