With eyes focused on the future, owner-builders Helen Quaife and husband Terry set about creating their forever home.
They wanted a place that could last a lifetime without the headaches of maintenance. And they wanted to make sure it was access all areas in case they became less mobile in later years.

Photo: Dion Robeson
“Having renovated an old California bungalow 30 years ago, my husband always said he had another house left in him before he retired,” Helen says. “But this one was going to tick all the boxes in how we like to live, especially now the family has all left home.
“We had just come back to Australia having worked in the UK for six years during which time we lived in a 350-year-old renovated farm barn. This gave us the inspiration and the knowledge of how to successfully live in an open-plan environment.”
Helen says choosing to become owner-builders was a no-brainer.

Photo: Dion Robeson
“Between the two of us, we were more than capable of doing the job ourselves,” she says.
“The savings we made afforded us the finishes we desired.”
Helen credits the support of architect Ben Mountford for not only getting the job done but surpassing all expectations. The resulting home is an incredibly beautiful sanctuary with stunning timeless finishes and natural textures. It is light-filled and has a strong connection to nature.
“We wanted a calm, contemporary house comfortable to live in but with the space for the family to return,” Helen says.

Photo: Dion Robeson | Styling: Anna Flanders
“We wanted the environment we were living in to complement the environment we were viewing from outside. We wanted to build a modest house that was generous in proportion that had architectural features and finishes that were unique to us.
“Terry did most of the timber European beech finishes. His guiding principle on deciding how much timber was to be in the house was no matter where you look, you will always see two wood design elements. Keeping to this rule helped keep a perfect balance.
“We stripped back elements to keep the finished overall appearance seamless, such as no handles on any cupboards or doors – it was integrated into the cabinetry either through mechanisms or design.
“We aimed to conceal most light and plug switches from view, similarly with the window treatments other than two bedrooms where we used sheer curtains as the need was required.”
The home sits in the Swan River floodplain immersed in nature and there are few other buildings in sight, yet it is only 20 minutes from the Perth CBD.
“No two days are the same when you look out from any window. Nature paints a changing picture from dawn to dusk, day in day out. That is such a calming influence in our lives.”

Photo: Dion Robeson | Styling: Anna Flanders
Helen says the experience of being an owner-builder was rewarding.
“Being an owner-builder has been an amazing life experience for us, especially as I am retired. My major takeaway was to show respect to each and every trade or profession I had on site.
“I was seeking their skills, their know-how, their belief that our build was worth going that extra mile. Showing respect to them and asking them to help find solutions to the vision we had for our home allowed them to be invested in the project as much as we were.
“When we had finished and we invited them all back to celebrate in the build, it was a joy to see each of our trades freely walk around our home appreciating each other’s work and now finally seeing it all in context. It was only then that they understood why we were so persistent on doing our work in a particular way.”

Photo: Dion Robeson | Styling: Anna Flanders
Architect Ben Mountford of Mountford McCarey Architects, says there are many reasons to celebrate this home.
It was born from teamwork, resilience, respect and tenacity and those qualities are a metaphor for its location.
Ben says what he loves most about the finished result is the fact that constraints and challenges gave birth to creative thinking.

Photo: Dion Robeson | Styling: Anna Flanders
“I love that it doesn’t present itself the way it normally would,” he says. “Among those, character guidelines, heritage reports, and rules imposed by the Swan River Trust. It had six more requirements round the design than it would normally have.”
The home is tall, because it is on a floodplain, it speaks to the other properties in the area because it is a heritage site and due to council requirements, it uses materials he ordinarily would not consider.
“You have to put your head down and just go bit by bit,” he says. “But that also can be very positive. This is a home that settles well in its surrounds.”
Ben says that working with a fantastic team of people who all played important roles, including the owners, was also a joy and a triumph.