COASTAL calm

Crisp white and warm timber notes meet bold strokes of moody industrial metal and stone to create the perfect grown-up family sanctuary.

- Judy Pascoe

When Tanya and Nick Langton came across a basic 1950s weekender for sale on Sydney's Northern Beaches in the early 2000s they could see it had the potential for them "to make it their own". With one bedroom, one bathroom, a small living space and a laundry down a set of concrete steps leading from the kitchen at the back of the house, "it was really just an old beach shack!" They resigned themselves to a lengthy renovation, however, when they engaged an architect his advice was to knock down the house and start again.

So the house was rented out while plans were formulated and approved, and then a new two-storey house was built. That was then. Fast forward to now and the house that seemed so perfect in 2005 was no longer viable for their family with three teenage sons. "It needed a complete refresh and we wanted to add a swimming pool and outdoor entertaining area," says Tanya.

Designing a home to suit teenagers requires a very different approach from designing one for younger children. While some homeowners are fortunate to have flexible spaces that can adapt as family needs change, for others it is simply easier to bite the bullet and start afresh, and this was certainly the case for Tanya and Nick.

The family members are all avid sports fans and they love to entertain so they wanted their house to reflect their needs now and into the future.

In addition to four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a study, entertainers' kitchen and wine cellar, on the wish list was a cinema room, a covered deck with barbecue, TV and fireplace for year-round use, as well as a pool and spa.