My Houzz: A Contemporary Family Home With Stunning Views of an Estuary
This serene, light-filled and cleverly designed home offers the perfect place for a young family to grow
Maischa Souaga
21 December 2015
If you love the look and feel of minimalist décor, this beautiful apartment will definitely make you feel at home. We all aspire to accumulate less clutter and it seems that Sasha and Nathan White have found the stylish solution. The young couple are the founders and designers of furniture and textile retailer Mr & Mrs White and have used their own design ethos to transform their three-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment, which is downstairs from Sasha’s parents’, in Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Sasha and Nathan White, with their daughters Selah, 4, and Oak, 8 months
Where Avalon, Sydney, Australia
Size 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
This two-storey home belongs to Sasha’s parents, who bought it 10 years ago when it was, as Sasha describes, ‘like an old beach shack’. When the couple got married, the downstairs was converted into a three-bedroom apartment for them to live in, while Sasha’s parents live upstairs. ‘They work full-time and it’s completely separate, so we don’t need to see each other. But whenever they’re around they pop in. It’s very handy when we go out to dinner and need a babysitter,’ says Sasha.
The renovations were gradual, taking a little over three years to complete. The whole family contributed to the planning and renovations and Sasha’s sister, Amee Allsop, who is an architect, was responsible for the renovation’s design. The custom joinery in the house was completed by Nathan.
Who lives here Sasha and Nathan White, with their daughters Selah, 4, and Oak, 8 months
Where Avalon, Sydney, Australia
Size 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
This two-storey home belongs to Sasha’s parents, who bought it 10 years ago when it was, as Sasha describes, ‘like an old beach shack’. When the couple got married, the downstairs was converted into a three-bedroom apartment for them to live in, while Sasha’s parents live upstairs. ‘They work full-time and it’s completely separate, so we don’t need to see each other. But whenever they’re around they pop in. It’s very handy when we go out to dinner and need a babysitter,’ says Sasha.
The renovations were gradual, taking a little over three years to complete. The whole family contributed to the planning and renovations and Sasha’s sister, Amee Allsop, who is an architect, was responsible for the renovation’s design. The custom joinery in the house was completed by Nathan.
The couple also used their skills as designers to make sure that their home reflected their personalities.
Nathan’s background is in boat building and Sasha studied graphic design at university. When they got married in 2008, they started making their own furniture for their apartment. ‘It was difficult finding pieces that fit in a small space, so we just started making our own things and then for our friends and family,’ says Sasha.
Two years later, in 2010, they decided to combine their skills – Nathan’s beautifully crafted furniture with Sasha’s talent for textile design – to create Mr & Mrs White. And ever since, their home has become a personal showcase for their work.
Sofa, BoConcept. Cushions, all Mr & Mrs White. Artwork, Annette Kelsey
Nathan’s background is in boat building and Sasha studied graphic design at university. When they got married in 2008, they started making their own furniture for their apartment. ‘It was difficult finding pieces that fit in a small space, so we just started making our own things and then for our friends and family,’ says Sasha.
Two years later, in 2010, they decided to combine their skills – Nathan’s beautifully crafted furniture with Sasha’s talent for textile design – to create Mr & Mrs White. And ever since, their home has become a personal showcase for their work.
Sofa, BoConcept. Cushions, all Mr & Mrs White. Artwork, Annette Kelsey
The renovation was completed by AM Custom Builders and took place over three stages. The first included general cleaning of the apartment and repainting walls (those they intended to keep). The second stage was more extensive so the couple had to move out. The kitchen, which was previously a small nook where the living area is now located, was moved to the back wall to create an open-plan area more suitable for family living. The bathroom shifted from where the kitchen currently is to an en suite off the main bedroom. The final stage involved completing the decking and landscaping.
The Box chair, Kiss Cuddle side table, Grey cowhide cushions, all Mr & Mrs White.
The Box chair, Kiss Cuddle side table, Grey cowhide cushions, all Mr & Mrs White.
