"As professionals in the business of style, Annette (a film producer) and Michael (an advertising creative director) naturally became closely involved in setting the right mood, particularly for the interiors. They could have chosen any look and pulled it together beautifully, but would it have been appropriate? As Peter Willett interpreted: 'This place was about a lifestyle by the sea, about a feeling of relaxation and comfort and an airy, spacious atmosphere."

Vogue Living November, 1995

The clients were very careful about maintaining the nostalgic identity of their house, a simple timber beach home, but wanted to open-up the living rooms and replace the existing picture box windows.

The design essentially became a project of rejuvenation and repair- patching the weatherboards, replacing the fibre cement internal walls with wide boards and removing the low ceiling to reveal triangular roof trusses. The existing constricted living spaces were opened up; large expansive decks sweep across the seaward facade with bi-fold doors installed all the way along. The entire house now opens up to the ocean perspective, and suddenly there is a direct and arresting relationship to the outdoors.

The clients have responded to the theme by collecting second-hand classic 20th century furniture and pieces. Marine nostalgia takes the form of a collection of old model racing yachts carefully arranged around the home. Other details such as the horizontally suspended wooden ladder used as a utensil rack add to the atmosphere.

Sunlight beams and bounces off the internal surfaces, painted in flat and waxed white paints. The existing floorboards, walls and all the new elements, such as the customised bookshelves and cabinets have been painted white to give cohesion to the introduced elements with the old.

The result, a stylish and relaxed home, filled with an airy and spacious beachside mood.

Click these thumbnails for a larger view

Photos by Roger Johnstone