Techne Architecture + Interior Design and Doherty Design Studio have together brought a rundown weatherboard cottage to life, with their fresh and fun design approach. The home located in Melbourne’s bayside suburb of Sandringham belongs to acclaimed Melbourne hospitality group co-owner Doug Maskiell and his young family with two small children.
Drawing on their commercial relationship, Doug Maskiell of Sand Hill Road, and wife Jenny, commissioned Techne for the building extension on their home and Doherty Design Studio for the interior design. Sand Hill Road is renowned for owning some of Melbourne’s most celebrated pubs, including the internationally acclaimed Prahran Hotel, and soon to be complete, Terminus Hotel, both designed by Techne.
“Collaborating with Mardi Doherty was fantastic, she brought the interiors to life and really added some playfulness to the design that reflected Doug and Jenny’s aspirations for the renovation and more broadly, their outlook,” says Justin Northrop of Techne Architecture + Interior Design.
The brief from the client was to convert the double-fronted weatherboard into a fun, energetic home with more space and lots of colour that enabled the growing family to remain in their home for years to come. The renovation extended the existing home to include 4 bedrooms, a study and open-plan living area.
“Doug and Jenny desired an extension that was contemporary and congruous with the existing cottage that fronts the street. We were mindful of this when presenting a design with traditional material, weatherboard, that clads a contemporary form,” adds Northrop.
The facade of the home was retained and a two-story extension added, based on the form of a contemporary shipping container. The rear living area, connected closely to the lush green garden - designed by Annabel Drew - creates a separate external living area with an abundance of natural light. High rear windows are shielded by fixed louvres that continue the rhythm of the weatherboards.
The inspiration for the interior design was to reflect a simple, utilitarian aesthetic that plays with materiality and bold graphic shapes in robust finishes injected with strong blocks of colour.
The two areas – original front and new extension – are separated by a perforated black folded screen that acts as both a visual separation and an interesting design feature. Cutouts in the screen are designed specifically to house colourful Dinosaur Design vases. A mid-grey tile separates and defines the step up from old to new, while three irregular sized box-like timber steps lead to the upper level. Solid messmate flooring flows through the new extension.
Painted timber lining boards extend from the living room ceiling into the undercover outdoor area to give a continuous feel from outside to in. Further enhancing the interior’s robust, graphic appeal, is the white brick finishes to the fireplace, the deep boxed timber framed window in the living area, and the concrete look stone benchtops in the kitchen and living room joinery.
“Checkerboard black-and-white wall paneling is a strong graphic detail that not only adds the playful element the client wanted, but also a personal touch.Being a pub owner, Doug wanted a display solution for his wine and beer. The checkerboard feature is a laminate box that surrounds the pantry and features circular cutouts for wine, which can be accessed only from behind the pantry.”
Other bold uses of colour can be found throughout the home, with feature pendant lights over the dining table, a staircase covered with bright orange carpet, a large sliding door with a bespoke paint-drip feature and electric blue powder-coated mirrors. Pale woodgrain used on the joinery throughout softens the look, while folded leather handles and custom cork mirrors in the bathroom add an element of interest and raw luxury.
A seamless collaboration between the two talented design teams, ensured the Maskiell home was developed around the lifestyle of the client’s growing family, incorporating bright, energetic elements into the interior that create a sense of fun and playfulness. Paying respect to the original façade and surrounding streetscape was crucial, with only a touch of metal cladding visible from the street, giving a subtle hint of the second level addition and the new life that lies within.
Material Used :
1. Roofing
a. Lysaght Klip-Lok in zincalume;
b. Metal Cladding Systems standing seam in Colorbond Steel ‘Monument Thermatec’.
2. External walls
a. Spotted gum slats;
b. Baltic pine weatherboards;
c. Metal Cladding Systems standing seam in Colorbond Steel ‘Monument Thermatec’.
3. Internal walls
a. Dulux paint to walls and ceiling in ‘Natural White’;
b. Resene paint to living room ceiling in ‘Triple White Pointer’.
4. Windows
a. Capral 425 Narrowline Series in black powdercoat.
5. Doors
a. Capral sliding and bi-fold doors in black powdercoat;
b. solid-core doors in Dulux ‘High Blue’;
c. Designer Doorware handles.
6. Flooring
a. Select-grade Messmate from Eco Timbers;
b. Escape Velour carpet from Supertuft;
c. Tretford carpet in ‘Orange Squash’.
7. Lighting
a. Terracotta pendant with white glaze from Hand and Eye Studio;
b. Vessel pendant from ECC Lighting;
c. Ross Gardam Touch Chandelier Mixed.
8. Kitchen
a. Franke Steel Queen undermount sink;
b. Reece Mizu mixer;
c. Siemens cooktop, oven, combination steam oven and semi-integrated tall tub;
d. Electrolux fridge.
9. Bathroom
a. Reece White Stone basin, towel rail and toilet;
b. Rogerseller spout, taps, showerhead, shower mixer and bath;
c. FlexiRobes shower screen;
d. Daniel Schofield Studio What a Corker! mirrors.
10. External elements
a. Bespoke Tile and Stone encaustic cement tiles in grey.
