A Timeless Family Home – Brighton East by InForm
Located in the heart of Melbourne’s Brighton East, this contemporary house by InForm in association with project architects Pleysier Perkins provides a solid and timeless family home with multi-functional capabilities and a touch of playfulness.
The home of InForm’s Managing Director Cameron McKimm, the project was inspired by the brief for a solid, timeless family home that could convert to ‘party mode’ when friends and family were over for barbecues and special occasions. Working alongside architect Simon Perkins, InForm completed the project management, design development, documentation and construction of the home in bayside Melbourne.
Using a restrained palette of white brick, timber ceilings and polished concrete floors along with a combination of simple, bold forms, the architects delivered a design that feels rigorous and dependable while also emphasising a sense of fun. The approach follows a garden path to a gently curved white brick wall, which leads to a double-height glazed entry foyer. Here, the angle of the internal steel staircase gives a sculptural impression, with planting below connecting the interiors with the exterior landscaping beyond the front door. “The interior brick walls diffuse the separation between the exterior and interior of the house and provide some drama as light moves through the building,” says Simon Perkins.
The aggregate in the polished concrete floors was chosen to bring out the colour in the timber ceilings. Further, richer textures and materials accentuate this simple palette, such as marble and matte black laminates in the kitchen and intricate tiling in the bathrooms. Colour is added through the landscaping, which seeps through into the interiors through glazed walls and well placed windows, as well as interior planting. The landscaping was completed by landscape architect Jack Merlo, who worked alongside InForm and the architects to create a coherent plan that complements the forms of the building.
The house has a few tricks up its sleeves, with sliding wall panels throughout the interiors that can be used to create intimate spaces within larger, open plan areas. Party mode is achieved through the opening of the rear glazed walls, allowing the kitchen and living room to flow to the loggia, which is complete with fireplace and barbecue, and the pool and lawn beyond. The loggia is Cameron’s favourite spot: “It’s great in summer on hot days and nights, as well as the cooler summer nights with its protection from the southerly breezes. It also works in winter with the northern sun pouring in. The ceiling heaters and outdoor fireplace make it suitable for BBQ’s all year round.” A further, private outdoor area is located to the street-front side of the house, contained by the exterior brick wall and planted to create a green oasis.
InForm has an exclusive arrangement with Pleysier Perkins, which means the two collaborate on all projects, providing an holistic service that includes architecture, interior design, cost planning, permit acquisition, documentation and, finally, the construction and delivery of the building. Cameron sees his home as indicative of the quality and creativity that results from the InForm /Pleysier Perkins relationship. “We aim for all our houses to be solid and timeless. The materials and design should stand the test of time and continue to look great in years to come,” he says. “Our great relationship with our architects and the drive by our team to continue to get better at everything we do makes this an exciting and positive environment to be a part of. We are likeminded people passionate about every home we deliver for our clients.”
