From the outside in, there was no sticking to the status quo. The home’s rear exterior is an eyeful in the best possible way: sculpted by inventive timber form and concrete-framed glass. Inside, the architecture transpires cleverly to the sight lines – namely, the sweeping, curved vista that shapes the living and dining area. With perhaps the best view in the house, the kitchen opens up to the rounded glass panels to take in verdant garden views and the serene quality that enters the home. Nearby, the vibrancy of the pool masks the living area in vibrant blue through the full height windows, lending a contemporary ambiance. The interplay between expansiveness and human scale pervades, as the home is carefully zoned for privacy yet connected for the family to gather and relax. Fusing each area is a layering of concrete, marble, timber and glass that inform the core of the home’s palette. Copious concrete is used both structurally and for the finishes, as a durable dressing for the floors and raw texture in the cooking space.

The interiors offer a sense of intrigue and awe not to be left to the younger ones – but shared with the grown-ups alike. Fuelling the imagination is the distinctive art mounted around the home. Forget putting drawings on the fridge, the kid’s art is framed and mounted on the wall, while small painted portraits line the shelves. With this approach, Heartly has ensured a personalised, modern Australian touch – spot the koala print in the formal living – and all the standout mod cons, such as the Twiggy Dimmer Floor Lamp and  Gyrofocus pivoting fireplace. Rounding off the family area is a fresh assortment of indoor greenery; a playful addition to the light-soaked and airy interior.

At est we know that in the end, a home’s liveability comes down to comfort – in configuring generous spaces to feel tailored and intimate. Heartly has created easy places to work and play through storage and configuration. Keeping the kids in mind, the study is elevated off the kitchen and ready to accomodate homework or the home office. Custom storage is abundant and on show – privately in the master bedroom’s enviable walk in wardrobe and integrated in the living space with inbuilt shelving and custom joinery. Yes, Heartly knows how to hide the clutter that can follow a busy family. 

Clean, crisp and kid-friendly, the Hawthorn House is brimming with light and energy, thinking beyond the confines of a traditional family home. With the work of Domoney Architecture and Heartly, this family home has learned to sing again.