Reid House is a striking, immaculately designed townhouse offering simplicity and easy living for the empty nesters who call it home. This new residence, located in Beaumaris, the bushy beachside suburb on Melbourne’s outskirts, recently received a High Commendation at the 2018 Bayside Built Environment Awards for Best Medium Density – Dual Occupancy.
And when you take a close look, it’s really no surprise.
With spaces designed by Kirril, on behalf of Lowe Design and Build, it is perhaps the thoughtful detailing and considered material selection that makes this home simply sing. And that’s all thanks to the talented team at Austin Design Associates.
Reid House is the perfect example of how a practical design can maximise space, flood the rooms in natural light, and create a comfortable, casual and low maintenance home for the owners to enjoy for years to come.
The material palette was simple and natural, reflecting Beaumaris’ bushy coastal setting and keeping it in context with the suburb’s interesting architecture of the 1950s and 60s for which it was well renowned.
“We chose the dark stain for all of the external cedar and wanted something textural and warm to go with that. So we used Ash Grey brick tiles at the front entrance, and again around the back of the house surrounding the slot window in the kitchen,” Fiona Austin, Director, Austin Design Associates, comments. The stained timber and tiles are a stunning combination on the street front, providing an inviting welcome for the owners and visitors alike.
“The Ash Grey brick tile has become a bit of a favourite of ours. It’s really good for people who don’t want stone, because it’s too rustic, and tiles can also be too clinical, but I just love the natural colour of the Ash Grey brick tiles,” Fiona continues.
Inside, concrete floors provide a good balance between aesthetics and low maintenance living, while dark walls and joinery combine beautifully with the messmate timber feature wall on the kitchen and powder room. Once again, Ash Grey tiles on the chimney breast provide a stunning contrast to the dark joinery in the living room, and pair well with the wood burner in the fireplace, offering a practical, fire proof solution.
“I was very keen to get this textural element into the house so it wasn’t too clinical, and that’s what the brick tiles provide. The other reason we love the Ash Grey brick tiles is they have a neat, clean edge, so we can butt our joinery up to them,” Fiona remarks.
Needless to say, Fiona’s clients are simply thrilled. They love their new natural and earthy home, which exemplifies casual living. And despite having downsized from their previous home, they did not have to compromise on any of their must-haves. Now that’s a strong testament to a great design.
Designer: Austin Design Associates
Product: Ash Grey brick tiles
Builder: Lowe Design & Build
Photography: Armelle Habib and Urban Angles Creative where indicated