Escape Route

STORY Carli Philips | STYLING Bree Banfield | PHOTOGRAPHY Lisa Cohen, Belle
Leaving the city for their new seaside weekender on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula is a top priority for this wellness-loving family.
 
Bree's brief was for good quality pieces that were both beautiful and hard-wearing. This was achieved by avoiding pure white and choosing pieces that had texture to disguise any imperfection.
 
"Nothing is super perfect or overly precious. It's family friendly and well made; we only used solid timbers," she says, citing the Sibast dining chairs and Jardan coffee table as examples.
 
The outdoor area runs along the longer L-shape of the floorplan and encompasses an entertaining deck that connects to a health studio where there's an infrared sauna, ice bath and Pilates reformer bed, all routinely used by the couple because HOUSES H&G they like to prioritise health and fitness while they are out of the city.
 
Although the original intention was for a single-level home, things changed early on in the process due to the irregular shape of the block. It also meant they would have needed to sacrifice the pool and lawn. So they went up, putting the main suite, cinema room and parents retreat on the top floor.
 
For Bree, the biggest challenge was softening the feel of the architecture. "Materiality was key to 'breaking' the newness of the build and creating a relaxed, lived-in environment," she says.
 
As a counterpoint to the terrazzo, Bree sourced a textural rug from Tigmi and offset the ceiling lights with sconces, shapely lamps and a custom crochet pendant by Hamimi over the dining table.
 
She also added pattern by way of the armchair in the lounge room and khaki-print wallpaper in the guest room. Adding depth to the walls are textile works by various artists.
 
"Everything about our house - the colours, materials, textures and furnishings - creates a sense of calm and slower pace," says the owner. "We stop running around and just breathe."
 
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