SLICE OF HEAVEN

A nature-inspired palette inside and a gorgeous enveloping garden outside make for a blissful home on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.

-  Jackie Brygel

Every opportunity has been taken to connect the Mornington Peninsula home of Amanda and Darran to its natural surrounds. From its lush, secluded vistas to its airy living spaces unified by the use of raw and robust materials, there’s a deep sense of serenity to the everyday sanctuary the couple share with their three teenage children.

For Amanda and Darran, it was paramount that the home sit comfortably within its pristine landscape. “We both grew up on the Mornington Peninsula,” says Amanda. “It almost feels as though we’re in the country here, since we’re on about 4000 square metres with trees all around. Yet we can walk to the beach and the shops. It’s the best of both worlds.”

Nine years ago Amanda and Darran, who run their family-owned business 3D Windows, bought the large plot – which at the time featured a small 1980s brick-veneer house. For seven years, the couple lived in that existing property with their children – Calum, now 18, Jacob, 17, and Ella, 13 – while never losing sight of their dream.

“We always knew that one day we would want to create our forever home,” says Amanda. “Once we made the decision to knock down the house and rebuild, there was definitely no turning back. It’s the best thing we’ve ever done.”

Indeed, she and Darran had a clear vision of what they were hoping for when they enlisted the expertise of interior design studio KWD, along with architect Adrian Kucyk, builder KLS and landscape designer Steve Taylor of COS Design.