Houzz Tour: A Home Built for Relaxing Getaways and Weekend Guests
A designer creates 3 pavilions with a living hub, a master suite and guest quarters, as well as a deck for entertaining
Rebecca Gross
October 21, 2018
Design writer and historian. I write about contemporary architecture and design, and I study cultural history through the lens of architecture, design and visual culture. I have a Masters in the History of Decorative Arts and Design from Parsons The New School for Design, New York. My latest book is called "Ornament is not a crime: Contemporary Interiors with a postmodern twist."
Design writer and historian. I write about contemporary architecture and design,... More
Having returned from Singapore to the Australian seaside town of Flinders, about 60 miles south of Melbourne, Robert and Kerry Fisher wanted a vacation home that celebrated Australia’s beach houses. They engaged Alishia Minett Johnson, director of Minett Studio, to create a low-maintenance home that could comfortably accommodate the couple plus overnight guests. She designed a series of interconnected pavilions — guest quarters, living space and master suite — with an outdoor entertaining area in the back.
Vacation House at a Glance
Location: Flinders, Australia
Size: 2,691 square feet (250 square meters); three bedrooms, three bathrooms
Architect: Minett Studio
“The house echoes the poetic notion of a courtyard house with living pavilions,” Minett Johnson says. “Each pavilion is articulated with its own form and roofline, creating interest and moments of in-between as you journey from one pavilion to the next.”
Guest Pavilion
A small gabled guest pavilion and a flat-roofed garage face the street, with the path to the front door leading up the side of the house.
Location: Flinders, Australia
Size: 2,691 square feet (250 square meters); three bedrooms, three bathrooms
Architect: Minett Studio
“The house echoes the poetic notion of a courtyard house with living pavilions,” Minett Johnson says. “Each pavilion is articulated with its own form and roofline, creating interest and moments of in-between as you journey from one pavilion to the next.”
Guest Pavilion
A small gabled guest pavilion and a flat-roofed garage face the street, with the path to the front door leading up the side of the house.
Natural materials and colors complement the surrounding landscape.
Pine plywood panels provide a dark, natural wood exterior. “They echo the tradition of weatherboard beach shacks,” Minett Johnson says.
The garage and the living pavilion, shown in the background on the left, are rendered masonry. “These materials are low-maintenance, robust, and will weather and patina over time to soften into the landscape,” she says.
Pine plywood panels provide a dark, natural wood exterior. “They echo the tradition of weatherboard beach shacks,” Minett Johnson says.
The garage and the living pavilion, shown in the background on the left, are rendered masonry. “These materials are low-maintenance, robust, and will weather and patina over time to soften into the landscape,” she says.
Living Pavilion
The living pavilion is at the center of the house. It contains the kitchen, dining and living area. Serving as the hub of the home, the space is modern, comfortable and relaxed.
The living pavilion is at the center of the house. It contains the kitchen, dining and living area. Serving as the hub of the home, the space is modern, comfortable and relaxed.
Like the exterior, the interior palette is robust and architectural, for a holistic design.
The space has a modern barnlike aesthetic with a cathedral ceiling.
The triangular clerestory window and the scissor trusses of spotted gum (a native Australian tree) stand out against the whitewashed pine ceiling boards.
The space has a modern barnlike aesthetic with a cathedral ceiling.
The triangular clerestory window and the scissor trusses of spotted gum (a native Australian tree) stand out against the whitewashed pine ceiling boards.
Strategically placed windows frame views of vegetation and the natural landscape.
A monolithic double-faced fireplace in saw-cut stone separates the living from the dining area and kitchen.
“The scissor trusses link the two areas and connect the space visually and aesthetically, while the fireplace allows intimate space within the larger volume,” Minett Johnson says.
“The scissor trusses link the two areas and connect the space visually and aesthetically, while the fireplace allows intimate space within the larger volume,” Minett Johnson says.
The clerestory window in the kitchen mimics the one in the living area, framing the neighbor’s ancient gum tree and allowing sunlight to filter through both ends of the pavilion. “This is particularly striking in the late afternoon when the sunlight dapples across the floors and walls,” she says.
The kitchen has a pass-through window for an outdoor kitchen on the deck. “It has a traditional stone pizza oven that the owner labors over, creating delicious feasts complemented with local wines.”
The kitchen has a pass-through window for an outdoor kitchen on the deck. “It has a traditional stone pizza oven that the owner labors over, creating delicious feasts complemented with local wines.”
The kitchen cabinetry is two-pack Laminex in Moleskin.
“We purposefully decided against a stark white kitchen to soften the interior and allow for relaxed comfort,” Minett Johnson says. She selected the oak floorboards for their driftwood coloring, which complements the cabinetry.
The backsplash features geometric tiles in the Azulej series that Patricia Urquiola designed for Mutina.
Browse backsplash tile on Houzz
“We purposefully decided against a stark white kitchen to soften the interior and allow for relaxed comfort,” Minett Johnson says. She selected the oak floorboards for their driftwood coloring, which complements the cabinetry.
The backsplash features geometric tiles in the Azulej series that Patricia Urquiola designed for Mutina.
Browse backsplash tile on Houzz
Master Suite Pavilion
At the rear of the house, the master pavilion is clad in spotted gum. “It’s an almost turned-out expression of materiality of the living pavilion,” Minett Johnson says.
At the rear of the house, the master pavilion is clad in spotted gum. “It’s an almost turned-out expression of materiality of the living pavilion,” Minett Johnson says.
The living and master suite pavilions are separated by a breezeway to create a transition between these public and private spaces. Glass opens the interior to the deck.
“As the site itself didn’t provide any views, we provided key landscape connections with the breezeway and a private garden to the master en suite,” she says.
“As the site itself didn’t provide any views, we provided key landscape connections with the breezeway and a private garden to the master en suite,” she says.
The master pavilion accommodates the bedroom, walk-in closet and en suite.
“The master bedroom is designed as a stand-alone area that’s personal and echoes a luxury hotel experience,” Minett Johnson says.
“The master bedroom is designed as a stand-alone area that’s personal and echoes a luxury hotel experience,” Minett Johnson says.
The walk-in closet separates the bedroom from the en suite.
With sides for him and her, the Fishers can keep a vacation wardrobe here and display their favorite objects.
Spotted gum is used for the custom vanity in the bathroom to continue the material through the house. It adds color, depth and texture to the calm space, which, like the kitchen, is a soft and natural off-white with stone floor tiles.
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vmbluelemur. Thank you for your comments. The Kitchen actually is a colour called Moleskin, which is a beautiful warm coffee/taupe colour. The floorboards are called Fendi which is a warm American Oak. The house is based on natural tones found at the beach, which harmonise with the landscape and garden. The central fireplace is basalt (bluestone) which creates contrast and a richness to the colour scheme. It is a very elegant home that also is very comfortable and relaxed. The client absolutely loves the result and all our designs are in collaboration with our clients.
All the best. Alishia
I agree with vmbluelemur. Way too glossy (even if the colours are "natural") and polished for a holiday house.
A simply gorgeous easy care holiday home built for relaxing with good separation of areas