As an embrace of its coastal siting, Beddoe Residence draws in natural and textural references to conjure a home that embodies both the familiar and the coastal. As a renovation and extension of an existing home, the new connects with the old through a recalibrated plan, with a newly refined focus of responding to context and connecting with intent to its surrounds. The selections speak to an enveloping calm, creating a home of restful repose, as a sanctuary of sorts. Designed in collaboration with Eva Bauer and Tykon Builders, the resulting home sits naturally illuminated and engaged with the natural elements. Instilling a heightened crispness, the new works see the reworking of the existing kitchen, dining, living and bathroom spaces into a contemporary and connected shared volume. Within its East Brighton milieu, influences from the context within which it is immersed gives direction to the incorporation of texture and space. Natural timber adds depth and warmth underfoot, while limestone and marble carry through into the wet areas, wrapping up the vertical surfaces and encasing the spaces. The uniformity in finish further increases and emphasises internal generosity, while emphasising a sense of flow and movement. Reimagining the seventy-year-old heritage villa from the inside out, the only remaining features of the existing are the exterior encasing walls and the existing flooring.
Re-stained and restored, recycled boards were sourced as needed to infill and complete the continued narrative of the home, while the existing openings and framework were also retained. Celebrating the existing character and charm of the home was an important driver and sees the original bay windows along the façade reglazed to maintain the streetscape connection. Inspired by the existing light-filled plan, the new configuration retains existing connections to the outside, while skylight openings encourage natural light deep into the home. Through an honest and raw approach both in the integrated joinery and the select furniture, artwork and lighting dotted throughout, an ingrained Mediterranean influence is evident and felt throughout. Combining warm and earthy tones, white in various tonalities is used to blanket the space and increase the perceived volume, while maintaining the same footprint. Handmade tiles, and smooth stone surfaces then add textural depth, while maintaining the overall palette. With every room of Beddoe Residence opening to views of curated landscaped settings, the reminder of the natural is felt and reinforced throughout, and through key gestures, the home’s previous story continues into the new, awaiting its most recent chapter.
