Portsea House by Pipkorn Kilpatrick
An existing 1950s beach shack on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula is reworked it into a timeless functional family getaway by interior design firm Pipkorn Kilpatrick.
Words: Hande Renshaw | Photography: Chris McConville
Photo: Chris McConville
Photo: Chris McConville
At first glance, Portsea House, a CHI (Consolidated Homes Industries) home designed by architect Robyn Boyd in 1956, was in good shape.
While the clients, a family of four, were lured in by the home’s run-down beach shack charm, they felt the central communal spaces required an upgrade.
Melbourne-based interior design firm Pipkorn & Kilpatrick’s approach to the project was one of restraint. Focusing only on the areas that needed improvement, the classic beach shack was nurtured and kept to its original character, with a focus on making it more functional for the family.
Portsea House is a Consolidated Home Industries (CHI) build – a service established in 1955, which allowed people to purchase an architect-designed plan and have the home built on their land.
Pipkorn Kilpatrick went to great pains to respect the vernacular and principles of modernist design when it came to updating the home, which lies concealed behind scrub and low lying gums, blending seamlessly into the topography of the Mornington Peninsula.
The reinterpretation was about more than just functionality, but also about connection, not just between indoor and outdoor spaces, but also to the home’s history.
For the interior, Pipkorn & Kilpatrick opted for materials that responded to the home’s already understated 1950s aesthetic. Terrazzo kitchen tiles, lining board walls, and timber floors were applied, remaining consistent to the understated and timeless aesthetic. The beach shack charm shines through the use of these materials, grounding the home to its history and context.
The result is a fresh new space with better flow to suit the needs of modern life, ensuring its legacy is maintained and celebrated for many years to come.
Better connection between the kitchen and dining areas was established in the renovation. Photo: Chris McConville
Pipkorn Kilpatrick introduced banquette seating to create a sense of intimacy. Artwork ‘Just Lovely’ by Emily Persson. Photo: Chris McConville
The original fireplace and patina copper chimney flute are a stand-out feature in the home. Photo: Chris McConville
“The house lies concealed behind scrub and low lying gums, blending seamlessly into the topography of the Mornington Peninsula.”
The kitchen was opened up to the dining area to improve entertaining functionality characteristic of Boyd’s modernist values. Photo: Chris McConville
Soft Belceppo terrazzo was used in the kitchen. Photo: Chris McConville
This home is characterised by its strong connection to the outdoors. Photo: Chris McConville
The new laundry space in the home. Photo: Chris McConville
Extra storage improves the functionality of the home for the family of four. Photo: Chris McConville
“The new interior has better flow to suit the needs of modern life, ensuring its legacy is maintained and celebrated for many years to come.”
Landscape design by The Good Garden Co. Photo: Chris McConville
Eco Outdoor Endicott crazy pavers line the outdoor barbecue area. Photo: Chris McConville