Brunswick East House
Studio Esteta were engaged by a young and growing family to design a refined and open floor concept for their Melbourne home.
Brunswick East House is the refurbishment of an existing single-story weatherboard residence that demonstrates effective spatial planning, a refined but uncomplicated palette, attention to detail and practical solutions to suit the lifestyle of our clients young and growing family.
The brief sort to maintain the overall floor plan but maximize spatial efficiencies to incorporate a new ensuite and an open plan kitchen, dining and living arrangement. Furthermore, the brief called for a compact and seamless but also functional and structured residential spatial arrangement with innovative and efficient integration of storage.
Through clever and considered planning, both the aesthetic and function of the residence has been entirely altered resulting in a home that, although compact, imbues a sense of warmth and spaciousness. The resulting design comprises of a series of efficient spaces including; a master bedroom, walk-in robe, ensuite, bathroom with integrated euro laundry, kitchen with adjacent pantry, and open plan dining and living areas.
The design exceeds expectations, maximizing every millimeter within the restraints, to not only provide for an efficient open plan kitchen, dining and living but also the seamless integration of a pantry. Full height joinery lines the perimeter of the pantry to form a defined portal into space and effortlessly assimilate high-level storage, a fridge alcove and stone-clad cook bank reveal. The pantry incorporates a second sink, appliance bench and full height pantry with a combination of under counter drawers and cupboards to satisfy our Clients specific storage requirements.
A key factor of the brief, was the inclusion of a prominent kitchen island bench to become the heart of the house to cater to our clients love of entertaining and also maximise the connection to the existing dining area and backyard beyond. Carefully considered, the island bench is robust but softened by delicate detailing, and seamlessly integrates both concealed storage to cater for the dining area and open shelving for their extensive collection of cookbooks.
Existing floorboards have been refinished and flow from the kitchen and pantry into the dining and living areas, further enhancing the connection to the dining and living areas.
A palette of soft grey two-pack joinery finishes, Lima marble featuring intrinsic veins, warm timbers and dark bronze fixtures are sensitively balanced with refined sophistication, evident in the clean lines and light-filled interior. The final design solution is a testament to clever, considered and practical ideas that are sympathetic to the existing conditions and successfully achieve the clients brief to create a simple, functional and beautiful home that they can share with family and friends.
Design: Studio Esteta
Photography: Tatjana Plitt
