TORQUAY II VICTORIA AUSTRALIA
RESIDENTIAL RENOVATION
First constructed in the early 1990s, this is one of the Surf Coast’s most prominent addresses with panoramic ocean views across Torquay’s sweeping Whites Beach. Thirty years of hectic family activity and southern ocean exposure was the motivation for this 2023 renovation to restore and modernise. Externally, the clever application of off-set vertical timber battens ‘wrapped’ around the original structure afforded a profound transformation with minimal change to the original structure, except for recladding and repainting. Internally, small but key adjustments to the floor plan resulted in more efficient storage, larger bathrooms and expanded kitchen with walk in pantry. At ground level, two under-utilised rooms were combined to create a delightful all-season, light-filled space –home office, library, cosy fire-side retreat and a bar, with large sliding doors overlooking the new pool and re-landscaped garden. The brief was “white house” and with the collaboration of fabulous and fearless clients, we developed a textural, coastal palette around ‘white’ encompassing the existing Victorian Ash floorboards, complimentary timber grain veneer, large porcelain ‘limestone’ floor tiles, reactive glazed mosaic wall tiles, subtle ‘terrazzo’ mineral stone benchtops and loop wool carpet. Each element chosen to reflect the hues of the surrounding environment – oceanic blues, greens, greys and ubiquitous beach sand. Photography: Stephanie Rooney | Styling: Loup