HG HOUSES
100 | AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN
< relief from the heat, and the glazing and concrete floors work in
tandem to keep the house cosy in winter.
In line with Milly and Andrew’s desire for a home that was“neither precious nor pretentious”, they opted for rustic,
hardwearing materials inside and out. Wet-dash render is an
unusual and visually arresting treatment for select feature walls,
its rough texture offering a lovely contrast to the smoothness
of the concrete kitchen benchtop and polished-concrete floor.
Hoop-pine plywood lines the ceilings, while spotted gum is
used for the built-in joinery throughout. Soft furnishings were
kept to a minimum. “We needed to work with the climate,” says
Milly. “I love fabrics, but here, they just get blasted by the sun and
turn mouldy with the humidity. I wanted a house that was easy to
keep clean.”
That ease of maintenance will pay off come Christmas when Millyand Andrew’s nearest and dearest arrive. Their main hope – even
with a pool to retreat to – is that it’s not too humid on the day. “I
grew up near here and I’ve experienced some real stinkers at
Christmas. At least now we can open up the house to let the breezes
through,” says Andrew. “And if it does get too hot, we’ll likely just
put the fan on and keep drinking Champagne!” says Milly. #
Shane Thompson Architects, ortitude Valley, Queensland;
(07) 3252 1113 or http://www.shanethompson.com.au.
COURTYARD Conversation flows long into the
night in the entry courtyard, which is designed like a
sunken living room. Landscaping by Delve Consulting.
BALCONY A small balcony off the bedroom is situated to
capture cooling breezes. Another Juliet balcony on the north
face of the house, off the mezzanine level, is a delightful sun
trap in winter. Spotted-gum cladding, A Wood Shed.
BATHROOM The joinery, by Projects Queensland Interiors,
matches that in the kitchen. Basins and tapware, Express
Plumbing Supplies. Spotted-gum cabinetry. Concrete
benchtop. For Where to Buy, see page 218.