Transcending a brief that called for a connection to space, light and the valley views below, design duo Margot Lane and Deborah Quigley of Sydney-based interior design practice Lane & Grove have composed a modern and relaxed Coogee home.
It all started with a disconnected 1920s Federation brick bungalow located in Sydney’s beachside locale of Coogee. Expertly capturing the spirit of the original home while reinterpreting and creating new spaces, Lane & Grove have balanced this home’s past with its new future for the growing family that call this revived house, home.
Careful selections of materials have ensured a balanced and timeless monochromatic palette through a respectfully modern Australian lens. The pared-down, coastal feel incorporates handmade matte tiles, black stained veneer and honed Carrara marble matched with our Smoked & Limed floorboards for a down-to-earth yet sophisticated contrast.
Co-Founders and directors Deborah Quigley and Margot Lane share with us their expert insight on designing within the confines of a century-old beachside bungalow and the importance of selecting durable materiality for family functionality.
Can you outline a brief project description for Coogee House and the redesigns that this Californian Bungalow underwent?
Deborah Quigley: Our Coogee Residential Project had a complete reconfiguration of the internal layout. The Master Planning saw the introduction of open plan entertaining areas, the introduction of a private rumpus room with connection to the new lap pool, a master suite, kid’s bedrooms, a new bathrooms/ensuite, an internal laundry, a home office and generous decks. The outcome achieves a beautiful flow throughout and a connection with the new light-filled open plan spaces which maximise on the incredible valley views.
Could you talk a little about the relationship between the existing 1920s home and the revived spaces, and in particular, how the renovation has contributed to the way the family now use the space?
Deborah Quigley: The existing original federation home was very pokey and dark. Our clients were desperate for a light-filled and spacious home for their growing family and with this, their need for functionality had increased significantly. The light and view are enjoyed from all areas of their new home and they now have the ability to entertain with the covered deck, BBQ, outdoor dining and new lap pool. The renovation has substantially future-proofed and enhanced the quality of the home for the family who live here.
What informed the selection of Royal Oak Floors’ soft yet natural Smoked & Limed engineered floorboards for this project?
Deborah Quigley: The residences arrival opens immediately on to the large open living- dining- kitchen area. The floor colour and finish needed to be suitable for the West orientation and subsequent afternoon glare, it also needed to be soft under foot for bare footed beach goers, as well as hard wearing for the busy family. The Royal Oak floor was the perfect grounding for the home as well as the bold black veneer statement kitchen. We matched the oak accents in the kitchen with the Oak flooring to ensure it had a connection and balance.
What was the inspiration behind this home’s striking, coastal aesthetic?
Deborah Quigley: Although the coastal home is for a large young family, we acknowledged the parents are also professional and social. With growing kids, the dynamic of the home becoming open to entertaining was at the forefront of our planning and selection of materials, along with practicality and function. We wanted to create a space that works for both roles, family and adult entertaining. A space that can grow with their children as their needs and the way they use the home change.
During the re-design the kitchen became central to unlocking the best aspects of the site; a functional space that accommodated busy lives, cooking for a large family as well as entertaining friends.
How does the pared-back palette of materials work to update the revitalised interior?
Deborah Quigley: Materials were selected to be timeless, practical and hardy for a busy young family. We maintained soft tones throughout the family home of oak, handmade tiles and Carrara stone alongside the Smoked & Limed wide timber flooring created a timeless aesthetic. The hero of the home being the kitchen has textured black stained veneer paired with beautiful oak and stone moments. The Western orientation meant we had to consider materials/colour due to the glare in the kitchen. The black oak is a bold statement, but the balance of materials works well and creates a calmness when the afternoon sun streams into the home.
