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Cohesion with Nature – Cliffside by Thomas Hamel & Associates
Located on the South Coast of NSW with dual views towards rolling ocean and lush bushland, the interior scheme of Cliffside by Thomas Hamel & Associates called for a subtle array of natural colours and textured materials. Flooring from the Eco Outdoor range lends an earthy, organic foundational materiality that harmonises with the rugged landscape.
Punctuated with boulders of a Jurassic scale, it is no exaggeration to say this site is something special and the house that sits upon it equally impressive. When interior designer Thomas Hamel and his partner George Massar came across the home, they saw the magic in the landscape and in the house itself, although, as designers each with discerning eyes for detail, a personal touch in the form of an interior redesign was required to make the house their own.
“We certainly used the boulders and location to inform us about how the palette should work inside the home. With all the materials, we wanted everything to have a natural cohesion.”
The starting point for the design so came from their individual histories and travels. “The style and the mood somewhat evolved from all the incredible treasures and souvenirs that I had collected in my life and George separately had been collecting in his life,” says Thomas. “We certainly used the boulders and location to inform us about how the palette should work inside the home. With all the materials, we wanted everything to have a natural cohesion.”
The desired flowing, organic look was achieved partly through custom plaster textured wallpapers and rough-hewn timber furnishings, as well as through carefully chosen flooring sourced from Eco Outdoor. Gregorius Pineo, the manufacturer of the wallcoverings, supplied the perfect complement to the flooring, and the relationship between the materials results in a calming ambience. As this home is predominantly used for weekend getaways and relaxation, it was also important that materials be low maintenance. This need for practicality was particularly imperative when it came to the flooring, which also needed to blend with the natural interior palette.
“We were immediately drawn to Eco Outdoor’s Technifirma, a porcelain-based material,” says Thomas. “It was fascinating to me as it came in various sizes, and as a porcelain material, we thought it was a wonderful choice because it’s robust, it’s hardy, but it still has that natural texture with none of the issues of worrying about sealing and staining.”
“We were immediately drawn to Eco Outdoor’s Technifirma a porcelain-based material,” says Thomas. “It was fascinating to me as it came in various sizes, and as a porcelain material, we thought it was a wonderful choice because it’s robust, it’s hardy, but it still has that natural texture with none of the issues of worrying about sealing and staining.” This material is used for all the living areas, kitchen and bathrooms, where it creates a softly aged look akin to natural stone. Being a man-made product, however, Technifirma can withstand heat and high traffic zones and will not discolour if exposed to moisture.
As the couple also enjoy the warmth and natural variance of timber floorboards, it was decided to use these in the bedroom areas. At the Eco Outdoor showroom, they were struck by samples of Willow Wood, which delivers an earthy grey patina and pleasantly diverse texture. Made from French oak, Eco Outdoor’s Willow Wood flooring is hand-finished using a traditional process that creates an authentic weathered look without the need for artificial dyes. Together, the two flooring products used throughout the home create a sense of history and refinement.
