EM&C intertwined various concepts throughout this project, first taking inspiration from the location of Lobster Bay itself and drawing on the connection with nature, which inspired the colour palette of soft greens and duck egg blue shades, and material selections such as the William Morris-inspired wallcoverings and timber cabinetry.  The spatial planning of the home was inspired by the idea of building blocks, to create a space for the family to grow and play, and to ensure we could maximise natural daylight, usable space and storage for the couple, their daughter, cats, alongside their hobbies and work.

With backgrounds in building and teaching, the family appreciated well-crafted and thoughtful details which were translated through custom made cabinetry throughout the home. Working with a local cabinetry maker, all pieces within the home were customised. Aside from the practical aspect as storage solutions, these custom cabinetry pieces also blurred the lines between the interior and exterior environments. The use of the timber brings a gentle warmth and is softened with colour selections that reflect the seaside bay and mountains surrounding the home.

One of the more challenging aspects of the project stemmed from the home being located in a traditional seaside village. These village houses are typically walk-ups with very narrow staircases which was quite the logistical coordination to bring in large appliances, custom cabinetry and furniture pieces as efficiently as possible, to allow all masters and specialists to work with and around each other to complete the installations.

Photography by: Steve Wong of One Twenty Three

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