The Loft

The Home Base blog

Back in Black

A bold monochromatic palette complements this sleek and minimalist design

29.01.2025

Working with what many would describe as a difficult block, designer Jes Koedyk from Perth Style Company had a clear vision of the home she wanted to create for herself.

Photo: Alana Blowfield

“My brief to Seve (Pratico) from Draftworx was to create a contemporary design,” she says. “Sleek, minimalist and streamlined.

“We were dealing with a 9m frontage and a 3.5m fall, so it was important to not over-complicate the design. Seve ran with my inspiration and created a house that sits perfectly on the block.”

When it came time to turn her attention to the interiors, Jes says her experience as a designer made her determined to create a space that would go the distance.

“I was extremely motivated to work with a timeless palette,” she says. “I’m exposed to a lot of properties and I see a lot of fad trends that can very quickly date a property. It’s also important to work with other experts. We have a great relationship with our builder Louis (Wright) from Louis Homes. Louis understood our vision from the very beginning and this is evident in the finished product.”

Photo: Alana Blowfield

Jes says the monochromatic palette was both a personal preference and a commercial decision to ensure good resale value.

“Although we have made some bold choices with the black kitchen and black powder room, I have kept the overall selections neutral with the intention that someone can add their personal style to the space,” she says.

Photo: Alana Blowfield

The finished home boasts many show-stopping features including over-sized windows on the north side which allow in plenty of natural light and warmth in winter.

The 3.4m ceilings in the dining room and kitchen create drama and a sense of space. The 3m bench seat in the kitchen is very practical when entertaining and it also doubles as a fantastic storage solution.

The scullery and laundry, tucked behind the kitchen accessible through the cabinetry, means appliances are not on display and offers a feeling of luxury.

“In the initial stage of the design, we did have a list of non-negotiables based on our lifestyle but ultimately we wanted a house that had a functional layout and great for entertaining,” Jes says.

“The north-west-facing backyard means we can maximise on natural light and utilisation of the pool and alfresco area.”

Photo: Alana Blowfield

Jes says she splurged on some special things that make the home unique.

“We went with trowelled earth on the feature entry wall and a variation of concrete finishes, such as the architectural grey polished slab, burnished exterior concrete, because each pour is unique, creating an individual finish.”

 

Louis says no detail was left to chance for the design and build of this project and that contributed to the incredible results achieved. He says the use of painted face brick inside and the clever integration of concrete combine to make the home feel special.

“I love the concrete floor and stairs and the combination of the face brick, concrete and modern cabinetry and cladding,” he says.

Photo: Alana Blowfield

Louis says the home was built towards the end of covid restrictions and that presented many challenges but with a lot of patience and planning, the job was completed without compromise.

Being patient during a build could often result in an end product of better quality.

“It will take as long as it takes to get a good result which is the most important thing, I am not one to compromise quality to shave a few extra months off a build,” he says.