Interior design and renovation duo Bec and George Douros, known for their appearance on reno reality show The Block, have unveiled their latest building project.
Alma Terrace House is located in the Melbourne suburb of Williamstown. The striking four-bedroom home pays homage to the historic character of the local area and can be viewed as a link from the past to the future.
“Being located in a heritage location, the house has taken design elements such as pitched form and materials, and design ideology from the heritage homes within the neighbourhood,” says Bec.
“Along with this, we’ve used clean lines, subtle curves and material sensibility in a refined manner to assist the language between classic and contemporary.”
The home’s contemporary lines and neutral-toned palette contrast with and complement the heritage houses in the area.
The light-coloured ivory architectural bricks give a smooth yet subtly textured finish, which pairs with the cladding and the landscape design that includes natural bluestone crazy paving as a design feature.
Concrete bricks were the perfect choice for the exterior being energy-efficient and durable, as well as increasing the strength of the structure and guarding it from environmental elements.
The interiors reflect the external palette, offering a calming, light resort vibe with white, timber and natural stone as the main features throughout.
“The internal living space has been maximised at every opportunity,” said Bec. “We wanted a home that considers our lifestyle requirements.
“The brief for the home was to create a holiday feeling – a luxury resort with all the functionality aspects a family needs.”
Referencing the resort vibe of the home, the entryway features warm timber flooring against crisp white walls, while fluid architecture and finishings help to deliver a soft, yet impactful look and feel to the space.
There is a strong focus on energy efficiency and sustainability throughout the home. Bec and George were conscious that with so much glazing throughout the home, there was the need to maximise natural light but minimise heating and cooling options at different times of the year.
“Window dressings were an important part of our design considerations,” says Bec.
“We have a lot of windows, so it was important to choose products that help to block out some of the heat while allowing us to control the light and privacy.
“We chose a combination of Luxaflex Duette Shades which suits the architectural style of the interiors while providing efficient insulation by trapping air within their honeycomb cell, and Luxaflex linen sheers to add softness and a touch of luxury to our home.”
While the timber flooring and wall panelling add warmth, the striking all-white kitchen is paired with gorgeous lightly patterned luxe stone benchtops and a neutral finger-shaped tile splashback, offering a unique and modern look.
Thanks to floor to floor-to-ceiling windows leading out to the garden and pool area, the room is flooded with light, and the double doors provide a smooth transition from the interior to the exterior.
“The kitchen and living area are my favourite spaces in the house, with their stunning double height window and void,” said Bec.
“I spend a lot of my time in the kitchen, and not only is it beautiful, it is also very functional.”
Organic shapes create visual interest throughout the home incorporated through curvaceous bathroom interiors, light fittings, lounge room furnishings, bed heads and a beautiful bespoke curved feature wall in the kitchen area.
The lounge room which connects to the kitchen and living area, is open and expansive and flooded with light.
The master bedroom, which looks over the void, features layers of texture along with rounded bedside tables and an oversized Wylie shag chair, that succeeds in creating a beautifully serene space.
With three children keeping them busy, Bec and George wanted the home to have adaptable spaces for the growing family, and the house has been designed for each child to have their own bedroom.
In each bedroom, there are subtle touches of colour, and plenty of space for playing, and room to adapt as the children grow.
