Nestled away in the hills of Parnell, the house is owned and occupied by architect Mark Taucher, who oversaw what was initially intended to be a small-scale alteration. As the work went on, however, the changes were upgraded into a more comprehensive refurbishment. These were based on the fundamentals of the house, which had been subjected to numerous add-ons that closed off space to its occupants.

“Little bits [had been] tacked on as appendages and then the house very quickly lost its flow,” Taucher says. “These little segmented areas just didn’t really work well together, so we took a look at the original floor plan and tried to return it to that”

By taking the house back to its roots, Taucher gave himself an opportunity to present a more straightforward blueprint for the dwelling, while utilising interior finishes and palettes to add a bespoke touch. Right from the start, a tidy walkway takes you from the street to a light blue front door recessed within smooth cedar corners, aesthetics that are reoccurring throughout the exterior of the house. At the same time, the welcome feeling of natural seclusion does not detract from the functional aspect of the entrance, which allows for easy access into the house without being cluttered by overly complicated additions.

Behind all this sits the second story, where bedrooms are allowed a degree of privacy from guests. Instead, it is on the first floor where the house comes together through an open-plan lounge that faces out to the world through broad windows, which span much of the outwards-facing section of the wall. The already substantial light these windows let in is further enhanced by crisp white walls, illuminating the space as the beating heart of the house.

The bold blue of the front door is continued throughout the entire home. In some ways, it is nuanced, like the handrail for the staircase and even bathroom tile grouting that is tinged turquoise. In some ways, it is more pronounced, as seen in the bright light fixtures hanging above the dining table. In all ways, it adds a uniquely architectural touch to an otherwise subdued interior palette: one that doesn’t scream, “This is my favourite colour”, but rather, it whispers, “All of this belongs here”.

Holding together the interior of the house are industrial-style support bars, which offer structure without pulling focus from its more notable areas, such as a kitchen that adjoins the lounge. Featuring white corners that smooth out the more boxy parts of the house, the kitchen is intended to serve as a hub, while an auxiliary sitting room is neatly tucked away behind it.

These spaces establish structure in what could have been a sprawling living area, a potential Taucher was mindful of when overseeing the renovations: “It’s always an issue when you try open everything up and not turn it into one massive space, but we tried to create those thresholds by playing around with the heights and spaces.”

Outside, the pool area unfolds beneath another eye-catching pop of blue: a tiled wall with hexagonal patterning. Further concealment is offered by the broad leaves of various palm trees dotted around the exterior. Along with establishing much-valued privacy, the combination of solid wall and landscaping creates an almost meditarranean feeling that contrasts well with the cedar wood exterior of the house.

Altogether, the renovations have combined a restoration of the original interior layout with an updated exterior that effortlessly blends into the nearby surroundings. As a result, there is a lot more to the house than meets the eye, especially from the street, where a passing observer would have little idea of the spacious abode which lies within.