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This serene house in Coogee, Australia is a beautiful example of how materiality can replace color. Madeleine Blanchfield Architects designed Coogee House II with a restrained color palette—just white, light wood, and the occasional “pop” of black—but the space feels complex and layered thanks to the range of materials used.
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It starts with the home’s facade, which is all-white save for a series of inset boxes designed from wooden slats. Both the garage and front door look more like design features than utilitarian entrances, which gives the house an almost rendering-like quality.
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Inside, the architects continued the natural, airy theme with white walls that range from brick to drywall to perforated metal screens. Set against natural wood and a muted terrazzo floor, the mix of white materials doesn’t feel monochromatic so much as varied and textured.
The house features double-height ceilings and sliding doors that open onto a grassy courtyard. The living room windows look out onto the ocean, which brings just a hint of color into the space.
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