Residential Homes

Elysees House

Elysees House

Steeped in family history and perched above the coastline, Elysees House holds a deeply personal connection for its owners. Hand-built by the client’s grandfather in the 1970s, the home remained a completely original time capsule, serving as a beloved family holiday escape for over 50 years.

However, as the house transitioned from a seasonal getaway to a permanent home, it required a thoughtful evolution. The goal was to modernize the layout, optimize everyday functionality, and seamlessly integrate aging-in-place principles - all while fiercely respecting the grandfather's original design choices, exposed timber raked ceilings, and nostalgic material palette.

The Brief

  • Honour the Heritage: Respect the 1970s essence, architectural bones, and nostalgic warmth of the original home.

  • Modernize Layout & Function: Improve workflow and storage in the kitchen while keeping the space feeling connected to the main living area and coastal views.

  • Support Aging in Place: Completely reconfigure the fragmented bathroom layout to maximize the footprint and incorporate universal accessibility features without sacrificing aesthetics.

The Design Response

Kitchen: Reimagined flow with retro roots

The original kitchen featured dark pine cabinetry, bright orange laminate benchtops, and a cramped cooking zone. The design response elevates the original classic mid-century elements rather than erasing them:

  • The Palette: The vibrant orange laminate makes way for a sophisticated, earthy terracotta square tile splashback and kicker, paired with matching warm ochre accents to the pantry that echo the home’s original soul.

  • The Joinery: Custom light oak timber cabinetry replaces the heavy pine wood, detailed with playful timber pulls.

  • The Storage: Bespoke cabinetry keeps the main countertops beautifully uncluttered while ensuring everyday items are within easy, ergonomic reach.

Bathroom: A seamless wet room layout

The original layout was heavily segmented -featuring a tiny, cramped shower compartment alongside a completely separate toilet corridor that was entirely unsuitable for future mobility needs. By dissolving the internal partitions, the footprint was completely maximized into a generous, universal-access layout:

  • Zero-Barrier Shower: The shower now features subtle grab rails to support aging in place and features an expansive glass partition for light and openness.

  • Built-in Tiled Plinths: A custom structural bench seat wrapped in mustard square tiles is built directly into the shower enclosure for safety and comfort, matching the protective tiled plinth that underlines the floating vanity.

  • Playful Details: The light wood vanity features oversized, sculptural circular timber handles, paired with curved mirrors and soft, spherical wall sconces providing shadow-free illumination.

Our clients are thrilled with the restoration of their home, knowing it will stand the test of time for at least another 50 years.