Family is at the centre of this gorgeous Kalamunda home that was built so a couple can spend more time with their grandkids. Tucked away in the hills, where a nature-walk or picnic spot is never far away, it’s the perfect place to make memories that will last a lifetime.
BRINGING FAMILY TOGETHER
This home was designed for a UK couple so they can have a home of their own whenever they visit Australia to spend time with their grandkids. With two extra bedrooms, the kids can visit whenever they want and even stay for extended periods. Either way, the grandparents get a chance to make up for the times they missed while in the UK. They can teach the kids to cook and play board games in the open-plan kitchen, living and dining, or spend the evening out on the patio for a barbecue. And if the kids forget a book or need to pop home for any reason, they’re just down the road from their parent’s house.
To top it all off, the home was also designed by the client’s son (and kids’ father), Ollie. An engineer from GHC Group, he had a particularly good understanding of their brief and was able to take on the architect role to create a space that would be perfect for their unique needs. All of this made for a very special project, and we’re incredibly happy we could be a part of it.
THE DESIGN
As this project was designed by the client’s son, they were keen to work with a builder who’d have the knowledge to bring in their own ideas and improve the plans where necessary. Always keen to join in on the creative process, we were more than happy to do just that. The resulting design is a minimalist, contemporary home that’s as gorgeous as it is practical.
On the façade, white Masterwall creates a frame around large floor-to-ceiling windows before contrasting with black composite panels by the entry. Here, a large front door of European Oak welcomes one warmly inside. Then, Walnut floors can be found throughout all the common areas and bedrooms. An open-plan kitchen, living and dining is flooded with natural light through floor-to-ceiling windows on both ends. In the kitchen, timber-look cabinetry is contrasted with Caesarstone ‘Statuario Maximus’ benchtops, while an axolotl range hood creates a feature of an otherwise boring necessity. Stacker doors can be tucked away into the wall – a tricky feature to build – to open the space up to a large alfresco. Here, a built-in barbecue area features more axolotl, and the black composite panels are carried through from the front. When the clients need a quiet space to work without being too far from the action, they can escape to a small study opposite the kitchen.
Towards the back, a spacious primary suite features a built-in custom bedframe that hides all electricity points in the headboard. More stacker doors lead to a smaller, private patio where the couple can wind-down in the evenings. In the ensuite, floor-to-ceiling travertine tile is the main feature, but a vanity top of Austral Dream Quartzite quickly draws the eye, where it’s contrasted against timber-look drawers. The kids’ rooms sit opposite the ensuite and are equipped with built-in desks for studying.
At the end of the build we were even able to stick around to complete the furnishing and styling. This included everything from the large furniture pieces to the cutlery and bedding, so it was completely ready to move in when they arrived.
A SIDE PROJECT
Along with this home for the grandparents, the son also brought us in to build a golf room at his own place. Complete with a golf simulator, fake green and a bar, it’s the perfect place to watch a game, practise your swing or spend an evening with mates. They also got a pretty cool video to show it off, so check it out here.
SUSTAINABILITY
As with most of our projects, the clients were keen to consider sustainability in their design. All the basic principles, like top-quality insulation, double-glazed windows and highly rated timber were included. On top of this, solar panels and a large water tank help to significantly reduce their reliance on the grid. One consideration we’d specifically like to note, though, is that we opted against the ‘typical’ sustainable option when we chose a gas hot water system over a heat pump hot water system. This allows the clients to switch off the hot water system when they’re back home in the UK and significantly reduce energy usage.
CHALLENGES
Being up in the hills, this was a rare project in which we didn’t have any difficulty with street access and material handling. This was a huge relief, but doesn’t mean it was all smooth sailing. Power lines very close to the site meant we had to be very careful when working with anything tall. The hills also come with the annoying presence of rock—and lots of it. We had to get a rock breaker to help with excavation, and digging trenches for the services proved a challenge. As usual, though, we were able to get through it thanks to our brilliant team of trades who work hard to finish every project safely and efficiently.
CLIENT TESTIMONIAL
A few kind words from Ollie:
“I can't speak highly enough of Mark and Owen and their over professionalism and approach to construction in what is an increasingly challenging market. Having built a house for my parents that we designed ourselves, and a custom extension for myself it's clear that Arklen only utilise the very best trades and materials and the quality is truly exceptional. Both builds were extremely well managed making it a stress free experience all round…”