Carmichael Build and Story Design Collective bring a fresh take on designing by the coast with their contemporary all-black Queensland home.
Carmichael Build‘s co-founders Nicquel and Sam Carmichael and interior designers Story Design Collective have gone against the grain in their most recent project, a two-storey family home in Palm Beach, Queensland, designed for entertaining. We caught up with Carmichael Build design and project manager Nicquel Carmichael to discover how the home maintains a tangible connection with the outdoors and the deeply-symbolic nature of the charcoal palette.
Produced in partnership with Gaggenau
Carmichael Build specified the Gaggenau 200 series oven and 200 series combi-steam oven in anthracite in the monochrome kitchen, set within blackened timber veneer joinery.
According to Nicquel, the home was to be simultaneously mysterious and moody – yet sleek and refined. “When done right, black can be sophisticated and alluring,” Nicquel says. “It is a statement of strength and boldness but also one of comfort. In Feng Shui, black represents the water element and symbolises calmness and depth,” she adds. The design team knew that designing an all-black home required considered openings and tailored outlooks to capture the sun, light and sea breeze.
With this in mind, full-height stacker doors in the kitchen and dining space – what Nicquel refers to as the ‘hub’ of the home – recede into the charred timber ceiling and seamlessly transition onto the outdoor terrace and pool, complete with a built-in barbecue and sunken fire pit. “These doors open in both directions and allow multiple configurations of the spaces,” Nicquel adds.
Full-height stacker doors in the kitchen and dining space seamlessly transition onto the outdoor terrace and pool.
A suspended wood-burning fireplace in the adjacent living area contrasts the linear nature of the home, also adding a design focal point in the open-plan space.
The Kustom Timber Calypso floorboards inject warmth into the home.
Entertainment, cooking and sharing meaningful conversations and meals with friends are at the heart of the kitchen design. Here, a five-meter island bench clad in Signorino Damatas marble anchors the kitchen space, wrapped in linear timber panelling reminiscent of the charred timber ceiling above. A concealed butler’s pantry lies tucked behind the main kitchen facade, with a door leading to the outdoor kitchen for a streamlined cooking experience.
Nicquel says the kitchen appliances were essential to an entertainer’s lifestyle. “The bold and sleek design of the Gaggenau 200 series appliances coupled with the quality and craftsmanship of the brand made it an easy decision,” Nicquel admits. “The ovens are the perfect architectural statement balanced with immense functionality.” The Gaggenau 200 series oven and 200 series combi-steam oven in anthracite are a natural fit in the monochrome kitchen, set within blackened timber veneer joinery.
A suspended wood-burning fireplace in the adjacent living area contrasts the linear nature of the home, adding visual interest and a design focal point in the open-plan space. The first storey also includes a guest suite and designated home office that can be entirely shut from the rest of the home. “The pandemic drove a massive shift towards working from – this crucial room has been designed to facilitate productivity and privacy,” Nicquel adds.
Carmichael Build and Story Design Collective have offered a new perspective on designing with dark colours by the coast with a home that feels surprisingly open and inviting.
The black home appears as though it’s ‘hovering’ over the contrasting greenery.
