Undies Beach House in Perth listed for sale

• Owners: Angie and Trent Alexander
• The property: A coastal Cali modernist family home 
• Address:  12 Fyfe Court, Trigg, Perth
• Expressions of interest: Close February 19 (unless sold prior)

Perth’s vivid and flamboyant Undies Beach House looks like it was born out of a modernist fever dream. The three bathrooms are tiled in wall-to-ceiling pink, green or blue; the outdoor area features a fireplace with a sky-high white brick chimney, and there are circles and curves galore, and the open-plan, green kitchen looks primed for cocktail hour. 

As fun as it is, the two-storey, four-bedroom, three-bathroom home was slowly and thoughtfully planned over 12 months. Angie and Trent Alexander bought the property in 2020 and soon realised they’d have to knock down the existing duplex to make the most of the long, narrow, oddly configured block. They engaged architect Meaghan White, who encouraged them to take their time with each decision. 

“We had a meeting with Meaghan every fortnight, for a whole day, about everything,” says Angie. “It was such a long process and at the time I was thinking, ‘Surely there’s got to be an easier way.’… We wanted to be a bit more rash and she would always say, ‘Go home and sleep on it.’ And it was always the right advice.”

After two years of building, Undies Beach House – so-called because of its proximity to a beach known locally as “Undies” – was completed in December 2023. It’s located in a cul-de-sac in the Perth suburb of Trigg, three minutes’ walk from the beach.

White, who Angie describes as “brave”, “creative” and “really good at pushing the boundaries”, helped the couple navigate council processes and execute the whimsical family home, built by Mitchell Custom Homes. 

“We built it thinking that we want to build a home that we just love,” says Angie. “It was never the intention to sell it.”

One of White’s first suggestions was to start with the outdoor area’s design so it wouldn’t feel like an afterthought.

“Right from the very beginning, she said to us … ‘We want to put aside a certain percentage for the outside because it’s just as important as the inside, and if you can marry those two spaces and they’ve got a language from the inside to the outside it really makes the house feel so much larger,’, says Angie.

“I’m so glad that we spent a lot of money on the outside.”

Undies Beach House’s side yard features a 10-metre sliding gate that opens onto Fyfe Reserve next door, a barbecue entertaining area with that statement fireplace, and a heated round pool decorated with yellow and white tiles. There’s also an outdoor shower designed by White, a wall of Adam Goodrum breeze blocks, a curved entry gate and a lawn fashioned into a grassy knoll. Landscaping was done by Bonnie Stacey Landscapes and Bruce Landscapes. 

The house is built out of face bricks and painted white, which needed to be laid perfectly as they are visible from both sides. It was inspired by Trent’s upbringing in a heritage-listed brick flat in Melbourne’s Carlton.

The curved motif continues inside with a circular lounge room window, rounded bathroom mirrors and walls, and an arched staircase window.

“The curves talk to each other,” says Angie. 

In keeping with the modernist style, living spaces are open and flowing, and the kitchen is resplendent in bold yet subdued green cabinetry with gold accents, green countertops and a scalloped oval island bench. The floors are chevron oak or polished concrete (except for the children’s bedrooms, which feature moss-green carpet), and there are plenty of designer light fittings – such as the handmade wall lights from Coco Flip or the Audo Copenhagen Dancing Pendant (from Arrival Hall). Most rooms enjoy views of the park.

Angie, who used to source and restore mid-century furniture and is passionate about Australian wares, describes the place as “functional” but not “minimal.”

And while she is quick to point out that neither she nor Trent is particularly handy, Angie says they have experience in project management and that White helped choose a solid team of tradespeople and designers.

“If you get the right tradies, you don’t really need to do anything yourself,” says Angie. “And the job’s twice as fast and also a lot better quality [compared to] what we could do.”

“We are very lucky. It is a well thought out home.” 

The Alexanders designed Undies Beach House with their own taste and lifestyle in mind rather than its resale value. Their home’s appeal lies in its playful uniqueness, everyday liveability and coastal modernist flair.

Low to Mid $3m's

12 Fyfe Court, Trigg WA 6029

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