MB: What were your house and
garden like before this project?
KK: We always spent a lot of time in the
garden. We couldn’t entertain in the old
house because it was so small. We would
host backyard parties and front yard parties
and side yard parties, depending on the
sun and where it was and where the shade
was. We loved having our family over. And
we loved sitting in our backyard, just the
two of us, and watching the bats fly over at
five o’clock. We really wanted a house that
meant we could be outdoors all the time.
Dom’s family has a tradition of Tuesday
night family dinners and we wanted that
in our new house. It was about making sure
our home felt like a place that everyone
wanted to come – a weather-proof,
uncomplicated space.
MB: What are your garden parties
like now?
KK: We had Dom’s family here recently,
twenty-four of them, and it worked
seamlessly. And we only had three chairs!
We didn’t provide instruction, people
just naturally found somewhere to plonk
themselves – outside on the hill, on the
window seat, on the concrete seat. What
we liked was that it was informal. Having
so many people here was effortless.The lounge room became an intimate
space where you could disappear to if
you wanted some quiet time. The kitchen
was a hive of activity the whole time,
because different people were preparing
various parts of the meals. People just
made themselves at home, which is what
we want. We don’t want to be prescriptive
about how people occupy the place. We
want to open the house up, let them come
in and make themselves at home.In most homes, you’re either inside or
you’re outside, there is no grey. But here,
there’s a lot of grey. There’s plenty of
inside/outside space. The new extension
is so peaceful and everywhere you walk,
you’re only a step from being outdoors.MB: What else do you love about
your new house?DK: The new bathrooms are a lot of fun
to be in. It’s informal. It’s like a very nice
camping “dunny” block bolted to the side
of the house. Most people find having a
communal space for bathing an unusual
concept, but we try to be relaxed and it’s
the lifestyle we want to raise our baby
Charlie in. That style of bathing promotes
the lifestyle we want.KK: It’s a pleasure to be here and it has
been for the past seven months. It feels
like a holiday home. When we go away,
it’s amazing to come back to. Every second
you spend here you find a new angle that
offers something visually beautiful and it
constantly changes with the sunlight and
time of day.