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MoreHouzz Australia Contributor. As an Interiors Stylist and Writer, with over 15 years...

Set against a tranquil backdrop of native plants and a natural swimming pond, the crisp white exterior

of White Pebble House stands majestic and proud. For its owners, Frances Cosway of White Pebble

Interiors, and her partner Neil Dicker, the house is the result of many years of work and dreams that

have finally become a reality.

The eco-conscious couple not only wanted a modern family home that was relaxed and versatile,

they dreamt of a highly energy-efficient house that would minimise their familiy’s impact on the

environment. The key to this success is the passive-solar design that has dictated the layout and

orientation of each room, helping the house work with the climate and its natural environment, not

against it. This crucial element, along with many other eco-friendly components, is why this huge

build was awarded an energy rating of 7.3 – an exceptional achievement considering the building’s

size and Melbourne’s climate.

Houzz at a Glance

Who lives here: Interior designer Frances Cosway, of White Pebble Interiors, her

partner Neil Dicker, and their two daughters

Size: 370 square metres; 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms

Location: Hampton, Victoria

Completed: December, 2014

Houzz Tour: Modernism Meets Ultra-Sustainability in Melbourne

For this eco-conscious couple, pushing the boundaries of a sustainable build wasas important as creating a functional family home

Louise O'Bryan 2 November 2016

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White Pebble Interiors

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Designer/builder: Blue Chip Builders

Awards: Winner of Bayside’s Best Ecological & Sustainable Build Award in 2015

Inspired by the iconic mid-

century architecture of

Palm Springs, Cosway and

Dicker’s goal was to create

a high-end contemporary

home that met all the

requirements of family

living, while still achieving

extreme sustainability on a

budget comparable to a

‘standard’ build.

Some of the impressive

sustainable features

include the passive-solar

design, which means

there’s no need for artificial

heating or cooling, while

cutting-edge insulation and

a highly efficient thermal

mass keep the house at a

constant comfortable

temperature. An airtight

building envelope and heat-recovery ventilation ensure fresh, clean air without

energy loss through uncontrolled drafts, as well as solar hot water minimising the

family’s impact on the environment.

The block’s sloping gradient was a surprising advantage for the couple, who also

wanted the front and backyards to be highly sustainable.

Featuring native Australian plants chosen for their drought tolerance, the outdoor

areas combine to create a tranquil haven. A waterfall in the front yard works

organically with the natural slope of the land and can be heard from the home

White Pebble Interiors

White Pebble Interiors

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office, while the backyard features a natural swimming pond. “We were keen to

have a pool but something reflective of the natural environment and 100 per cent

chemical free,” says Cosway. “We opted for a custom-built, naturally filtered

swimming pond, with basalt boulders to capture the natural landscape of Wannon

Falls – a sentimental spot for us.”

Landscaping: Sam Cox

Non-slip, timber-look

porcelain tiles were chosen

for the deck area to

minimise the care and

maintenance needed. With

a low-volatile organic

compound, these were

Australia’s first tiles to be

Green Tag Gold Plus

certified. “We’ve used the

same tiles for both inside

and out to extend the floor

space and create a

seamless flow,” says

Cosway. An ornamental

grape vine softens the

edges of the contemporary

exterior and hints at the

couple’s Mediterranean

influences.

Timber-look porcelain tiles:

White Pebble Interiors

Intended to be their forever home, the couple went with a future-proofed layout

designed to grow and adapt with the family at different life stages. The open-plan

living space is where most of the daily activities take place, while the rest of the

rooms are multi-functional so they can be repurposed in the future.

White Pebble Interiors

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Choosing the fixtures and fittings came naturally to Cosway, who has been

designing interiors for many years. “I believe interiors should be a journey of your

life and only reflect what you love; I’ve designed our home to show our family’s

story, not to follow any trend or fashion,” she says.

High-efficiency LED lighting has been installed throughout the house, and a

lighting designer was engaged to develop a solution for optimal indirect lighting in

every room.

Stools: Tonon Furniture; solid acrylic benchtops: HI MACS

Stunning mismatched tiles

by Patricia Urquiola create

an eye-catching

splashback and enliven the

white kitchen units. Cosway

spotted these tiles nearly

10 years ago and was

finally able to use them in

her dream home. “They

may not be to everyone’s

taste, however, we

designed this house for us

to enjoy and I wanted to be

surrounded by items that

tell a story,” she says.

