Newport Residence
A 1960’s beach house in Newport has been reimagined by Five Foot One Design, with its distinctive mid-century architecture kept intact as the foundation for a nostalgic yet contemporary renovation.
Tasked with a brief to preserve the home’s heritage, Five Foot One Design’s vision for Newport Residence was to enhance its inherent qualities. “Newport Residence celebrates the character and optimism of 1960’s architecture while reinterpreting it for today,” says Kat Thompson, director of Five Foot One Design. “Playful, bold and true to its history, the home honours its coastal setting and mid-century bones while offering a fresh narrative for contemporary family life.”
Within Newport on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, the three-bedroom home embodies a quintessential Australian seaside sensibility, just moments from its namesake beach. “We wanted to honour that vernacular – the relaxed, coastal spirit of the area – while also celebrating the mid-century architecture of the era,” explains Thompson. “Each material and element was chosen not just for aesthetics but to reinforce the home’s personality, linking the past with the present and creating spaces that are both functional and full of character.”
Original cedar windows and pine timber floorboards have been carefully restored, preserving its authentic beach shack charm. The kitchen maintains its segregated layout, a homage to the period, with cream laminate surfaces, mosaic benchtops and custom timber hardware applied in a transportive and authentic manner. In the bathroom, the original pink tub anchors a feminine, blush-toned palette with a retro tiled vanity and Bisazza mosaics in soft curves.
Elsewhere, the design honours mid-century style in essence. The formerly confined entryway is opened up to create a welcoming transition into the living and dining spaces to foster connection and functionality. Clever custom joinery by Captive Cabinet Making forms a functional divider between the spaces, echoing the language of the era. Additionally, cantilevered banquette seating frames the space leading from the kitchen to the living area.
Downstairs, a former storage room has been transformed into a poolside bar and lounge, nodding to the mid-century lifestyle. The den-like space is layered with patterned tiles, the adjoining bathroom features a powder blue pedestal basin, and spotted gum timber paneling adds a blanket of warmth and texture while tying it with the same accents found throughout the home.
Balancing nostalgia with contemporary living, Newport Residence is both unassuming and narratively rich. The interplay of existing and new elements creates a home that feels playful, enduring and grounded in coastal character.
Interior design by Five Foot One Design. Build by Bensley Constructions. Joinery by Captive Cabinet Making.
