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Clontarf House

A Coastal Sanctuary of Design and Functionality

Nestled in the serene suburb of Clontarf, with Manly Beach’s iconic coastline within easy reach, this extraordinary family home represents a masterful collaboration between Rich Carr Architects, Alexandra Kidd Interior Design, and Wyer & Co Landscape Design.

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Project by Alexandra Kidd Interior Design
Photography Pablo Veiga
Landscape Wyer & Co
Place Clontarf
Project Type Residential
Architect Rich Carr Architects
Builder Airth Building
Category Residential
Interior Design Alexandra Kidd Interior Design
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A Seamless Blend of Coastal Living and Contemporary Design

This home breaks the mould of traditional suburban design, weaving architecture and landscape into a living, breathing space that goes far beyond four walls and a roof.

Design Vision: A Forever Home
Designed for a young family of five, the two-storey home is a contemporary marvel that breaks free from the traditional streetscape. The clients’ vision was clear: create a beautiful, modern, and luxurious space that would grow and adapt with their family’s needs. Situated on a corner plot with two street frontages, the design masterfully balances privacy and connection.

Tavira Limestone: The Design’s Defining Element

Walk across this limestone, and you’ll feel its pulse. This isn’t just another floor – it moves between indoor and outdoor spaces like it was made for this home. Strong enough to handle daily life but soft enough to catch the afternoon light, Tavira Limestone has a raw charm that stops you in your tracks. Whether you want a smooth finish or something with a bit more texture, this stone does the work. It’s not about looking pretty – it’s about living with you.

The home weaves Tavira Limestone through its spaces in a way that just works. From indoor floors to pool edges, the stone creates a flow that feels completely natural, like it was always meant to be there.

Architectural Highlights

The Clontarf House is more than just a structure – it’s a carefully orchestrated living environment. With five bedrooms, a dedicated study, and expansive living areas, the home provides ample space for family life and entertainment. The private courtyard becomes an extension of the interior, blurring the lines between inside and out. A swimming pool and cabana offer perfect spots for relaxation, while a unique water feature with large stepping stones adds a meditative quality to the outdoor space.

Alexandra Kidd’s design philosophy shines through, with carefully selected materials including Venetian plaster and warm wooden slatted panels. The expertise of Wyer & Co is evident in the thoughtful outdoor spaces that connect people to place. The two original palm trees were preserved, anchoring the new build to its original landscape.

Design Details That Inspire
The facade plays with light like an artist. Massive circular openings throw shadows that change throughout the day. In the kitchen, a massive marble island sits like a sculpture, surrounded by dark cabinetry that’s all business. Each of the six bathrooms tells its own story – mixing terrazzo and marble, with skylights that bring the outside world right into these intimate spaces.

Sustainability and Sensory Experience

Rich Carr Architects didn’t just design a house – they created a space that breathes, complemented perfectly by Wyer & Co’s landscape design. This isn’t about ticking sustainability boxes. It’s about building a home that feels right. Every decision connects the people inside to the world outside, creating a space that protects and opens up at the same time.

Project Credits

Alexandra Kidd Interior Design, a Sydney-based studio, collaborated with Rich Carr Architects and Wyer & Co to bring this vision to life. Sareen Stone supplied the exquisite Tavira Limestone, while Airth Building executed the construction with their renowned precision and craftsmanship. Photographer Pablo Veiga captured the home’s essence, revealing the intricate details and emotional depth of the space.

Awards and Recognition

Shortlisted for the prestigious IDEA Awards in the ‘Residential Single’ category, this project represents the pinnacle of contemporary Australian residential design.

Explore Tavira Limestone
Imagine transforming your own space with the same natural elegance found in the Clontarf House. Tavira Limestone offers more than just a surface – it provides a canvas for your architectural dreams. Whether you’re designing a modern family home, a minimalist retreat, or a space that bridges indoor comfort with outdoor beauty, our limestone adapts to your vision.

