Forest Nest - Design Process
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 .
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 Forest Nest Collection is a series of prints taken from a large private commission Forest Nest for a growing family with a newborn on the way , a long term client of St James Whitting Interior Design. It has personal references to family within the original ., Modelling compound, acrylics, oil and crayon on canvas interweave in a meandering forest laden with the clients memories of a children’s slide, the back garden man shed and fairies dancing in the forest.
Catherine Whitting was engaged to capture the view from the back yard and local bushlands that surround the home and celebrate it through texture with a colour palette derived from the interior design scheme.
The interiors were designed by St James Whitting 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.
Forest Nest was entered in the 2020 Resene Total Colour Awards Australia and New Zealand for interior colour specification and selection and can be viewed in the gallery here
Forest Nest - Design Concept
The colour palette was derived from the site – from the surrounding bushlands 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 home’s entrance conceals all video equipment and a plethora of school bags, shoes, cricket bags, and sporting equipment.
The Forest Nest Art Collection Whimsical playful, childlike moments of ghost gum blush pink dance randomly through the textural heavy verde foliage, floating above washes of soft silver, ochre floors and tantalising texture. Painted during Australia’s worst fire season in history and completed on a night of long-awaited downpouring rain this celebration of our local landscape creates a visual awareness of and homage to our sacred bushlands
The colour palette for the Forest Nest collection was derived from the interiors and the site – from the surrounding bushlands near Lake Macquarie with soft timeless sage green and white, rustic copper, blush ghost gum pinks, watery greys, solid matt charcoal black warm ochres, and verde greens. Colours are deliberately pared-back to blend with the natural surrounding environment and assist to maintain a comfortable timeless palette.
Interior Design and Interior Styling by St James Whitting – Kate St James & Catherine Whitting
Building and construction by G&C Building
Joinery: Zarrella Kitchens
Furniture and Furnishings: St James Whitting
Window Furnishings: Design Curtains
Photography by Catherine Whitting
Forest Nest - Testimonial
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Cameron Bullus 2019
“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”
Forest Nest - Awards
Resene Total Colour Awards gallery
Forest Nest Featured in the Gallery of Inspiration for decorating products…
We hope you enjoy viewing a selection of the projects submitted to the Resene Total Colour Awards and that they provide inspiration for decorating projects of your own. Click here to find out more about the project.