Tiles: Patricia Urquiola

White Pebble Interiors

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An organic palette of earthy tones and natural textures creates a relaxing and

inviting vibe. “My style is definitely eclectic; I love to mix nature-strip finds with

vintage pieces and designer one-offs,” Cosway says. “The prints on the wall are

actually promotional posters from an exhibition I visited in Amsterdam, another big

part of my journey.”

Custom-made sofa covered in Harlequin fabric

Indoor plants play a big

part in Cosway’s interiors to

bring a homey and

nurturing feel to the

spaces.

A formal dining area sits adjacent to the cooking zone and brings an elegant touch

to the open-plan living space. The beautiful rounded arms of the Tonon dining

chairs are reflected in the circular mirror display on the wall, while a striking

pendant gives a nod to Cosway’s ethnic style influences.

Dining chairs: Tonon Furniture; dining table: Jimmy Possum

Bespoke cabinetry makes a

bold, yet functional,

White Pebble Interiors

White Pebble Interiors

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statement either side of the

contemporary fireplace,

and the dark timber ties in

with the dining furniture for

a balanced look.

Cosway designed the

ultimate laundry with some

ingenious features, such as

built-in baskets to separate

whites from darks, and a

drying rail for hanging

shirts and drip-drying wet

clothes over the sink.

There’s also a wall-

mounted, cantilevered

drying rack to save space.

White Pebble Interiors

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Referred to as the ‘Winter Room’, the family living room’s classic scheme is in stark

contrast to the contemporary open-plan space. Cavalier wool carpet and

sumptuous double-lined taffeta curtains set a cosy tone, while warming textures

and natural colours create a cocooning effect. “In the colder months we spend all

our time in here and only need to heat this room, which saves tonnes of energy,”

says Cosway. “The house has eight heating and cooling zones, which means we

only use what we need.”

Positioned at the front of the house, the home office is a versatile space that can

be repurposed into a master suite in the future, thanks to the adjoining ensuite and

walk-in robe. “This room showcases many of my treasured finds, including the desk

that I found on the nature strip,” says Cosway.

White Pebble Interiors

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While double-lined curtains have been fitted in ‘winter’ rooms to further improve

heat retention, north-facing rooms, such as the master bedroom, are decorated

with translucent taffeta drapes, teamed with block-out blinds. “The orientation of

the rooms works with the passive-solar design, allowing minimal penetration of

summer sun into the interior, while winter sun penetrates 60 per cent in all rooms,”

Cosway says. “At the top of the house, custom-designed fixed louvres have been

angled above north-facing windows to work with the sun and prevent the house

becoming a hot box.”

All windows and doors are fitted with high-efficiency glazing, with thermally-

improved aluminium frames to reduce air leakage.

The master ensuite is a tranquil sanctuary of natural tones, and all the fittings, such

as the shower and taps, are water efficient, featuring low-flow designs. “As

Melbourne has an average annual rainfall of 602 millimetres, we wanted to

maximise this potential and collect rainwater on the roof,” Cosway says. The

home’s collection area is around 250 square metres, so about 150,000 litres of

water can be captured per year. All rainwater landing on the roof is filtered and

runs to an underground 20,000-litre concrete tank in the backyard. This water is

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then double-filtered and used to supply the toilets, washing machine and garden

taps via a submersible pump.

A wall of glass brings the

outside into the shower,

creating a tropical oasis in

the wet area.

After many visits to

Morocco, Cosway was

determined to bring a bit of

the Middle East into her

home. She finally tracked

down an intricately

patterned tile that

combined her love of

earthy tones with ethnic

detailing. “I would have

loved to have recreated the

Venetian plaster effect on

the rest of the walls, but it

was way out of budget so I

chose the next best thing: a

large-format porcelain tile

that mimics the trowelled

look.” perfectly,” she says.

Similar to the kitchen, the

bathrooms feature solid

acrylic benchtops, while

the vanities have been

White Pebble Interiors

White Pebble Interiors

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custom-made to fit each

space.

And finally, some top tips from Cosway on achieving a successful sustainable build.

Take time to understand what a sustainable home will offer, and what habits

you may need to change.

Talk to people who have done it before so you can get the best from your

build.

White Pebble Interiors

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Be aware that a sustainable home works best when things work together; a

decision in one area might impact other areas.

Test. Measure. Evaluate. Optimise … repeatedly.

Enjoy the journey.

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