FINE tuned

For the music-loving family who live in this Mid-century home on the NSW Southern Highlands, light and sound were top design considerations.

- STORY Carli Philips

Peering up at the living room ceiling in this Southern Highlands family home reveals a three-dimensional beamed design. Long, deep and white, they're like fingers on a piano keyboard, stretching from one side to another.

While it may appear simply decorative, architect and design principal at Cadence & Co, Michael Kilkeary, explains its practical purpose. “The family play a lot of music, and it was integral to their brief. We fitted the ceiling with acoustic board to minimise reverberations and echoes for when they play together. A lot of time and detail went into creating this area; we had to make sure the sound quality was excellent.”

While the homeowners were clear on the functional amenities they required, when it came to aesthetics, they embraced Michael's concepts wholeheartedly. And although much of the home was rebuilt, he largely worked within the confines of the existing footprint.

In the outdoor terrace, in particular, ideas swirled around the low-lying forms of Mid-century architecture. The original verandah roof extended so far past the house that it blocked sunlight, so Michael replaced it with a steel-framed structure lined in timber.