A Coastal Retreat
The owners of design practice MANNA MADE have made their Mornington Peninsula home a peaceful refuge where they can reset and connect with nature
South of Melbourne in Mornington Peninsula, Blairgowrie House coexists with its coastal surroundings, its clean lines sitting in harmony with the landscape. The project is the result of four years of planning and construction by its designers and owners — the founders of end-to-end design and construction firm MANNA MADE — in collaboration with local building designers Bellhaus Design Office.
Aside from running MANNA MADE, Dan and Dani Reilly both also work in television, so they wanted to create a respite from their busy work lives. ‘Our work takes us all over Melbourne and beyond, so our aim was to create a sanctuary that allows us to really connect with our surrounding environment and feels like a retreat when we come home every day,’ says Dani. ‘Being heavily surrounded by vegetation and having the ocean at our doorstep is what initially drew us to the area and to this site in particular.’
Inspired by the rugged coastline and European Essentialism, the home’s architecture and interiors are characterised by a minimalist scheme. A palette of natural and sustainable materials brings an elegant tactility and a sense of authenticity to the home.
Anchoring the main living space, a large custom dining table by Joel Elliott is striking in its simplicity. ’I wanted a modern, minimalist take on a farm-style table that gave the illusion of two slabs of timber for the top, with a small gap in between,’ Dani says. ‘We had a steel plate routed into the base of the top slabs and fixed into the legs to make it appear as if there’s no timber supports or frame.’
In the window-framed lounge area, a custom sunken sofa designed in collaboration with HARBRO invites relaxation. ‘The sunken lounge is by far my favourite space in the home,’ she says. ‘It has so many functions. It can be a work area, a chill space, a family zone or a theatre room, and it really allows you to take in your surrounding landscape from multiple vantage points’.
Pierced with large windows offering unobstructed views of the surrounding greenery, the home has a seamless connection to nature that makes the building truly unique. ‘We find ourselves drawn to the steps of the central al fresco space that connects the two living rooms,’ Dani says. ‘It’s an uncomplicated space that allows the architecture to be the hero.’
Text / Nina Milhaud
Images / Timothy Kaye
