Houzz Tour_ Modernism Meets Ultra-Sustainability in Melbourne

11/10/2016 Houzz Tour: Modernism Meets UltraSustainability in Melbourne
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MoreHouzz Australia Contributor. As an Interiors Stylist and Writer, with over 15 years...
Set against a tranquil backdrop of native plants and a natural swimming pond, the crisp white exterior
of White Pebble House stands majestic and proud. For its owners, Frances Cosway of White Pebble
Interiors, and her partner Neil Dicker, the house is the result of many years of work and dreams that
have finally become a reality.
The eco-conscious couple not only wanted a modern family home that was relaxed and versatile,
they dreamt of a highly energy-efficient house that would minimise their familiy’s impact on the
environment. The key to this success is the passive-solar design that has dictated the layout and
orientation of each room, helping the house work with the climate and its natural environment, not
against it. This crucial element, along with many other eco-friendly components, is why this huge
build was awarded an energy rating of 7.3 – an exceptional achievement considering the building’s
size and Melbourne’s climate.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Interior designer Frances Cosway, of White Pebble Interiors, her
partner Neil Dicker, and their two daughters
Size: 370 square metres; 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
Location: Hampton, Victoria
Completed: December, 2014
Houzz Tour: Modernism Meets Ultra-
Sustainability in Melbourne
For this eco-conscious couple, pushing the boundaries of a sustainable build was
as important as creating a functional family home
Louise O'Bryan 2 November 2016
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White Pebble Interiors
Houzz Tours Green Living

Designer/builder: Blue Chip Builders
Awards: Winner of Bayside’s Best Ecological & Sustainable Build Award in 2015
Inspired by the iconic mid-
century architecture of
Palm Springs, Cosway and
Dicker’s goal was to create
a high-end contemporary
home that met all the
requirements of family
living, while still achieving
extreme sustainability on a
budget comparable to a
‘standard’ build.
Some of the impressive
sustainable features
include the passive-solar
design, which means
there’s no need for artificial
heating or cooling, while
cutting-edge insulation and
a highly efficient thermal
mass keep the house at a
constant comfortable
temperature. An airtight
building envelope and heat-recovery ventilation ensure fresh, clean air without
energy loss through uncontrolled drafts, as well as solar hot water minimising the
family’s impact on the environment.
The block’s sloping gradient was a surprising advantage for the couple, who also
wanted the front and backyards to be highly sustainable.
Featuring native Australian plants chosen for their drought tolerance, the outdoor
areas combine to create a tranquil haven. A waterfall in the front yard works
organically with the natural slope of the land and can be heard from the home

office, while the backyard features a natural swimming pond. “We were keen to
have a pool but something reflective of the natural environment and 100 per cent
chemical free,” says Cosway. “We opted for a custom-built, naturally filtered
swimming pond, with basalt boulders to capture the natural landscape of Wannon
Falls – a sentimental spot for us.”
Landscaping: Sam Cox
Non-slip, timber-look
porcelain tiles were chosen
for the deck area to
minimise the care and
maintenance needed. With
a low-volatile organic
compound, these were
Australia’s first tiles to be
Green Tag Gold Plus
certified. “We’ve used the
same tiles for both inside
and out to extend the floor
space and create a
seamless flow,” says
Cosway. An ornamental
grape vine softens the
edges of the contemporary
exterior and hints at the
couple’s Mediterranean
influences.
Timber-look porcelain tiles:
Intended to be their forever home, the couple went with a future-proofed layout
designed to grow and adapt with the family at different life stages. The open-plan
living space is where most of the daily activities take place, while the rest of the
rooms are multi-functional so they can be repurposed in the future.

Choosing the fixtures and fittings came naturally to Cosway, who has been
designing interiors for many years. “I believe interiors should be a journey of your
life and only reflect what you love; I’ve designed our home to show our family’s
story, not to follow any trend or fashion,” she says.
High-efficiency LED lighting has been installed throughout the house, and a
lighting designer was engaged to develop a solution for optimal indirect lighting in
every room.
Stools: Tonon Furniture; solid acrylic benchtops: HI MACS
Stunning mismatched tiles
by Patricia Urquiola create
an eye-catching
splashback and enliven the
white kitchen units. Cosway
spotted these tiles nearly
10 years ago and was
finally able to use them in
her dream home. “They
may not be to everyone’s
taste, however, we
designed this house for us
to enjoy and I wanted to be
surrounded by items that
tell a story,” she says.
Tiles: Patricia Urquiola

