Britt White Studio has completely renovated this Scandinavian alpine-style home that is located in the town of Bright, Victoria, Australia. Greige and dated, this single-level house was a product of its time. Constructed in 2010 for a retired couple with a love of country style, Leader Reef failed to capitalize on its location and surroundings.

Purchased by a couple in their 30s, able to see the potential of strong foundational elements, Britt White Studio was engaged to drive a complete renovation of the property, modernizing the aesthetic of the home to their own style and taste. Drawing inspiration from the mountainous surroundings, the result is an open-plan home in a Scandinavian alpine style — a moody second home that is perfect for winter snow getaways and entertaining.

DESIGN DETAILS: INTERIOR DESIGN Britt White Studio BUILDER Beatson Builders CUSTOM CABINETS Ovens Valley Cabinets MODULAR TIMBER SOLUTIONS Screen Wood

DETAILS: Project Budget: AUD 400,000.00 (268,894 USD)

The clients, an entrepreneurial couple from Melbourne with the pressures of running a national business, purchased this property as their winter house – a place for them to explore the mountains and their beloved ski resorts that surround Bright.

Travelers at heart, they had fallen in love with the character and charm of Canadian and Japanese mountain culture and were inspired to bring a touch of that closer to home.

The existing 2,153 square foot (200 square meters) house, set on a sunny north-facing hillside block, consisted of a series of rooms facing in on themselves rather than towards the spectacular mountains beyond.

The first priority was to reconfigure the architecture of the main living spaces to facilitate open-plan living and entertaining whilst opening up these areas with expansive new floor-to-ceiling glazing, to reveal an amazing panoramic view of the surrounding mountain tops.

The style might be best described as ‘Scandinavian Alpine’, with a neutral color palette of black, white, and grey, which was softened with warm oak timbers and textured soft furnishing. Accents of black timber round out the palette for a moody vibe – a safe place to enjoy, looking out onto the winter cold beyond – and a significant departure from the ‘greige’ of before.

The use of modular square edge batten profile timber across walls, draws, cabinet fronts, and doors – albeit softened with some curved surfaces – resonated strongly with the clients’ love of straight geometry, producing a contemporary and cozy atmosphere.

The design provides a place of rest and sanctuary away from their hectic city lives. But that is not to say that it is all play, with the creation of a new secret office in addition to redesigning the kitchen, two bathrooms, plus dining and living spaces, before the curation of furniture, finishings, and objects for the house in its entirety.

Stoked is a term more closely associated with snowboarding than design, but it succinctly summed up the clients’ reaction to seeing the project upon completion.

“It’s more a transformation than a renovation. From the seed of an idea to the breathtaking reality, Britt’s design prowess turned my house into a haven. Time here feels like a hug. It’s a place where we can escape the ordinary of the every day, a place where we can find solace and sanctuary. It showcases what we envisioned. We couldn’t be happier.”

For Britt, the project is a direct result of having the perfect clients. “I’d describe them as design-driven, but due to their busy lifestyle, are time-poor. They’re passionate about the local environment, community and using local suppliers. They don’t live here permanently, but that didn’t lessen their expectations when it came to an innovative design solution for their property. I am grateful for their ongoing trust and look forward to our next project together.”

What We Love: This Scandinavian-style alpine home offers its owners a fabulous getaway home for outdoor adventures and entertaining family and friends. Completely overhauled, this home now reflects the style aesthetics of its new inhabitants, with inspiration taken from this home’s breathtaking mountainous landscape. Overall, this home offers a warm and welcoming yet moody atmosphere thanks to its thoughtful design and meticulous attention to detail.

Tell Us: What details do you find inspiring in this Aussie home? Please share your thoughts in the Comments, we love reading your feedback!

Note: Be sure to check out a couple of other incredible home tours that we have showcased here on One Kindesign in the country of Australia: Tranquil rainforest retreat in Australia beautifully entwined with nature and A charred timber screen clads this exhilarating coastal home in Australia.

Above: This gorgeous kitchen is comprised of black and oak timbers.

 

PHOTOGRAPHER Shannae Photo

One Kindesign has received this project from our submissions page. If you have a project you would like to submit, please visit our submit your work page for consideration!