A number of these traits can be seen throughout the ‘Butterfly House’, a renovation/addition project years in the making for architect Simon Perkins and his family. Grey blockwork carries from the exterior indoors, warmed by American Oak floors and joinery, while bold colour blocking and hints of black steel serves to counterbalance the timber.
James Kleverlaan, owner of
Kleev Homes, who directed the construction of the single-storey home, says it has a relaxed and comfortable vibe as soon as you step inside. ‘It’s not a huge house but it feels really open and light, with the highlight windows and the butterfly roof,’ he says. ‘The timber ceiling looks amazing when you walk in.’
Simon, a director of architecture practice
Pleysier Perkins, effectively doubled the footprint of the house with his plans for the extension. Notably, he mirrored the existing skillion roof over the addition to create a butterfly. Skillfully clad oak-lined ceilings add to its drama, under which the kitchen, dining and sunken lounge room now exist.
James says that the build ran smoothly with great collaboration between all involved, ‘which is the aim for all of our high-end residential projects the business completes each year’. But one main challenge was to ensure the ceiling heights at the rear of the house married up to the front so there was a smooth transition between old and new.
‘The difficult part of the job was all the detailing in the timber-clad ceiling, and the structural steel within that,’ he says. ‘It’s a credit to the foreman and carpenters onsite because it’s beautiful [workmanship].’