An organic palette of earthy tones and natural textures creates a relaxing and
inviting vibe. “My style is definitely eclectic; I love to mix nature-strip finds with
vintage pieces and designer one-offs,” Cosway says. “The prints on the wall are
actually promotional posters from an exhibition I visited in Amsterdam, another big
part of my journey.”
Custom-made sofa covered in Harlequin fabric
Indoor plants play a big
part in Cosway’s interiors to
bring a homey and
nurturing feel to the
spaces.
A formal dining area sits adjacent to the cooking zone and brings an elegant touch
to the open-plan living space. The beautiful rounded arms of the Tonon dining
chairs are reflected in the circular mirror display on the wall, while a striking
pendant gives a nod to Cosway’s ethnic style influences.
Dining chairs: Tonon Furniture; dining table: Jimmy Possum
Bespoke cabinetry makes a
bold, yet functional,

statement either side of the
contemporary fireplace,
and the dark timber ties in
with the dining furniture for
a balanced look.
Cosway designed the
ultimate laundry with some
ingenious features, such as
built-in baskets to separate
whites from darks, and a
drying rail for hanging
shirts and drip-drying wet
clothes over the sink.
There’s also a wall-
mounted, cantilevered
drying rack to save space.

Referred to as the ‘Winter Room’, the family living room’s classic scheme is in stark
contrast to the contemporary open-plan space. Cavalier wool carpet and
sumptuous double-lined taffeta curtains set a cosy tone, while warming textures
and natural colours create a cocooning effect. “In the colder months we spend all
our time in here and only need to heat this room, which saves tonnes of energy,”
says Cosway. “The house has eight heating and cooling zones, which means we
only use what we need.”
Positioned at the front of the house, the home office is a versatile space that can
be repurposed into a master suite in the future, thanks to the adjoining ensuite and
walk-in robe. “This room showcases many of my treasured finds, including the desk
that I found on the nature strip,” says Cosway.

While double-lined curtains have been fitted in ‘winter’ rooms to further improve
heat retention, north-facing rooms, such as the master bedroom, are decorated
with translucent taffeta drapes, teamed with block-out blinds. “The orientation of
the rooms works with the passive-solar design, allowing minimal penetration of
summer sun into the interior, while winter sun penetrates 60 per cent in all rooms,”
Cosway says. “At the top of the house, custom-designed fixed louvres have been
angled above north-facing windows to work with the sun and prevent the house
becoming a hot box.”
All windows and doors are fitted with high-efficiency glazing, with thermally-
improved aluminium frames to reduce air leakage.
The master ensuite is a tranquil sanctuary of natural tones, and all the fittings, such
as the shower and taps, are water efficient, featuring low-flow designs. “As
Melbourne has an average annual rainfall of 602 millimetres, we wanted to
maximise this potential and collect rainwater on the roof,” Cosway says. The
home’s collection area is around 250 square metres, so about 150,000 litres of
water can be captured per year. All rainwater landing on the roof is filtered and
runs to an underground 20,000-litre concrete tank in the backyard. This water is

then double-filtered and used to supply the toilets, washing machine and garden
taps via a submersible pump.
A wall of glass brings the
outside into the shower,
creating a tropical oasis in
the wet area.
After many visits to
Morocco, Cosway was
determined to bring a bit of
the Middle East into her
home. She finally tracked
down an intricately
patterned tile that
combined her love of
earthy tones with ethnic
detailing. “I would have
loved to have recreated the
Venetian plaster effect on
the rest of the walls, but it
was way out of budget so I
chose the next best thing: a
large-format porcelain tile
that mimics the trowelled
look.” perfectly,” she says.
Similar to the kitchen, the
bathrooms feature solid
acrylic benchtops, while
the vanities have been

custom-made to fit each
space.
And finally, some top tips from Cosway on achieving a successful sustainable build.
Take time to understand what a sustainable home will offer, and what habits
you may need to change.
Talk to people who have done it before so you can get the best from your
build.

Be aware that a sustainable home works best when things work together; a
decision in one area might impact other areas.
Test. Measure. Evaluate. Optimise … repeatedly.
Enjoy the journey.
TELL US
Share what has most impressed you about this incredible eco-friendly build by
telling us in the Comments below.
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Houzz Tour_ Modernism Meets Ultra-Sustainability in Melbourne

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Houzz Tour_ Modernism Meets Ultra-Sustainability in Melbourne