Capel Sound

Capel Sound takes its name from the Mornington Peninsula town it sits in — a modern coastal home built where a fibre glass shack once stood, for a family who live here full-time, every day of the year.

Sitting on a main road, the site's biggest problem was privacy. Our solution was a large stone wall between the house and the street, letting residents look out and enjoy the outdoors without being on display to passing traffic.

Inside, high ceilings and large windows flood the main living room and the main bedroom, positioned as its own quiet retreat, with natural light. Upstairs, the kids get a separate, fully fitted space of their own to play and unwind, away from the main living areas.

The material palette stays simple and coastal throughout: pale timber veneer, white cabinetry, and lime-washed Kilimanjaro Hand-Scraped Oak floorboards — which have the practical bonus of hiding sandy footprints, an elegant fix for a genuinely everyday problem.

The open-plan kitchen sits centrally to take in the surrounding views, opening onto a lounge built for entertaining. A butler's pantry doubles as a prep space, keeping the main kitchen bench clear for guests. Throughout, subtle finishes and timber elements let the house sit quietly within its coastal surrounds rather than compete with the view.

Completed 2012, Capel Sound proves a full-time family home can still feel like a coastal holiday, every single day.