Grange Residence
BUILDING DESIGNER Daniel Cassetai Design • BUILDER Grange Residential and Construction • INTERIOR DESIGN Malvina Stone
PHOTOGRAPHY Jody D’Arcy • WORDS Elizabeth Clarke
The most striking aspect of Julia and Brendan Green's home, apart from its breathtaking North Beach location, is its highly individual approach to coastal living.
"We wanted something unique but still coastal," Julia tells Havenist. "It needed to be beautiful, make the most of the ocean views, but still feel cosy to live in."
As owners of Grange Residential and Construction, creating stunning beach houses is Julia and Brendan's every day. "It's what we love to do most," she says. "From North Beach and Scarborough to Wembley and Doubleview, Perth's coastal locations are second to none. So is our lifestyle."
Situated on a generous corner lot, the home boasts two stunning street facades featuring austere planes, fluid curves, and vertical concrete brick features. Specialised external rendering by Master Wall protects from harsh coastal conditions, and simple landscaping and rich greenery soften the home's lines.
"Aurora Landscaping did a fabulous job landscaping, Ascher Smith was involved in the exterior concept and design, and Luke McCarter from DIGWA sourced and secured the plants, like our beautiful Aloe trees," she says.
Creating their family home was a collaboration with award-winning building designer Daniel Cassettai and interiors maven Malvina Stone. "Brendan has worked with Daniel on other homes, and I love working with Malvina," she says. "It was an inspiring and rewarding project with a great team."
The home's interior draws attention for its emphasis on proportion, scale, line, light, raw materials, and minimalist furnishings. Each space is a study in restraint and purity with a focus on genuine liveability.
On the ground floor is the 'boy zone'. Designed specifically for the couple's sons, it includes a four car garage, gym, bedrooms, and living space characterised by curved timber battens, concrete floors and rounded furnishings built for style and comfort. "There's a lot of concrete down there," Julia laughs. "They have direct access to our cars which they love too. It's robust and designed perfectly for boys."
Upstairs are three bedrooms which includes a curved walk-in-robe and bathroom complete with free-standing tub and louvres looking south.
The open living spaces that share the same floor are warm as well as functional. Designed with beachside living in mind, they extend onto a vast balcony with views spanning the ocean and sky on every side. An Empire daybed and pair of French mid-century chairs provide a spot to sit, and a custom porcelain built-in bar for two takes in enviable views.
"It's an indoor-outdoor space, designed as a summer extension of inside," she says. "The external curves of the building provide complete privacy. It’s amazing! We live out there."
Inside, the kitchen embraces chic custom benchtops and limestone finger tiling by European Ceramics. American Oak veneer cabinetry and wall panelling by Samuel Cabinetry dominate the space, and solid oak battens elegantly encircle a central island bench.
The battens appear throughout the home, binding its spaces together and adding a striking sculptural quality.
"They were a massive job for DNC Projects and required a real eye for detail," she says. "Malvina doesn't do 'shiny', so finding timber in the perfect shade and finish was important! We looked at many samples before settling on the one. It was well worth the effort."
A dining space off the kitchen revolves around a communal table from Empire and set of iconic Hoffmann chairs with handwoven cane seats.
The adjoining living room is a soothing space encased in timber and ocean views framed by sheer drapes that allow sunlight to seep in. A fireplace with vertical concrete brick hearth provides a stunning focal point. The restrained nature of the space allows the furniture, including a bespoke sofa and pair of vintage Wassily Chairs, to assume the status of functional artwork.
"We found the vintage chairs at Tigmi Trading in Byron Bay, and Malvina designed the curved couch that mirrors the battened wall behind it,” says Julia. “We furnished the entire home from scratch and shared a real vision from the beginning. I didn't go to just one store and buy it all. I searched all over the country for every single piece."
Against a restricted colour palette of raw natural tones, artwork provides punctuation points, from a simple floral print from The Poster Club to a treasured original landscape painting by William Boissevain.
"When I come home, it just feels wow!" Julia says. "It's a place we feel so proud to have created. It's simply amazing."