LifeStyle Channel presenter Shannon Fricke.
Architect Kerstin Thompson's house in Melbourne is unusual, based on contrasts presenting as two different characters. The older wing of the house has the intimate areas of the study, bedrooms and a small informal living area. The other, newer wing is much lighter and more transparent and extroverted, and includes the kitchen, living area and patio. The two sections are linked by an open breezeway.
The small Japanese courtyard that leads to the front door activates the senses. The steel stairs vibrate which create a sense of arrival. Two different sorts of gravel create a variation of sound as visitors come and go. Kerstin says she enjoys the acoustic quality as well as the visual quality of this area.
A spectacular feature of the house is the glass tilt garage door that opens out to the patio. It effectively brings the outside in, and Kerstin says she just loves its openness. With the light and sun flooding indoors, it's easy to see why.
