The colour palette was derived from the site – from the surrounding bush lands near Lake Macquarie with soft timeless sage green and white joinery in Resene Peace and Blot, rustic copper lighting, butlers sink, tap and architectural hardware and matt charcoal black seating solutions with natural timber veneer shelving were complemented with white and copper toned Dekton benches.

Colours are deliberately pared-back to  blend with the natural surrounding environment and assist to maintain a comfortable timeless palette. Curtains and blinds provide elegant insulation and privacy in the family dining and lounge room with filtered light. The kitchen conceals the chaos of daily life with a hidden office, concealed ironing board, four station rubbish and recycling zone and built in toy boxes for each of the three children. The mudroom at the homes entrance conceals all video equipment and a plethora of school bags, shoes, cricket bags and sporting equipment.

There are four large bedrooms, each fitted with customised built-in wardrobes and the master includes an ensuite with powder room. The main bathroom features a free-standing bath with separate shower, vertical heated towel rails and double vanity. Tapware throughout is lead-free for durability and health. Zero-VOC paints from the SJW Elementals Collection by Resene are used both inside and outside the home providing another layer of eco- and human-friendliness 

“The renovation has been truly remarkable and is a pure delight to live in with our new baby and young family. The kitchen and customised joinery, open plan living, art frame TV, sheer and block out curtains, beautiful mudroom, paint scheme and furniture provide peace and relaxation. We feel like we are living in our own piece of luxury” Cameron Bullus 2019.

FORESt NEst – family transformation

Designed for a growing family with a newborn on the way, Forest Nest is the embodiment of all that a home should be; a functional sanctuary to relax in, enjoy life, with a place for everything and everything in its place.

Designing custom made functional joinery was the fundamental design solution for this family home. Designed by St James Whitting and constructed by Zarrella Kitchens nine separate zones of custom made joinery created ample storage for a home that was previously stuck in the 1980’s and busting at the seams. The once dark and foreboding U Shape kitchen – seen below in the before image – was completely opened up with the use of structural beams concealed in bulk heads to ensure a light filled an open home with separate but connected zones for the activities of a busy family .