MODERN HISTORY
Australian House & Garden Magazine
|February 2024
Life is now a breeze for a family of five in this calm coastal home with nature-inspired interior finishes and playful art at every turn.
When architect Michael Cumming’s clients first encountered this idyllic block in a coastal Sydney suburb, it sported a speck of a dilapidated cottage. “But from the front door, you could see out to banana trees and into a lush, green gully,” recalls one of the owners. “It’s a special location.” Easy access to the beach was a bonus.
However, with two bedrooms, one bathroom and one living space, the circa 1910 brick house wasn’t practical for a young family of five. The only solution was to raze the site. The owners coveted a characterful beach house that felt like it had always been there — like the existing sandstone and weatherboard homes in the area — not a stark knock-down rebuild.
Having met Michael through friends, the owners gelled with the architect instantly – despite his more contemporary bent. “Initially the owners talked about a very traditional, very white beach house,” says Michael. “The trick was to add extra layers, curves and subtle colour so it wasn’t too ‘expected’.”
Cette histoire est tirée de l'édition February 2024 de Australian House & Garden Magazine.
Abonnez-vous à Magzter GOLD pour accéder à des milliers d'histoires premium sélectionnées et à plus de 9 000 magazines et journaux.
Déjà abonné ? Se connecter
PLUS D'HISTOIRES DE Australian House & Garden Magazine
Australian House & Garden Magazine
FAD OR FOREVER?
KIRSTIE CLEMENTS QUIZZES A PANEL OF EXPERTS FOR THEIR TAKE ON THE COLOURS OF TODAY, YESTERDAY AND TOMORROW, STIRRING NOSTALGIC ANECDOTES AND SPARKING CONVERSATION. BUT DO COLOURS EVER REALLY DATE?
3 mins
December 2025
Australian House & Garden Magazine
FIND YOUR HUE
DREAMING OF A FRESH COAT OF PAINT? HERE'S HOW TO CHOOSE A COLOUR PALETTE THAT SPEAKS TO YOU, NOT JUST THE TRENDS
2 mins
December 2025
Australian House & Garden Magazine
TRUE CHARACTER
Every corner of this expansive home has been carefully considered to suit its surroundings and enhance the lives of its owners.
3 mins
December 2025
Australian House & Garden Magazine
All about THE HOME
Provenance meets personality in this 1850s sandstone home designed for quiet contemplation and celebration – refurbished just in time for Christmas.
3 mins
December 2025
Australian House & Garden Magazine
modern MEADOW
A wild and wispy garden in Melbourne's inner north is a blissful sanctuary, not just for the owners but also the local native fauna.
3 mins
December 2025
Australian House & Garden Magazine
WATER colour
A dynamic dialogue between tone and texture, interior and exterior, sets the scene in this stunning Sydney harbourside home.
3 mins
December 2025
Australian House & Garden Magazine
Overheard
THE MOTHER-DAUGHTER DUO OFFER GENERATIONAL TAKES ON HOME-LIFE DILEMMAS OVERHEARD FROM PERFECT STRANGERS. THIS MONTH: IS REGIFTING NO LONGER TABOO?
2 mins
December 2025
Australian House & Garden Magazine
BOLD profile
Designer Nickolas Gurtler plays with rich materials and a moody palette, enriching a Perth worker's cottage with a sophisticated tone.
3 mins
December 2025
Australian House & Garden Magazine
Colour coded
From earth-inspired tones to nostalgic brights, the three Dulux colour palettes for 2026 reflect a desire for calm and connection.
4 mins
December 2025
Australian House & Garden Magazine
NEAR & FAR
Two dreamy destinations to add to your travel list, plus ideas to recreate that holiday atmosphere at home.
1 mins
December 2025
Translate
Change font size

