The move from a small home on Sydney's Lower North Shore to a rambling farmhouse on acreage (where their daughter wanted to learn to horse ride) on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula was a huge lifestyle shift for the owners of this property. Kate Walker of design studio KWD, whose practice is also based on the coast, says their own location was an advantage.
"They leaned on us a lot to ascertain what living on the Mornington Peninsula would be like and used our expertise to interpret their needs and guide them on what would work well for their family," says Kate.
The house was solid so the roof pitch and staircase could remain, leaving Kate to focus on a full interior refit and space planning. Avoiding any structural works also meant skipping any lengthy delays for council permits, enabling a quick and smooth renovation process.
The approach was to "amplify the positive features, focus on the integration within the space and to maximise the views", says Kate. "This created a sense of open yet connected family living and allowed the home to breathe and feel somewhat larger than the original design."
The concept was for a modern farmhouse aesthetic that paid "homage to the original fabric and essence of the home while making it feel fresh and new", says Kate.
"The architectural detailing, exterior paint colour and outdoor landscaping gives it a sense of newness, as do the clean lines of the custom joinery in the kitchen, walk-in wardrobe, laundry and bathrooms. The timber and tile flooring throughout brings a touch of nostalgia but we also added playful elements throughout the home to delight and surprise - and give it a slightly contemporary edge. The staircase, an original feature, keeps the history of the home intact and links the old with the new."
Kate says that rather than adopting a timber, black and white palette typically associated with the modern farmhouse look, she chose variations of blues that are prevalent throughout the house in the bedrooms, kitchen, laundry, tiles and paintwork.
"We didn't want the home to feel too coastal or too rustic, so we opted for charcoal and lots of different blue tones. The blue adds a happy spin to the otherwise monochromatic interior."
Having moved to Victoria from Sydney meant that the homeowners would be hosting interstate family and friends, so they wanted to ensure a comfortable stay for visitors. "We wanted to facilitate a way for the home to expand when required," says Kate.
This was achieved with replanning, so that each of the dedicated guestrooms now have their own ensuites rather than just a powder room. The result is a home that's cosy and intimate for the family day to day as well as offering a warm welcome to guests.
The owners wanted an interiors scheme that was appropriate for their new lifestyle on the Mornington Peninsula and better suitable for receiving regular guests.
There were no real challenges with this project, it was a smooth collaboration between owners, architect, builder, designer and landscape architect.
To amplify the positive features of the home with a full interior refit. We also made changes to the floor plan so that the house would be better suited for hosting guests.
How the house feels based on the design. It's large enough for family and friends, yet still cosy, intimate and comfortable.
Approximately 18 months.
Interior designer Kate Walker, KWD; katewalkerdesign.com.au
Architect Steve Hofer, WKH Architects; (03) 5975 1328
Builder Montique Construction; montiqueconstruction.com
Joiner DMA Kitchens; dmakitchens.com.au
Landscape architect Plume; plumestudio.com.au