Design Balance: A Contemporary Home by Studio Tate

Every room has a connection to the outdoors, whether it be via a window or skylight. “A seamless connection between indoors and outdoors was key for our client”, says Alex. The home establishes a connection to the outdoors from the start through a limestone-clad wall that extends along the entryway. The external timber screens that slide along the facade, designed as a sun-shading device, create a gently dappled light in the interior, while in the living and dining spaces floor-to-ceiling glazing visually bring the lush vegetation in, and extend the space out onto the private garden and deck. The connection with the outdoors is present even in the kitchen, where a glazed kitchen splashback creates an ever-changing panorama.

Yet while the Brighton Residence is integrally connected with the outdoors, it balances the profound sense of openness with a carefully selected materials palette which creates an inviting sense of warmth and comfort. The clients regularly entertain, with family Friday-night dinners that can reach up to 14 guests. The challenge was to create spaces large enough to entertain large groups while maintaining a sense of intimacy for the family home. Studio Tate specified a tactile palette of material palette of two natural stones (serpeggiante limestone and cararra) and two timber veneers (custom brown/black and ebonized black). The darkness of the timber and tactility of the natural materials create depth and warmth while also enhancing a crisp, contemporary monochromatic colour palette.

Upstairs, the main kitchen and dining spaces are beautiful and functional while entertaining, with an abundance of bench space and a butler’s pantry acting almost as a second kitchen to accommodate several people prepping and cooking at once. The cellar, meanwhile, is also a space for social gatherings, and during the design process it received a significant amount of attention and consideration from Studio Tate. “We took the time to understand the brief for the cellar / wine room to ensure the space would provide what they wanted”, says Alex, “as it turns out the family have now been hosting cellar dinners once a month! The clients have a great sense of style and it was important to ensure this came through via the interior detailing.”

By taking such care to understand the family’s lifestyle and translating them into design solutions, Studio Tate have created a home that supports the lives of its inhabitants, both functionally and aesthetically. Elegant, minimalist and airy while simultaneously being cosy, intimate and welcoming, the Brighton Residence is a truly balanced family home.