From indoor floors that whisper luxury to outdoor areas that stand up to Australian conditions, Tavira Limestone is ready to tell your design story. Honed or alfresco, it brings durability, sophistication, and a connection to the natural world that few materials can match.

Discover how Tavira Limestone can transform your space, just as it did for this extraordinary Clontarf home.

Products Used

Tavira Limestone

Other Projects

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Hunters Hill Residence

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TAKE US THROUGH THE INITIAL STAGES WHEN YOU WERE DESIGNING THE HOME.

We were very fortunate to work with the noted Southern Highlands Architect, Martin McGrane, on the creative design and layout of our home. Together with Martin, we created a beautiful, contemporary open plan home to enjoy with our family and friends.  This is our forever home.

Through a friend of ours, we came across an interior designer, and a beautiful outdoor material, the Cathedral Limestone, which we just fell in love with. We worked closely with Peta Daniel, Interior Designer from Daniel Baker Design, based in Sydney.  Which was wonderful, Peta just got us and what we were wanting to achieve in our home and helped us to make it a reality, in the selection of materials and finishes.

 

WERE THERE CERTAIN PEOPLE/PLACES THAT YOU TOOK INSPIRATION FROM WHEN DESIGNING/BUILDING THE HOME?

We were looking for a contemporary design, however, I didn’t want it to be too modern.  Inspired by a property in LA, that my husband came across, which we took some concepts from and added our ideas, and made it our own.

The LA contemporary look and detail leading into the house from the front door was something that we just loved.  Along with having one row of tiles that runs along the inside of the glass sliding doors leading into the living/dining room from the alfresco space was also a unique detail we wanted to include.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES YOU FACED THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING PROCESS?

The build started in February 2020, and with all the delays throughout COVID, material delays, supplier issues, constant rain, mud pools, you name it, we had it!  Encountering all the possible elements, it felt like we were living in gumboots most of the time during the build.  It took 3 years to build the property, and 8 months just to get the roof on!

We had a deadline for our home to be finished by, which was our daughters’ wedding, being held in March 2023.

There were delays happening everywhere, including issues and delays with the quarry who were providing the Limestone that was to be used in all the outdoor areas surrounding the property.  We had chosen Cathedral Limestone in an alfresco finish with a lovely organic distressed finish on the edge, that we knew would complement the other natural materials we were using.  Time was of the essence, and it came to crunch time and the quarry could not provide a guaranteed time of delivery.  We thought what a disaster!

 

TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH SAREEN STONE.. AND HOW THE TEAM HELPED TO OVERCOME THE SUPPLY ISSUE WITH THE CATHEDRAL LIMESTONE.

Working closely with Michael Mastro, from Sareen Stone, he had been in constant contact updating me as best he could.  Then an alternative solution was presented, another Limestone of the same size and finish, with similar tones, which I hoped would work and arrive in time.  Sareen Stone had been behind the scenes working closely with another quarry, to create a new product ‘Lavarosa Anticato’, just for our project, so that we had a solution and were able to finish our home in time for our daughter’s wedding.

When the material arrived, we couldn’t have been happier.  We just loved the Lavarosa Anticato, and it worked so well with our colour palette, and love it even more than our previous selection.  We were over the moon!

 

DESIGNER COMMENTS:

Working with Kate and Eugene on this project was wonderful. They were passionate about the overall design but also the finer details and the interplay of the natural materials with the surrounding landscape.

It was very important that the natural material palette was harmonious, and that each element was both complementary and warm.

I’ve worked with Michael from Sareen Stone on a number of projects and have always been impressed with his professional advice and clear communication. The magnificent home warmly wrapped with the “Lavarosa Anticato” is simply stunning.   A beautiful project!

Peta Daniel, Daniel Baker Design

 

IN COLLABORATION WITH:

Interior Designer:  Daniel Baker Design, 0414 341 778
Architecture:  Martin McGrane Architects, 0412 242 253
Photography and short film:  Bolt Media, 0426 607 040