Real reno: Navy stars in boathouse inspired family home

Located in the Melbourne seaside suburb of Mt Martha, this navy, white and timber dream of a home was renovated recently by Kate Walker Design for a young family of five. “The client came to KWD with a brief of creating a coastal and airy aesthetic, and they wanted it to have a resort-like feel. We ended up refining the design to ‘Boathouse’ style,” says Kate Walker.

On first glance, it’s the gorgeous v-groove paneling that really draws the eye, and that creates that coastal feel. “I love the subtlety of the texture inside the home. We used V-groove paneling on the ceiling with strapping and reiterated that on the island bench, on the joinery and on the main wall in the master bedroom upstairs,” says Kate of the home that has a predominantly white-on-white palette with punches of navy.

“We used American oak for the flooring in the living area and handmade wool carpet in the master bedroom, Carrara marble on the kitchen benchtop and splash back and terrazzo tiles on the floors of the bathrooms with a mix of terrazzo and ceramic tiles on the walls,” says Kate. The subtle textural details really imbue the home with a sense of luxury.

Kate’s favourite part of the project is the kitchen, mostly because there are so many different site lines in the space and it forms the hub of the home. “You get a beautiful view from every direction, be it through the gas-lift window, from the butler’s pantry, sitting in the lounge room or the dining table or even from the reading nook. For a family with three young children, and busy parents, it’s a great way to stay connected.”

The outdoor area is another highlight space. The stone clad outdoor fireplace ensures entertaining is possible all year and the adjacent timber lined pool is rather fabulous too.

Photography: Brent Lukey

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