Humble Connections – Cascade House by John Ellway. Architect

Embraced by nature and sunlight, Cascade House by John Ellway is a collection of carefully chosen materials, textures and tones that reference the home’s stylist and owner. Uniting living spaces with the surrounding gardens, the architect designed a house that fosters a connection between family and nature.

Designed to encourage inside-outside living, Cascade House is a seamless blend of materials and contemporary additions. Located in Paddington, Queensland, the family home of Jacqueline Kaytar is a spacious and light-filled haven. Working with John Ellway’s architectural design, Jacqueline provided the interior design and styling selections to permeate the home with warming personalised choices. Aware of the exact atmosphere Jacqueline wished for her home, John Ellway provided a union between the surrounding gardens and home.

Designed to encourage inside-outside living, Cascade House is a seamless blend of materials and contemporary additions.

Found in a dilapidated state, the cottage home – though internally and structurally sound – required a thoughtful and contemporary renovation. The choice was made to avoid building underneath the home, instead the new extensions were established on the vacant land to the side of the original cottage. Leaning into the cascading landscape of the site, John Ellway assisted in keeping the streetscape intact and honours the original Queenslander form. With the new entryway opening into the kitchen, dining and living areas, the immediate connection to the outdoors is immediately felt. Directly responding to the client’s desire to embrace the leafy surrounds, the central garden provides a place to picnic or watch the twinkling stars at night. A breezeway is the connective runway between the home’s eras. The older sections of the home hold the private rooms – four bedrooms, two bathrooms and the laundry – while the new extension holds the entertaining spaces.

Establishing connections through architectural choices, John Ellway added supplementary design choices to the kitchen. Pockets of free space were transformed to conceal appliances and wares behind a glass cabinet tucked underneath the seat of the lounge. Wanting to make sure that the appliances did not take away from the focus of the architecture, Fisher & Paykel’s integrated appliances blend into the joinery and provide a cohesive effect. Along with key materials contributing to the seamless design, the client and architect chose plywood, brass countertops and concrete for the foundation to complement the new extensions.

Directly responding to the client’s desire to embrace the leafy surrounds, the central garden provides a place to picnic or watch the twinkling stars at night.

Together, John Ellway and Jacqueline work to combine finishes and textures to create an uplifted and refreshing home. Incorporating a natural connection and added sunlight, Cascade House is thoughtful and harmonious in its relationship with the surrounding landscape and across its iterations.