COACH to champion surfers Carissa Moore and Jackson Baker, Mitchel Ross, has listed his stunning architecturally-designed house in Hamilton South.
Behind the modest 1920s brick facade at 48 Stanley Street is a contemporary home that takes its cues from the minimalistic styles of interior designers Axel Vervoordt and Antonio Citterio, effortlessly blending the original home with a modern minimalist extension.
The Junction-raised Ross, who is also a co-founder of creative agency Life Without Andy, and his wife Melisa, who has a background in fashion, share the home with their two young children, Rocky and Franco.
They moved into the original home shortly before the first Covid-19 lockdown of 2020 and spent three months living in the property before they undertook the year-long renovation.
The result is an expansive, contemporary home with a minimalist aesthetic throughout, with neutral tones in the kitchen and two bathrooms (which also include underfloor heating), and crisp white walls complimenting the natural light that filters in through skylights and louver windows.
Mr Ross said the couple was mindful of retaining the history of the home and restoring the facade given its position set among heritage homes in Hamilton South, with contemporary additions created to suit their family while also being functional and welcoming.
"Living in the original home prior to renovating provided insight into how to organise the spaces," Mr Ross said.
"Our architect perfectly created a new sense of scale within the home, bringing light and air into the space whilst creating a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor, simultaneously increasing our internal space.
"The design was influenced by modern architecture that emphasises open and inclusive living spaces, but it was important to us that the addition be respectful of the period of the house."
Designed by Shane Blue of Bourne + Blue, the home's architectural details work together with thoughtful design elements, such as the positioning of lighting, to create a gallery-style atmosphere in the four-bedroom residence.
"The brief was pretty open and while the house was in reasonably original condition, a large, infilled verandah at the rear did not allow a good connection to a large North-facing yard," Shane Blue said.
"There was also a dilapidated garage taking up much of the space.
"The brief was to improve this connection and allow the house to work as a family home that makes the most of the block."
Positioned on 689.2 square metres, the home offers plenty of space with three bedrooms plus an office and two separate living areas, one of which could be utilised as a fourth bedroom.
The extension at the rear of the home is a grand open-plan space combining the kitchen, dining and living area, with polished concrete flooring and a 3.8 metre raked ceiling.
The kitchen features a nine-metre-long bench that extends into the butler's pantry, fully integrated dishwasher and an island bench.
"Melisa and I are minimalists and so when designing the new addition, we wanted a gallery-type space designed for living," he said.
"Shane was able to provide a softer modernist touch to the Brutalist vision we had for the home.
"Internally the space was opened to capture the immense amount of natural light which floods our North aspect backyard.
"My favourite features include the heated pool which leads into an outdoor heated shower, and I can't go past the comfort of ducted air-conditioning and heated bathroom flooring which has been such a luxury this winter."
The large backyard features a self-contained studio with a kitchenette and a bathroom as well as a solar-heated pool and covered alfresco area.
There is also a large storage area that is cleverly hidden within the structure of the studio.
Mr Ross said the family is selling to move on to the next chapter of their lives and renovate another home in Newcastle.
"It will be bittersweet to say goodbye to a home that has been so loved, but also we feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to give a home brimming with history and memories a respectful freshen-up," he said.
"We are always excited by the future and in creating spaces that complement the needs of our growing family."
The home is positioned close to The Junction and is only five minutes to the beach.
The property is open for inspection on Saturday at 10.30am. The property is listed through PRD Newcastle's Natalie Tonks with a private treaty sale guide of $3 million.
