Portsea Beach House by Studio Esteta
Located in the beachside suburb of Portsea in Victoria, the Portsea Beach House by Studio Esteta is a homage to the surrounding coastal views and mid-century design.
Words: Emma-Kate Wilson | Photography: Sean Fennessy
Studio Esteta were tasked with the renovation of a mid-century double-storey property perched on Port Philip Bay's coastline, inviting the coastal aesthetics in a clean and modernist sensibility. The result is a six-bedroom refuge with a natural colour and material palette — grey stone, warm timbers, fresh blue tiles and textiles and clean white paint that wouldn’t be amiss in Santorini.
“In response, our design seeks to be in synergy with the existing mid-century character opposed to competing against it,” explains Studio Esteta director, Sarah Cosentino, “emphasising its stylistic significance to create a light-filled, serene and relaxed interior that feels wholly connected to the adjacent Weeroona Bay, in a non ‘coastal cliché’ way.”
The first floor maximises those epic vistas as the hub of the home—the kitchen, dining and living, extending into alfresco living on the adjacent terrace. A mix of modernist furniture and new custom pieces ensures the nostalgia and soul the clients were seeking in the design, such as the Hans J. Wegner Circle Chair and pastel-blue Panton Chair.
Mediterranean inspired textiles and found ceramics grace the clean, white surfaces, and colourful art injects vibrancy throughout, including the artwork ‘Boat Sheds on Fisherman’s Beach’ By Sally Joubert that takes pride of place in the first floor living room.
An elegant corner in the mid-century home. Photo - Sean Fennessy.
The wood and stone tones reflecting the colour palette of the surrounding environment. Photo - Sean Fennessy.
“We cautiously altered the existing home whilst remaining true to and enhancing the stylistic significance of its mid-century undertone.”
Studio Esteta opted on a neutral backdrop for the client’s travel treasures, artwork and curios. Photo - Sean Fennessy.
The new staircase design was informed by the mid-century era, setting the tone of the home. Photo - Sean Fennessy.
“The introduction of crazy paving, articulates an uninterrupted transition from exterior to interior, promoting a sense of continuity between the previously separate environments,” says Studio Esteta. Photo - Sean Fennessy.
The ground floor becomes second living zones to accommodate the extended family and guests. Home to individual living and relaxing spaces that invite beach holiday moods and wandering down to the water’s edge for summer dipping—complete with a custom high benchtop and operable window that maximises views and connection with the neighbouring Portsea Pier.
The new mid-century inspired timber staircase connects the home from entrance to living, defining the Portsea Beach House and its aspects to the ocean beyond, and crazy paving features throughout as an extension of those coastal vibes. While lighting throughout offers a mid-century nod including two original Semi Pendants in the ground floor and first-floor dining areas plus the Lampe De Marseille wall lamp by Le Corbusier in the bar.
“The tactile palette consisting of slatted wall panelling, bagged white walls, warm timbers and accents of natural stone (reminiscent of the glistening coastline) work cohesively together to create an unpretentious and modern seaside home,” says Sarah.
Calm and neutral bedrooms and bathrooms finish off the design as tactile spaces to switch off in blues and white marine aesthetics and boat-like bunkers. And as seen throughout the entire home, fresh custom built-ins provide a framework for mid-century gems, the Entre 1B Oak bedside tables.
The dining space with coastal views out the window. Photo - Sean Fennessy.
Design details at Portsea Beach House designed by Studio Esteta. Photo - Sean Fennessy.
Studio Esteta’s absolute attention to detail is seen right down to the selection of handles and pulls throughout the home. Photo - Sean Fennessy.
The home includes a rich array of artwork and ceramics. Photo - Sean Fennessy.
“The resulting home has now become a sanctuary where our clients can find a shared respite in their beloved beachside property with friends and family.”
A perfectly framed sink. Photo - Sean Fennessy.
The coastal palette and crazy paving is carried out to the bathroom. Photo - Sean Fennessy.
Mid-century coastal is carried out to the bedroom spaces. Photo - Sean Fennessy.
Subdued tones in the bedroom. Photo - Sean Fennessy.