Interior architect Claire Perini on a mid-century gem in Avalon Beach
Instead of rushing into renovations, Perini let the house do the talking. Light became a priority and two large skylights transformed the interior.
The green-tiled bathroom is a nod to the gum trees that dot this coastal paradise.Credit:
Over the years he gradually collected natural materials and added those that felt right rather than what was trendy.
Living in the house as she originally found it allowed Perini to “let the house do the talking” before starting to make changes. Credit:
This was a patient approach; the same instinct that underpins design practice.
“I clad the brick chimney with sandstone veneer from Eco Outdoor and chose a yellow-toned mortar to bond it with the existing brick,” says Perini.
“I was so excited by the chimney that I asked my friends, who are talented landscape architects, to help me build a freestanding outdoor fireplace at the base of the property. These elements were added to enhance the softness of the home and highlight the beauty that was already there.”
The facility is a world in itself, with a lush and vibrant garden. Credit:
This instinct for harmony also shaped the palette. Greens were borrowed from gums. Sandstone and warm yellows reflecting the sun. The rice catches the afternoon light without screaming for attention.
Even the garden has become part of the design language. In his early days, Perini planted only yellow-flowered species, so the entire estate would shine in the golden hour.
“Initially I went completely overboard and decided that no plants in the garden could have anything but yellow flowers so the garden would shine next to the house – I have since expanded my color palette to allow purple,” she laughs.
But the soul of the house lies in the life carried within it. Perini’s 5-year-old son Otis was born here, and the early years of raising children in these rooms shaped the house in ways its materials never could.
Claire Perini with her five-year-old son Otis.Credit:
“I bought this house from a lovely, very old lady who was Avalon’s first female practitioner and lived here for over 60 years,” says Perini.
“It’s worked for him all these years, and it’s worked just as well for us when Otis was a baby and now as a toddler. This is the kind of home that’s easy at any age.”
Convenience extends to meetings, too. The house may be quiet in the middle of the week and lively on the weekend; long tables pulled up to the deck beneath the trees, cozy drinks by the fire, friends wandering between floors and terraces as the night progresses.
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A house that can adapt to any situation; a quality that will serve their next guardian as well.
“My business is shifting to the city and Otis is approaching school age, so the timing of the sale feels right,” Perini says.
“We will miss this home and this community. Everyone who lives in Avalon agrees: Nothing is nicer than walking down for a swim on a warm summer afternoon. You can even pick up ice cream on the way home.”
This article was first published by. domain.com.au. Reproduced with permission.
