Located in the Brisbane suburb of Albion, Same Same But Different is surrounded by old Queenslander homes, mid-century additions and apartments from the 1970s and ’80s. Aesthetically, the unique home celebrates the breadth of design styles favoured by the clients while maintaining a sense of cohesion. Despite being subject to a strict budget, the project exudes luxury through maximised garden space, a clean built form and considered interior finishes.
“The great part of this project was that we weren’t designing for a nuclear family,” says Rebecca Caldwell, a director of Maytree Studios. “As wonderful as that can be, we had a couple with no intention of having children and there was this kind of license to really explore: ‘What is a home?’ ‘What could this home be?’” The design process allowed ideas about Same Same But Different to be pared back and strengthened, developing the character of the unique home.
To reduce the building’s floor space – and thus dedicate more area to the garden – the unique home doesn’t have a formal entryway. Instead, entry is via a set of stairs from the street which lead to a courtyard and then to sliding glass doors that open to the lower living level. Here, an extended wall of cabinetry in Laminex’s Kalamata forms a dramatic backdrop to the kitchen and dining room, and features a bar lined in Laminex’s Burnt Ochre. “We used Laminex because it’s a beautiful, hard-wearing product that we could use cost-effectively,” says Caldwell. “The ability to use it across benchtops and horizontal and vertical surfaces means that we can get a really strong and dramatic impact with colour.”
Beyond a sculptural spiral staircase is a relaxed, earth-toned living room with views to the garden through low windows, and a rich, moody bathroom featuring Laminex’s Winter Sky. “Another thing I love about Laminex is that it’s Australian made,” says Caldwell, “and they have a beautiful range of colours that responds to our environment.”
On the second level sits the light-filled, luxurious master bedroom suite, the bathroom featuring cabinetry in Laminex Green Slate, complemented by tiles from Artedomus. The unique home features a garden that champions a combination of Australian natives and the Mediterranean plantings favoured by the clients. “We prioritised giving back space to the garden and we wanted to create a house that really sat in the garden.”
A unique home crafted on a budget, Same Same But Different is a testament to the clients’ passion for design. “The last filter we put all of our projects through is the personality of our clients,” says the architect. “Phil and Brady were very easy to design for – they brought a whole lot of themselves to the table in the design process … I’m really proud to see them in this home.”
“Our original vision was based on our love of styles like Spanish mission and mid-century,” says homeowner Brady Sherwell. “We were worried that blending these styles would be a pastiche of different ideas. But it’s really come together.”
00:00 – Introduction to the unique home
01:17 – Working within a budget
02:00 – A walkthrough of the home
04:14 – The collaboration process
04:45 – Original vision
05:35 – Prioritising the landscape
06:44 – Proud moments
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Photography by Toby Scott.
Styling by Maytree Studios and Brady Sherwell.
Architecture and interior design by Maytree Studios.
Build by Allen Brothers Construction.
Landscape design by Ecru Landscape Architecture and Design Studio.
Engineering by Lynskey Structural Consultants.
Filmed and edited by HN Media.
Production by The Local Production.
Location: Albion, Queensland, Australia
The Local Project acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners of the land in Australia. We recognise the importance of Indigenous peoples in the identity of our country and continuing connections to Country and community. We pay our respect to Elders, past and present and extend that respect to all Indigenous people of these lands.
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