The living area is one of Sasha’s favourite spots in the house because it’s where the family spend most of their time together. She says it’s a small space and one of the key areas in which she tries to keep clutter to a minimum. ‘When you live in a small space, clutter can make it feel so much more crowded,’ she says. ‘The sofa, side chair and entertainment unit is all the furniture we keep in here.’
The oak unit was custom designed for the couple’s apartment. ‘We often test things in our own home and make adjustments to the design before we decide to add it to the range,’ says Sasha.
The oak unit was custom designed for the couple’s apartment. ‘We often test things in our own home and make adjustments to the design before we decide to add it to the range,’ says Sasha.
The galley kitchen is modern and simple, providing the couple with the perfect space to cook and move around in. The kitchen joinery was designed by Allsop and made by Nathan – he also designed the shelves to the left.
The two girls’ bedrooms are styled similarly to the rest of the home. With growing kids in the house, keeping clutter at bay can be a challenge, but Sasha says she manages to overcome it with clever storage. Floor-to-ceiling units, including these built-in cupboards in Oak’s room, and handmade boxes to store toys in, are just a couple of the tactics the stylish duo have adopted.
Sniglar cot, Ikea.
Sniglar cot, Ikea.
Sasha enjoys hanging the girls’ clothing as an extra layer of texture and says it’s the perfect way to accessorise a child’s bedroom.
Check out 10 tips to ease you smoothly into parenthood
Check out 10 tips to ease you smoothly into parenthood
The couple’s Sydney-based store and their home share many similarities – the theme in both is minimalism, neutral colours, timber and natural materials including leather and linen. ‘These elements really stand the test of time and get better with age,’ says Sasha.
Sasha says decorating the girls’ bedrooms has been a gradual process that hasn’t involved much planning. ‘I have moments of inspiration, but nothing too thought out,’ she says. ‘We’ve been able to keep Oak’s room really clean, as she’s a baby and not moving around too much yet.’ When styling the girls’ bedrooms, Sasha chooses to keep it simple with natural palettes and textures, and just a touch of greenery.
The children’s books are stacked on a humble bookcase Nathan made with the promise of many bedtime stories. The linen curtains were designed by Sasha.
Selah’s room is the perfect place for a four-year-old to grow up in. The neutral palette and stylish design mean it has the potential to last her for many years to come, too.
Everything in the room has a personal touch, including Selah’s book with her baby photos inside. The cute house-shaped block was made for her to play with by Nathan.
‘We were excited when Selah was old enough to start sleeping in a big girl’s bed, so we built her one and kept the décor as simple as possible to minimise clutter,’ says Sasha.
Both of the girls’ bedrooms proudly display their favourite fashion pieces, adding a sophisticated touch of colour to the spaces.
Box drawers, Mr & Mrs White.
The main bedroom boasts an en suite and the couple sleep in a bed designed and made by Nathan. The grey-hide cushion and linen duvet cover were also designed by the duo.
The girls share the simple en suite bathroom with their parents. As with most of the timber elements in the apartment, Nathan designed the bathroom cabinetry.
Get tips on sharing a bathroom
Get tips on sharing a bathroom
The deck is Sasha’s other favourite feature of her home. She says the family use it as a second living space during the summer. ‘It’s so beautiful – up on a hill with a lovely view out to Pittwater. It’s especially nice watching the sun set from here.’
TELL US…
What is your favourite part of this Sydney home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
TELL US…
What is your favourite part of this Sydney home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
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Lovely natural colours & like the lighting which adds warmth.
Very nice, calm, clutter-free. Lovely space..for adults! Just can't picture two little kids running round in there! It doesn't look exactly like a family home to me..where all are the toys, books, and paraphernalia that comes with having kids?? Having said that if my home was ever to be a feature on Houzz (extremely unlikely! :) I would make sure all clutter and kids stuff was out of sight too! She should be proud of herself it does look so neat! ;)
The baby is adorable. I like the house too.