STUDIOMINT Beaumaris Residence

Whilst located on a sleepy street, they also wanted to make sure that their dwelling reflected their outgoing and worldly personalities, catering for entertaining their family and friends. The challenge was that we were engaged for the project when the frame was already up, and lock up stage was weeks away. Having a framework already in place, we were impressed by the spatial arrangement, giving us freedom of play with the space.

We were fortunate to spend lots of hours getting to know our clients. They shared their hospitality with us, and we took on-board the stories they told of their life adventures. Together we discussed construction methods, fine details and applications of surfaces to ensure practical and manageable solutions. Being restricted by an envelop is not uncommon to interior designers, so with a few internal tweaks that didn't affect the structure, we were able to navigate a design that met the vision and created a space that was striking, yet homely.

Our final design was able to capture the St. Kilda vibe the clients were looking for while also maximising the usability of space. The ground floor open kitchen and living room has floor to ceiling windows on one side, with an angled ceiling with strong timber tones on the other that allow natural light to flood into the room while also creating the illusion of more space. The living room has access to the outside barbecue and garden patio - perfect for sunny days with family and friends.

There were few in this project; A breath-taking minimalist staircase is beautifully accentuated by a timber clad feature wall. The entry void and volumes of natural light shining through the glazed facade sets the tone for the design of the house. The kitchen with its continuous bench leading into the butler's pantry, and each utility carefully rationalised, is not only incredibly practical but is unique in design. Worthy of a mention is the alfresco and the pool area. Though compact in size, its striking graffiti artwork provided a visual relief, reminiscent of the urban scape of their beloved St Kilda.