Green Gables
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Studio Tate completely renovated and restored this heritage Tudor-style beach house in Mount Martha. With future plans for an additional, contemporary residence on the same block, we wanted to reinforce the iconic identity of this hilltop historic home and its stunning location. While staying respectful to the heritage architecture, we added a sense of casual luxury suitable to the beach-side location. An overall concept of coastal textures was used to shape the look and feel of this home, with white, nude and grey tones referencing bleached coral and sand, while crisp finishes and soft furnishings echo the brisk Victorian coastal climate. Entertaining was important to our clients and this significantly influenced the design. Using robust and durable materials was also important as the house will become guest accommodation once the new residence is completed.
Entering the house, a timber-lined domed ceiling above the stair void highlights the elegant volumes of this residence. Studio Tate reconfigured this stair to open up to the front door, enhancing the dramatic proportions of the entry. Timber treads were added to the steps while contemporary metal balustrades reference the diagonal geometries decorating the house’s front windows. Modifications to the floorplan including an enlarged ground floor have made significant improvements to the overall layout and functionality, including an expanded kitchen and dining area. Strategically placed joinery also directs circulation and demarcates the space while providing opportunities for display.
Much of the furnishings have been custom-designed, including a banquette window seat with drawers fronted with metal mesh. Materials were selected to evoke a sense of warmth and discreet elegance, from grey timber flooring (terrazzo on the bathroom floors), tan leather chairs and white-washed timber veneer for joinery, with soft oak in the bathroom. Touches of mint green are concealed throughout the space –drawer and cupboard linings – a tribute to the clients’ favourite colour. Special attention was paid to retaining heritage details such as window architraves, while inserting complementary modern elements like the lining boards to make the space more comfortable to live in. We collaborated with lighting designers Glowing Structures to fully integrate the lighting with the interior architecture, including special touches such as feature lighting in the open shelving unit in entry.
Photography by Sharyn Cairns
