Inside a bright and breezy Mornington Peninsula beach house

You’ll find Coastal Pavilion in the pretty seaside town of Sorrento on the Mornington Peninsula. The beautifully designed beach home belongs to Lou De Mattia and Ross Nichols, owners of nearby lifestyle and furniture mecca, Coastal Living.

“Most people here are holidaymakers, but Coastal Pavilion is Lou and Ross’s full-time family home,” says Miriam Fanning, founder and principal at Mim Design, who worked with the couple on the build. “It’s on a tea-tree-lined street and has a beautiful coastal feel. You can smell the ocean.”

Comprising a series of pavilions, the home is a seamless mesh of contemporary design and mid-century style. The architecture is simple and pared-back, and executed using robust and authentic materials.

“The home’s external finishes speak to its internal, which makes it feel timeless and strong,” Fanning says. “On a wintry day the home is like a big, warm blanket, and on a hot day it feels breezy and bright.”

Partially protected at the front by a curved breeze-brick wall, Coastal Pavilion is a play of bagged bricks and dark, linear cladding that evokes a mid-century feel.

Defined by black steel frames, the living room is a refined mix of natural elements and textures. The nearby front sitting room, complete with cane and leather furnishings and handcrafted textured rug, opens out to a terrace.

“The layering of textures adds depth and warmth as well as a feeling of permanence to the space,” Fanning says.

Downstairs, a linen-dressed main suite, children’s bedroom and en suite sit adjacent to a guest bedroom, a family bathroom and an office that overlooks the pool and garden. “There is a real connection between each internal space and outdoors,” Fanning says. “It gives each room meaning and connection to the environment.”

The stone kitchen incorporates soft-grey 2pac panelling, polished plaster, full-height cabinetry, and a timber veneer rangehood that beautifully complements the floorboards. A creamy-grey marble island bench is curved to one side to align with a bell pendant light and provides a place for friends and family to perch.

The house has a soothing neutral palette of timber, greys and white, with textures ranging from soft textiles to hardwood-panelled walls, polished plaster and a mix of handmade and standard tiles.

Outside, the swimming pool, lined in white tiles, glows soft blue against lush sculptural grounds by Queensland landscape designer James Ross. A study in succulents, its abundance of cacti is perfectly offset by the home’s robust lines.

“The home is a beautifully calming balance of light and dark, with a real feeling of intimacy through detailing,” Fanning says.

Style notes

Pendant lamp

Named for its iconic shape, the Bell Pendant Lamp features a white inner surface that reflects light for a stylish glow.

Chair

The ergonomically designed Togo Fireside Chair is made from five types of foam and hand-stitched with swathes of quilting.

Vase

Muuto’s Ridge Vase is a versatile vessel for arranging flowers, as well as a striking sculptural piece when displayed in any space.