Harper Beach House

We were engaged to explore a staged renovation of a single-storey beachside family home south of Wollongong, with the ambition of transforming it into a relaxed, long-term “forever home.” The brief centred on improving external presence, internal flow, and connection to landscape, while balancing a coastal character with subtle 1970s influences.

Our initial site analysis revealed that the home was not capitalising on its northern aspect, with bedrooms occupying the most valuable orientation. In response, we proposed a reorganisation of the plan — flipping living and sleeping zones to open the house to the north and introducing a generous deck to extend daily living outdoors. To the rear, the home was opened further to the backyard, strengthening the indoor–outdoor relationship and supporting a casual, coastal lifestyle.

Internally, the kitchen was conceived as the heart of the home — a shared space designed to bring cooking, homework, conversation, and play together. A custom kitchen nook emerged as a key moment in the plan, encouraging interaction between parents and children and reinforcing the home’s role as a social hub. Throughout, spaces were designed to work hard, incorporating integrated seating and storage to support flexibility and family life. Colour was used strategically to enhance light, warmth, and a sense of playfulness.

The front of the house was carefully reworked to improve its relationship with the street. Visual connections from living spaces to the front garden, along with a partially screened verandah, create a calm sitting space that encourages informal interaction with neighbours while maintaining privacy.

A staged approach underpinned the project, allowing works to be prioritised over time in response to budget and long-term value. Stage one focuses on transforming the home’s external character through recladding, new windows, and a redesigned entry sequence, while future stages address internal upgrades, expanded outdoor living, and sustainability initiatives. Provision was also made for an enclosed carport and future ancillary accommodation, adding flexibility for changing family needs.

Our involvement included early-stage strategic planning, concept design, staging advice, and feasibility testing, ensuring the proposed works respond holistically to lifestyle, budget, and long-term vision.