Split, with personality

Simplicity, elegance and sustainability underpin this stylishly minimalist Weststyle custom build in Nedlands.

From the waterwise native front garden and the custom charred-timber front door through to the wide, open backyard, the three-bedroom home is both eco and family-friendly.

Weststyle Lead Architect Mary Ong said the clients desired a modernist approach, prioritising clean lines and understated forms in a neutral palette.

“The idea was to create an elegant home for a young family that was light and bright, making use of passive solar techniques such as good orientation, cross ventilation and proper solar shading,” she said, the latter achieved through operable windows and deep eaves facing east and west.

“A self-described ‘private family’, the homeowners were after an inward-looking home split into public and private zones, resulting in a courtyard home facing north.”

Ms Ong said a slab of Pilbara rock in the front garden solidified the home’s connection to the surrounding environment.

“Externally, coloured brickwork was used to denote levels within,” she said. “All brickwork above the slab was painted white and everything below was a dark face brick, anchoring the home to its site.”

The easy-care, lock-up-and-leave design accommodates the owners’ needs through universal access, with wider entryways and corridors.

Due to the nature of the block, living areas are located to the front of the home, facing toward the outdoor area and offering stunning vistas of the alfresco courtyard and azure pool waters.

According to Ms Ong, north and east sunlight bathes the kitchen, dining and living spaces, bouncing off the raked ceilings.

“Internally, light pours in through the black-framed picture windows. The lines between interior and exterior are blurred, with the ability to push back generous sliding doors between the kitchen, dining and alfresco,” she said.

“The bedrooms, office and children’s playroom have been elevated and located at the rear of the home, creating a private sanctuary for the occupants.”

Each of these spaces is illuminated, spacious and highlighted by splashes of nature − a theme found throughout the build, where texture takes centre stage against the monochromatic aesthetic.

A timeless kitchen features sleek dark cabinetry with integrated appliances and a large hidden scullery space.

Above the solid marri dining table, a beautifully intricate Vistosi Peggy 9 blown-glass light pendant is prominent. This table is built in to the large porcelain tile kitchen island bench, which seamlessly houses an induction cooktop.

The benchtop material is repeated in the laundry and powder rooms, and slick polished concrete can be found throughout the dwelling.

Ms Ong describes the master bedroom as an understated retreat, with a deluxe ensuite boasting a double shower and a stunning freestanding bath.

“The fittings and accessories are black to match the shower screen and window frames,” she said.

“This room has a skylight sitting above the bath to let light pour in and provide a chance to stargaze in an evening soak.”

The clients’ green thumbs are evident in the delightful backyard, featuring custom-designed leaf-shaped Corten steel vegetable and herb garden beds, as well as a meticulous lawn.

Additional sustainability is made possible through solar PV panels on tilt frames and quality R5.0 ceiling insulation installed along the roof vents, which mitigates the overuse of air-conditioning.

Ms Ong said the quiet neighbourhood was well suited to the family’s lifestyle, with the size and rise of the block giving Weststyle a perfect opportunity to design the split-level home.

CONTACT Weststyle, 9345 1565, www.weststyle.com.au