An Elegant Renewal – Shoalhaven House by Intermode

Intermode instils a theme of renewal and an ode to the surrounding landscape through the elegant form of Shoalhaven House. The home’s monochromatic scheme allows the focus of its inhabitants to be drawn outwards with unadulterated sights of the Australian countryside.

From first glance, Shoalhaven House is a feast of dark horizontal planes and framed views of the river and forested hills surrounding. Its extruded decking and operable glass panels provide a seamless transition from interior to the terraced hillside. Clad in charred hardwood, the home can be seen as a monument to those who lost their homes in the Black Summer bushfires of 2020, including the homeowner, Andrew. The remains of Andrew’s former home have been renewed with this thoughtful design sitting peacefully upon the hilltop. The existing hillside has been reflected in Spirit Level’s sandstone backdrop featuring a sculpture by Australian artist Lindy Lee.

Clad in charred hardwood, the home can be seen as a monument to those who lost their homes in the Black Summer bushfires of 2020, including the homeowner, Andrew.

Dividing the realms of public and private, the master suite occupies a separate pavilion to the shared living spaces and guest rooms, connected subtly by a glass breezeway. The dark exterior is echoed within the monochrome design of the interior; dark furnishings provide a heavy distinction to the white joinery behind. Similarly, the large-frame dark hardwood windows form a striking background to the white porcelain tiles and sleek furnishings of the bathrooms. Throughout Shoalhaven House, the modern and minimalistic design epitomises the old adage ‘less is more’.

Light plays an integral role in guiding movement through the extended, dark hallways forming the spine of the home and draws the eye to views of the valley below at every opportunity. In pursuing these sights, one is drawn out into a stark contrast of bright white in the open plan kitchen and living spaces. Accented by the Caesarstone benchtop and in-situ concrete island benchtop, the dining space is unobtrusive, elegant and adaptable to any number of evening diners with its wrap-around decking and modular layout.

Throughout Shoalhaven House, the modern and minimalistic design epitomises the old adage ‘less is more’.

During the day, the valley below is allowed to reign supreme, commanding attention from every room with carefully curated sightlines and framed perspectives. At night, Intermode’s Shoalhaven House takes precedence, becoming an eye-catching view with rhythmic slits of light embedded between dark planes. Its slim form makes for a welcome addition to the surrounding natural landscape and an elegant home.