TIA Home Design

The centrepiece of this Redhill house is a dramatic atrium that rises high above the living areas.

It is not just the soaring double-ceiling height that catches visitors’ breath, but the fact that it is created from thousands of pieces of walnut wood which took craftsmen six months of painstaking work to finish and install by hand. The wood creates nuanced lighting affects and a subtle interplay between light and dark. In keeping with the linear style of the wood pieces, long fluorescent light strips and skylights were incorporated.

The walnut wood is used to stunning effect throughout the four-storey 4,000 square foot house, including the study and lounge areas.

A coherent look was achieved by introducing wood cabinetry into the kitchen. The natural, authentic feel of wood is also reflected in the greenery from the garden that melds with the house.

The greenery continues in the master bedroom that opens on to the garden and ensuite with a specially constructed floor-to-ceiling window.

The divide between indoor and outdoor was further blurred by the use of similar materials inside and out. Hardwood flooring along the entrance and outside the sliding doors change to veneer once inside.

The internal staircase was a challenge because it could not be touched as each floor had been originally built with different heights. To bring it up to date with the rest of the house, a new handrail and flooring were installed.

Luxurious finishes include Thai silk panels in the lounge and master bedroom, Italian cabinetry, and limestone flooring. None of the doors have frames, creating a seamless and elegant look throughout. The front entrance door is created from black glass, allowing the intricate roofline to be revealed along with views to the sea. A motorised blind provides privacy when required.

The result fits the brief for this couple with a young child who were looking for a renovation that was “tropical spa-like house.”