Some things are worth waiting for, and the opportunity to build your dream home is one of them. After their 2007 purchase of a waterside property, the homeowners spent years making plans and gathering ideas for how they’d like their ideal house to look.
Having formed a clear picture of what they wanted, the couple called on an architect and an interior designer to execute their plan. “We were after a contemporary home that took maximum advantage of the water views and followed the shape of the wedge-shaped block,” says the owner. “We sat with our architect and, taking into account ideas we’d collected over many years, he drew up three concept sketches.”
Everyone agreed that the best way forward was to demolish the existing structure and start from scratch.
Home profile
The Property: A contemporary three-storey new-build designed to maximise the extensive water views
Playing with light and dark
Today, passersby have little clue as to what lies beyond the battened gate. From the street entrance, a long path leads to the front door and the home’s uppermost level, which is accessed by stepping stones positioned over a pond.
The floor plan spreads across three levels, spilling down to a boat shed at the water’s edge. “We call the top floor ‘the apartment’ because it’s completely self-contained,” says the owner. “It has a large bedroom and a laundry incorporated into the bathroom.”
There are four additional bedrooms on the ground floor, including the main. The interiors are sleek and practical, and there is an interplay between light and dark. Black has been expertly applied throughout – it ebbs and flows in different rooms, dominating in the kitchen while punctuating the bathrooms and bedrooms via their fixtures and fittings.
In the kitchen, the black imbues the space with a sophisticated feel. The black forest granite island has been a revelation for the owners, who were set on Calacatta marble. “We fell in love with the granite as soon as we saw it,” says the owner. “It has a leather finish and is easy to look after.”
Ultimately, the island bench set the tone for the whole space. “The cantilevered oak bench was chosen to complement the granite. We’d seen our designer’s own kitchen, and she had used the same black finish for the cupboard doors,” says the owner.
area for extra guests if needed.”
Creating drama
The black theme continues in the ensuite, with a beautiful stone bath. “We wanted to create some ‘wow factor’, so we went for a stone bath with a large ceramic tile behind it. Our interior designer suggested the mirror to reflect the water view.”
Each bathroom is generously sized, with large windows to let in the view and natural light. Having travelled extensively, the owners wanted the bathing zones to be like those found in some of their favourite hotels – luxurious and spacious but practical.
The surplus of natural light is another reason black could be liberally used throughout the home. “There’s so much light that pours in via the doors and down through the void that we could go for a dark colour,” says the owner. “There are concealed blackout blinds for warmth in winter and shading in summer, and we have black linen curtains to soften the space.”
Again, the marriage of beautiful design with practicality ruled when it came to selecting finishes and furniture. Granite flooring was chosen for its durability, while leather sofas from King and Coco Republic were picked for their ease of maintenance.
The great outdoors
As with the rest of the house, a connection to the landscape informed the configuration of the living space. “We wanted to be able to take full advantage of the view and outdoor space,” says the owner. “We get spectacular sunsets that reflect off the water.”
The pair are keen entertainers, and the lower-ground floor is ideal for this, with glass doors opening onto an alfresco dining area and the pool. “The doors on either side of the living room disappear into the wall to make for a magnificent indoor-outdoor space. A projector and screen drop down from the roof, too.”
Keeping it natural
The alfresco area is where the potential of sustainable materials is truly seen. “We didn’t want our home to look like every other one,” says the owner. “We wanted different and exciting materials.”
Engineered bamboo, which is lightweight but strong, has been used for the batten ceiling and joinery. It frames the space perfectly, softening the transition from inside to out. For the homeowners, sitting outside on a clear, warm evening is an ample reward for their effort. “We head outside to take in the view and watch the passing boats,” says the owner.
“On a calm night, the lights from distant trains passing over the bridge look like a barcode moving across the water. It’s beautiful.”
