This coastal holiday home is located in Sorrento, a small town on the Mornington Peninsula, about an hour and a half drive away from Melbourne, Australia.
InForm Design composed of a series of stepped pavilions reflecting the sites undulating topography. The living space, master bedroom and guest bedroom sit under the main roof plane, while a separate pavilion, linked by the deck, incorporates two further bedrooms.
The owners, Maggie and Tony, are based in Singapore but love to come to this idyllic hideaway at home in Australia where they host family gatherings and holidays, either outside by the pool in the summer or by the open fire in the winter. Homeowner Maggie says “The space works really well and it allows us the option of being able to enjoy time together, and also do our own thing throughout the various areas of the house and garden.”
Tony loves that the division of space too. The home can feel both intimate and comfortable for two, but can easily accommodate family and friends as needed.
The firepit takes over a space of the garden that would have been disregarded and is oft-used for family celebrations. The garden takes a central focus and greenery can be seen from all directions. Even better, the orientation of the home means that they are completely hidden from neighbours and get a truly private experience outside.
“I enjoy being in the garden and pottering, and over time our garden has grown and changed and it just keeps getting better’, Maggie says. ‘It is still evolving and I love watching this process.”
Floor-to-ceiling glass windows open up the living room, kitchen, and dining areas to the outdoors. A combination of wood, light bricks and whites give the home a modern feeling. Pops of colour accents are used throughout the home to brighten the space.
“My favourite thing about the building and landscape design is that we have created a place that we can enjoy as a couple and as a family,” Maggie says. The quintessential Australian holiday home allows Maggie and Tony to live the best of two worlds – the bustling city of Singapore and the solitude of a holiday home on one of Australia’s most beloved beaches.
Photos by Derek Swalwell
