Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Warm Touches for a House of Grand Proportions
Scandinavian influences ensure character, functionality and easy maintenance in a large family home
The owners of this house, south of Melbourne, Australia, wanted a home that could cater to their family of six as well as their extended Greek family. Family, functionality and entertainment were their priorities. Having previously worked with Jasmine McClelland of Jasmine McClelland Design, they enlisted her expertise to turn their generously sized two-story new build into a warm and welcoming home, perfect for raising a young and active family. The open-plan layout celebrates shared family spaces, ensures ease of movement and incorporates modern Scandinavian design elements.
The sculptural custom-made staircase can be seen from most of the ground floor. It is made of wrought iron with floating spotted gum treads and a spotted gum landing.
Initially the homeowners had planned to erect a wall behind the staircase to section off areas of the ground floor. Instead, McClelland suggested a glass wall and sliding door, which still separate the space but, because they allow the staircase to be viewed from all angles, maintain a sense of openness, while ensuring that downstairs noise does not filter up to the second floor.
Shapes are reflected on the staircase at night by the lights from the second floor.
Initially the homeowners had planned to erect a wall behind the staircase to section off areas of the ground floor. Instead, McClelland suggested a glass wall and sliding door, which still separate the space but, because they allow the staircase to be viewed from all angles, maintain a sense of openness, while ensuring that downstairs noise does not filter up to the second floor.
Shapes are reflected on the staircase at night by the lights from the second floor.
Staircase: designed by Jasmine McClelland Design in collaboration with the homeowners
As seen from the staircase, the property has an OmniCourt tennis court, installed to encourage the family’s children to play outside as much as possible. It makes for a mud-free yard, even in the winter.
Tennis court: Kevin McNamara
Tennis court: Kevin McNamara
The first thing you see when entering the house (the door is to the left in the photo) is a paneled wall that extends to help define the living space and nook. “The cladding actually disguises the doorway to the study, as we didn’t want the entrance to open straight onto another door,” says McClelland. Prior to the addition of the feature paneling, the space was bare and open, and the entrance to the house opened not only to the study door but straight into the living room.
The study is now accessed through a floor-to-ceiling pivot door built into the paneling, which is all but invisible unless you look for it. The paneling extends to form the wall of the lounge room nook seen here. It’s a retreat that the homeowners can escape to while still having a clear view of their children playing, doing their homework or watching television in the adjacent living area. The pendant light, from Mondo Luce, creates an ambient, warm glow after dark.
Chair: Acapulco
The study is now accessed through a floor-to-ceiling pivot door built into the paneling, which is all but invisible unless you look for it. The paneling extends to form the wall of the lounge room nook seen here. It’s a retreat that the homeowners can escape to while still having a clear view of their children playing, doing their homework or watching television in the adjacent living area. The pendant light, from Mondo Luce, creates an ambient, warm glow after dark.
Chair: Acapulco
The view as you enter the house.
The family room is a large, open-plan space that directly adjoins the staircase, kitchen and dining area, and features floor-to-ceiling glass walls, which bring the light and energy of the outdoors in. The homeowners love the fact that they can watch their children playing outside from anywhere in the house.
Lights: Leira, Surround
Lights: Leira, Surround
Polished concrete flooring is used throughout the house (downstairs and upstairs). It was chosen first and foremost because the owners loved the look, but also because it would retain the heat of the house in the winter.
“The balance of textures and colors in the aggregate of the polished concrete flooring were chosen deliberately to soften the effect of the concrete,” says McClelland. “People are often surprised at how warm it looks.”
“The balance of textures and colors in the aggregate of the polished concrete flooring were chosen deliberately to soften the effect of the concrete,” says McClelland. “People are often surprised at how warm it looks.”
In the powder room, McClelland used cupped circular modern retro tiles, which dramatically contrast the white Crest stone sink from Apaiser.
