3 Margate Street, Barwon HeadsVIC

Laying claim to a blue-ribbon parcel in one of Barwon Heads’ finest streets, ‘Barwon Heads House’ is an award-winning home, meticulously renovated to simultaneously connect to its circa-1905 character whilst creating contemporary spaces with all the luxuries of a premium new home.

Named the Interior Design Excellence Awards’ House of the Year in 2021, the four-bedroom residence is an exquisite collaboration between Adam Kane Architects and Technique Construction Group, where soaring ceilings and artisanal finishes converge to unveil a stunning multi-level entertainer of superior quality and style.

Leading beyond an unassuming weatherboard façade stepped in the character of its classic beach house pedigree, the home unveils a deliberately weathered barn-style extension where a 6.5m double-height gabled ceiling brings an awe-inspiring sense of volume to the main living hub, presided over by a mezzanine level main bedroom with built-in robes and ensuite.

A neutral base of custom-coloured, hand-stained American oak lined ceilings, burnished concrete floors, and hand-scratched Venetian plastering adorns the home, creating a calming ambience amid a sequence of indoor-outdoor living areas flooded in north-facing light. Floor-to-ceiling glazing blurs the lines between indoors and out as 4.5m high sliding doors spill out to sun-drenched garden surrounds, inclusive of a cleverly concealed barbeque, hot/cold shower, and an abundance of storage for boards, bikes, and tools.

Quality is clearly the priority in the designer kitchen, featuring a custom rangehood, double Fisher & Paykel ovens, induction cooktop, integrated dishwasher and fridge, butler’s pantry, and statement Brodware fixtures, while natural finishes continue play an integral role as slabs of Italian travertine are incorporated as countertops, coffee tables and a statement kitchen island that transitions seamlessly from benchtop to dining table.

Reflecting the delineation between old and new, a black Ventech lined corridor separates the main family hub and second living room from the home’s original cottage footprint that has been cleverly reimagined as a three-bedroom, one-bathroom children’s wing. Here, the home’s heritage features are maintained through restored lining board ceilings, and period skirting and architraves, which blend harmoniously with the updated aesthetic. The luxe inclusions continue, highlighted by a hand-cast bathtub set beneath a soaring skylight – lie back and watch the stars overhead as you unwind at the end of a busy day.

Offering every contemporary comfort with zoned hydronic heating, zoned ducted heating/cooling, underfloor heating, and a glamorous Escea fireplace, the house is superbly positioned just 200m from both the Barwon River foreshore and the cosmopolitan village centre.