Outward Connection – Mornington Peninsula House by Pop and Scott

Mornington Peninsula House is brought into a contemporary relevance by Poppy Garbin and Scott Gibson, the designers and makers behind furniture and homewares brand Pop and Scott. Overlaying a considered and cohesive approach both internally and stretching the expanse of the site, the entire home is activated and utilised to its potential.

The home was originally built in the 1980s and was in need of modernisation. Marking their move from inner Melbourne to the coastal town, Poppy and Scott took it upon themselves to integrate their own personal expression amid the existing elements. The home was reworked to both update it functionally and elevate the tactile moments, while Pop and Scott’s playful and geometric furniture and lighting pieces imbue the interior with personality and warmth.

Cast in brick and timber, the bones of the home formed the basis of a warm and textural palette and ensures a continuation of the original character.

The alterations and expansion of the existing residence have been executed with a light touch yet draw from Poppy and Scott’s previous home in Eltham. Wanting to retain as much of the original home as possible, the vision was one of integration and enhancement, rather than a complete overhaul, using the surrounding landscape as inspiration for the openness and outward connection. Replacing the existing windows and doors and the kitchen in its entirety, as well the relocation of an additional bathroom and kitchen to the lower level to better align with how the spaces would be used, brought the home into a contemporary relevance. The creation of an independent and fully self-sustaining studio space on the separate level allows for visitors and for use in coming years as the family’s needs change.

With an array of banksia trees established in the surrounding landscape, the focus of the reworking of the two-storey home was to enhance connections both internally and outward. Cast in brick and timber, the bones of the home formed the basis of a warm and textural palette and ensures a continuation of the original character. The overall approach and palette were also inspired by the surrounding setting, allowing the existing context to set the tone. Wanting a seamless integration into the native bushland, a combination of darker grey tones and lighter highlighting elements were used to create an offering of balance and make the overall form feel recessive in place.

The alterations and expansion of the existing residence have been executed with a light touch yet draw from Poppy and Scott’s previous home in Eltham.

Enhancing and leaning into the enviable setting, Mornington Peninsula House captures a love of place and of living amongst the natural elements. Bringing their own signature aesthetic to the project, Pop and Scott’s indelible mark is felt, crafting a unique home that captures its inhabitants’ own values and way of life.