Tiles: Eclipse in Roja/Red (74202), Academy Tiles; pendant light: Cosmos, Mondo Luce
Tiles: Eclipse in Roja/Red (74202), Academy Tiles; pendant light: Cosmos, Mondo Luce
The sheer size of the kitchen and its relationship to the surrounding living spaces were carefully considered in the design. “It was important to create a kitchen that had its own clear style and character whilst not overwhelming the contiguous spaces,” says McClelland.
To ensure this balance, bold, clean lines and modern colors work in harmony with the natural light created by the open plan and floor-to-ceiling windows.
To ensure this balance, bold, clean lines and modern colors work in harmony with the natural light created by the open plan and floor-to-ceiling windows.
The homeowners “wanted this house to be their best and last, so the kitchen had to be built with a focus on enjoyment and longevity,” McClelland says. As a result, the kitchen features zoned cabinetry for functionality and is fitted throughout with Blum’s Servo-Drive hardware, “making the day-to-day use of even the most basic features a pleasure,” the designer says. The integrated bar is a nod to the homeowners’ love of entertaining.
Undermount sink: Kubus, Franke; faucet: KWC
The custom-made range hood extends the length of the counter to ensure aesthetic balance and, partnered with the cantilevered countertop, creates a visually dynamic room.
Wine refrigerator: Vintec
Wine refrigerator: Vintec
Visibility was the biggest challenge when designing the laundry, as the open-plan style of the house meant it could be viewed from the main living space, the kitchen and the pantry area. “It had to have the look of a space designed to be seen,” says McClelland.
The design approach was to turn the laundry into a complementary feature of the overall design of the house, in particular the adjoining rooms and living spaces. The eye-catching burnt-orange cabinetry makes a statement; it complements the black and veneer in the kitchen. The cabinetry is fitted with touch latches, ensuring there are no handles or other distractions from what appears from the kitchen as a wall of color.
The homeowners specifically requested that the laundry be easy to use, accessible and practical, so McClelland included generous storage, an upstairs-downstairs laundry chute and a lengthy clothes rail for inside drying and hanging, conveniently located above the laundry sink and framed by the burnt-orange cabinetry.
The design approach was to turn the laundry into a complementary feature of the overall design of the house, in particular the adjoining rooms and living spaces. The eye-catching burnt-orange cabinetry makes a statement; it complements the black and veneer in the kitchen. The cabinetry is fitted with touch latches, ensuring there are no handles or other distractions from what appears from the kitchen as a wall of color.
The homeowners specifically requested that the laundry be easy to use, accessible and practical, so McClelland included generous storage, an upstairs-downstairs laundry chute and a lengthy clothes rail for inside drying and hanging, conveniently located above the laundry sink and framed by the burnt-orange cabinetry.
A 33-foot-long (10-meter-long) atrium with an open glass ceiling and concealed floor-to-ceiling storage connects the children’s rooms. “It ensures there is a place for everything, even for the toys and treasures of four children,” McClelland says.
A custom-made Danish forest mural by Adelaide Daniell lines the atrium. “It needed something extra to draw attention to it and help those wandering though it to stop [and] enjoy the light, the sky and the moment,” McClelland says. “This one-off element changed the whole space. It is a lovely balance of design and function, easy to clean and, even better, to keep clean.”
Take a closer look at this atrium and watch the mural go up here.
A custom-made Danish forest mural by Adelaide Daniell lines the atrium. “It needed something extra to draw attention to it and help those wandering though it to stop [and] enjoy the light, the sky and the moment,” McClelland says. “This one-off element changed the whole space. It is a lovely balance of design and function, easy to clean and, even better, to keep clean.”
Take a closer look at this atrium and watch the mural go up here.
The master bedroom is also an open-plan space with only one freestanding wall separating the bedroom from the en suite bath. “As it is a large room, it was important to choose furnishings and finishes that celebrated the generous scale of the room but also created a feeling of intimacy,” says McClelland.
Scandinavian wallpaper in green hues softens the room, with the help of a pendant light that casts a pattern on the ceiling and walls, adding further interest to the wood cabinetry.
