Marianne House
Melbourne
A 1960s beach shack at Rye, on the Mornington Peninsula south of Melbourne, renovated and extended, finished in 2024 for a family with two children. The original 76 square metre cabin, with its timber lined ceilings and big brick fireplace, was kept and reclad rather than demolished, and a new wing about twice its size went in beside it, holding the living, dining and kitchen under one vaulted ceiling.
The two wings stand slightly apart, with a small courtyard in the gap and a glazed corridor joining them that opens both ways, front garden to courtyard. The walls are pale brick and blackbutt timber stained walnut, the house sits behind moonah trees in coastal grasses, and the living and dining space opens to its terrace through full height sliding glass, the opening in this picture. Photographed by Tasha Tylee, the house was shortlisted in the 2025 Houses Awards, where the practice also took a commendation as an emerging studio.
Victoria Merrett Architects
The practice of Victoria Merrett, working between Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula with a team of three. She worked at Pleysier Perkins and Olaver Architecture before opening her own studio, and aims for clear, simple forms, texture over colour, and natural materials.
Architecture and interior design Victoria Merrett (@victoria.merrett). Photography @tashatylee. Editorial styling @tatjana.melchiorre. Seen via @thedesignfiles.
The picture comes from this post on Instagram, with more in a second post.
Researched August 2026. I credit each piece as carefully as I can; if you know more about this one, message me on Instagram.