This house on the west coast of Australia took six years to design and build. Thanks to its natural, earthy finishes, it is based on a timeless design linked to the earth. Nickolas Gurtler, responsible for the project's interior design, drew inspiration from his travels in Italy and used large volumes of natural stone and Venetian plaster.
Perfectly balanced, the house exudes a sense of serenity and peaceful energy but is also cosy and populated.
The owners' desire was not just to build a house, but to create their 'forever home '. They sought a team of professionals - an interior designer, an architect, and a landscape architect - who would collaborate to bring their vision to life. This personal touch, according to Nickolas Gurtler, was a challenge the team eagerly embraced. 'The opportunity to personalize a house down to the smallest detail was something we couldn't resist,' he says. 'We had a fantastic relationship with the clients and developed a close friendship over the project's life.'

A neutral, earthy palette that lasts over time
The interior design of this house is made up of French greys, crisp whites, dark greys and browns. For the decoration, Nickolas Gurtler also incorporated a variety of shades of green, from military green to olive and forest green. Soft bronzes, browns and deep reds were also used. 'These are colours that come from the earth and will never go out of fashion,' says Nickolas Gurtler. These tones help bring warmth and life to the neutral materials used in the interior design.'

Natural materials
Natural stone, wood, white Venetian plaster, stainless steel and other silvery metals such as aged iron, nickel and brushed chrome. 'We used natural materials as much as possible, not only because it's our philosophy, but also because they are the most resistant and easiest to maintain,' says Nickolas Gurtler. 'There's a luxury in using materials from the earth. The combination of their processing, machining and hand-finishing creates layers of beauty. Venetian plaster and concrete were chosen for their timeless quality - they have been used since antiquity and still look contemporary today.' 


Interior Design: Nickolas Gurtler
Architecture: Dorian Morelli
Landscape Architecture: Tristan Peirce
Builder: Formview Building
Photographer: Timothy Kaye