Bed: designed by Jasmine McClelland Design and custom made by Earl Pinto
Scandinavian wallpaper in green hues softens the room, with the help of a pendant light that casts a pattern on the ceiling and walls, adding further interest to the wood cabinetry.
Bed: designed by Jasmine McClelland Design and custom made by Earl Pinto
The walk-in closet opens into the bedroom and is finished in Briggs Veneers’ TrueGrain veneer in Caramel, with black laminate.
A daybed from Tongue & Groove adds a luxurious touch to the adults’ haven.
Pendant light: Snowflake by David Trubride, Mondo Luce
A daybed from Tongue & Groove adds a luxurious touch to the adults’ haven.
Pendant light: Snowflake by David Trubride, Mondo Luce
Different-size mirrors add interest and further brighten the room.
Wallpaper: Walkotyr (11037), Scandinavian Wallpaper and Decor
Wallpaper: Walkotyr (11037), Scandinavian Wallpaper and Decor
As the en suite is connected to the bedroom in the open plan, it was important that the two spaces interact and complement each other. The veneer and black laminate used in the bedroom also wrap around the en suite to create a harmonious flow and unison between the two.
Oval double vanity: Nimbus, Apaiser; faucets: Zucchetti
Touch-latch doors and feature boxes provide both practical storage and an element of design. Black edging and shelving soften the cabinetry and give the entire space a sense of completion.
The Apaiser bath is elevated on a wood-clad platform. David Trubridge pendant lighting was added to create a sense of warmth and play. “The color chosen for the lighting was also matched to highlight the shades in the Scandinavian wallpaper featured on the nib wall and in the master bedroom,” McClelland says.
The grays in the vanity and tub, along with the warm colors of the wood platform and veneer, soften the polished concrete floor.
The grays in the vanity and tub, along with the warm colors of the wood platform and veneer, soften the polished concrete floor.
The vintage-look penny-tile feature wall creates interest and intimacy within the large space. The large interior window next to the tub provides a sense of light and play, while meeting the need for privacy with its ability to become opaque at the touch of a button.
Wall tiles: Beyond Tiles; heated towel rack: Hydrotherm
Wall tiles: Beyond Tiles; heated towel rack: Hydrotherm
The sheer proportions and corner location of the house could have easily overpowered the suburban street, but McClelland says the careful consideration of exterior color and finishes ensured that the house sat comfortably within its environment and was considerate of its surroundings.
“We needed to strike the right balance, which is why we chose a dark charcoal for the stucco render, dark cedar for the cladding and a complementary crazy pave bluestone for the feature tower, which leads down to a more structured bluestone driveway,” McClelland says.
“We needed to strike the right balance, which is why we chose a dark charcoal for the stucco render, dark cedar for the cladding and a complementary crazy pave bluestone for the feature tower, which leads down to a more structured bluestone driveway,” McClelland says.
The entrance sets the tone of the house with a unique custom-made copper front door, designed by Jasmine McClelland Design and brought to life by local coppersmith Peter Pankiewicz of Rivendale Copper. Looking closely between the panels, you can see a slanted cursive pattern, which is a continuous script of the clients’ surname. McClelland says the clients felt it put their personal stamp on the family home.
Outside a solar- and gas-heated swimming pool with an integrated spa is enjoyed by the family all year round. The length of the pool also allows for lap swimming.
Pool: Domain Pools
Pool: Domain Pools
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Who lives here: A couple and their 4 young children and 2 small dogs
Location: A 10-minute walk from Mentone Beach, Victoria, Australia
Size: 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
McClelland says one of the biggest challenges was making the large, open spaces feel warm and inviting. “The big rooms, concrete floors and floor-to-ceiling glass could have potentially made the house feel cold or cavernous, and this was forefront in our minds,” she says.
Warm, bold colors and designer lighting help to create ambience, while wood veneer and spotted gum paneling are used in the entrance, staircase and cabinetry, which can be seen from all areas of the open-plan ground floor.
A suspended fireplace is a lavish final touch and is just one of the reasons this space is a family favorite.
Fireplace: Gyrofocus, Focus