The clients on this project were a young couple with three kids and a large group of friends, and they wanted to capture the feeling of resort-style living, and create a house that was perfect for entertaining.

Located directly behind Ourie Pools and Werri Beach, the site boasts some amazing views across to

Geering Bay, and one of the key objectives for the build was to capture and frame these views.

Entertaining

• The home features an oversize kitchen with plenty of space to prepare meals for lots of people at once, with a full-size butler’s kitchen that was directly next to the main kitchen so that there was space to cook and prep meals in private, and then additionally have an open plan kitchen where people could cook, socialise and enjoy the view at the same time. The additional kitchen allowed for meals to be produced on a commercial scale, and allowed for plenty of extra bench space. The main and butlers’ kitchens were separated by a concealed door, resulting in a very streamlined effect.
• The design for the kitchen was kept deliberately open-plan - the client also chose stacker doors so that the party can flow between spaces. It also made for great for cross flow ventilation for the cooking spaces.
• The large concrete kitchen island with seating means the area can serve as a table, buffet and prep space. The island also houses the dishwasher, microwaves and a subwoofer, a Smeg cooktop and downdraft. The downdraft was chosen as it allows clear vision of the pool, backyard, alfresco and ocean views and it also became a feature of the kitchen. The kitchen island was also great for creating some division in the open floor plan.
• A top of the range Smeg Dolce Stil Novo Wine cellar was the perfect choice for this kitchen, as not only does it free up valuable fridge space, it keeps wine in optimum conditions, with ventilation, UV resistant glass, electronic temperature control and vibration protection.

Use of materials

•  The mid-century modern inspiration for the home is visible in this high-end kitchen. In-situ concrete benchtops are paired with messmate joinery to create a raw, luxurious feeling.
• The three raw materials used in this kitchen - concrete, messmate and a brass/bronze finish create a stripped back, minimalist vibe that is still welcoming and contemporary.
• The entire kitchen carcasses were built out of black water-resistant melamine with Blum soft-close hardware. All of the door and drawer panelling is messmate, which is an Australian hardwood locally sourced and manufactured and veneered from Consolidated Panels. This messmate veneer has been used throughout the entire house and forms the key design feature that warms up and brings luxurious warmth to the home when paired with the raw concrete.
• Meir tapware in Tiger Bronze is paired with a matching scratch-resistant Lavello sink, which also matches the cabinetry and door handles in a satin brass from Designer Doorware, and further matches the brass expansion joints in the polished concrete floors with hydronic heating. This meticulous detailing shows the level of care and attention of the designer and builder.
• All appliances in the kitchen were sourced from the SMEG Dolce Stil Novo range. These were ideal with their ever-clean enamel, plus cool door and soft close door technology which gives clients alot of peace of mind with their young family. The brass detailing of the Dolce Stil Novo range also ties with the detailing of the bronze sink, tapware, expansion joints and cabinetry handles.
• Custom-designed air-con grilles (that also housed concealed speakers) made for a very stripped back look that was right on brief for the client.

Smart-home innovation

• The smart-home automation on the project was detailed and meant that the entire home can be controlled via a smart-phone app, from the lights to the intercom, all audio-visual, blinds, air conditioning, pool lights and heating, and all kitchen appliances.
• The automation meant that everything was controlled to mitigate the effects of temperature without excessive energy use. This included the use of sensors to automatically close windows when air conditioning was switched on, or when rain was detected.The appliances can be controlled via the app, meaning that overall energy consumption is lessened.

Maximising views

• Another key objective for the kitchen was to maximise the views. A clerestory roof framing kitchen the kitchen and choosing stacker floor-to-ceiling glass doors means there’s a 180* view on the top floor.
• The SMEG 90cm cooktop with downdraft and the 90cm undermount rangehood meant that there were no bulky overhead boxes required, further minimising view loss.
• Floating shelves were installed to allow for extra space for herbs and hanging plants to bring greenery and life into the kitchen.

Photography: Simon Whitbread, Michael Boyle