Story written by Lisa Shearon

It’s the product of a close collaboration between the clients, designers and builders. This luxurious family home in Applecross is a testament to Riverstone’s meticulous eye for style and detail.  

The clients requested a spacious family home with light, open and multifunctional living spaces as well as wide entries and hallways to ensure the home flowed nicely from the front entrance to the standalone pool house at the very back.

When it came to the aesthetics, the clients worked with Riverstone’s talented designers to create a contemporary beach home with an effortless Hamptons feel, which invites you in with an open, comfortable and welcoming interior.  

"We wanted a home that offered us more space, storage and light. A simple, classic design that would be timeless and also fit with my love of coastal and, dare I say, ‘Hamptons' homes."

Riverstone Custom Homes’ client.  

“We had seen several new display homes during the process of coming up with our concept,” she added.

“I tore pages from magazines of specific elements – such as the stairwell with window seat – and collected a lot of ideas on Pinterest! We took all this to Alan, our designer, and he managed to come up with a great design that suited us.”

The home’s easy-flow floorplan is open and welcoming, linking seamlessly to the stunning alfresco, garden, swimming pool and pool house, which doubles as a gym, art studio or guest suite.   

“We had definite ideas about the layout,” the client said. “We wanted a master bedroom wing, where the bathroom was at the end and separated from the bedroom by the walk-in robe; this is so very early morning starts don’t disturb.

“The kids needed to be upstairs, with a living zone, and we wanted our kitchen/living/dining to open to a large alfresco with bi-fold doors creating a large space for entertaining.

“The ‘drop zone’ was a must for me,” the client added. “It’s an area where we have built-in drawers for the school bags and sports gear. Each child has their drawer; it stops the bags from being dumped everywhere. I love that!”

In true Hamptons style, the home cleverly uses a mix of materials to great effect throughout, from the stone cladding adorning the façade to the textured wallpapers, white-gloss-timber lining boards, and luxurious Royal Oak timber flooring in the living areas.

“I knew I wanted timber floors and lots of white with a palette of greys in the tiles, carpet and curtains,” the client explained. “I wanted white panelling for a coastal touch and some organic elements too, which we got with the Neolith splashback in the kitchen, and the natural light fittings.

“The Neolith was a touch of luxe that I just love and it works well to carry the grey theme – and it’s the easiest to clean!”

The client feels the result is light, open and most importantly, reflective of the family that calls it home.

“Honestly, I love it all!” she said. “The stairwell is gorgeous for lighting the middle section of the home and offers excellent cross-ventilation and a comfy spot to sit with a book. We all love it.

“I am so happy with my kitchen, too. Initially, I was worried it was too long, and I’d be doing crazy miles in there but it isn’t a problem at all, and it means we can all be in there doing something together. I haven’t once said, ‘Get out of the kitchen!’”

For more information about Riverstone Custom Homes, visit their profile.