Open to the light

A simple white-on-white colour scheme imparts a clean, spacious feel to an inner-city townhouse nestled inside an expansive courtyard

View of open-plan living and dining area with architecture, estate, floor, flooring, house, interior design, living room, property, real estate, table, orange, brown — View of open-plan living and dining area with travertine marble tiled flooring, couches and dining furniture, recessed lighting.

View of a walk-in closet which leads to apartment, architecture, ceiling, daylighting, floor, flooring, hall, home, house, interior design, lighting, property, real estate, room, wall, gray

View of bathroom featuring vanity with CaesarStone tops, bathroom, floor, glass, interior design, plumbing fixture, room, sink, tile, gray, brown

View of bathroom featuring vanity with CaesarStone tops, bathroom, ceiling, countertop, floor, interior design, kitchen, sink, gray

View of a small study near the front architecture, ceiling, door, floor, flooring, home, interior design, property, real estate, room, wall, orange, gray

View of a small study near the front architecture, ceiling, floor, flooring, furniture, home, interior design, living room, real estate, room, table, wall, wood, wood flooring, orange

View of dining area with dining furniture, travertine chair, furniture, interior design, table, brown, gray, orange

View of a bedroom which features travertine marble bed frame, bedroom, ceiling, estate, floor, home, interior design, property, real estate, room, wall, window, wood, brown

View of bathroom featuring bathtub in a tiled bathroom, interior design, plumbing fixture, product design, room, sink, tap, toilet seat, white, gray

View of master bedroom which features travertine marble bed, bed frame, bedroom, ceiling, estate, floor, home, interior design, lighting, property, real estate, room, suite, wall, brown, gray

View of open-plan living and dining area with apartment, ceiling, floor, interior design, living room, real estate, table, gray, orange

View of kitchen area featuring CaesarStone benchtops, recessed ceiling, countertop, interior design, kitchen, real estate, room, brown, orange

Minimalist design can be used to create a sense of space within a small dwelling. A neutral palette enhances that sense.

Architect Craig Rossetti of Rossetti Architects faced the test of fitting a townhouse onto a tight, sloped infill block. He succeeded by creating a light-filled, one-storey dwelling set within a high-walled marbled courtyard.

"The overall design was primarily about emphasising the space to make it feel as large as possible," Rossetti says. "I worked with height and views to make the rooms appear more spacious."

Rossetti imagined the infill site would be attractive to empty nesters. With this in mind, the bedrooms are separated. Two are set on one side of the house, with a corridor and study between them and the master bedroom.

"The idea was to create a space for the children and grandchildren to use without infringing on their parents," Rossetti says. "But the design has appeal for younger people as well."

Both the master bedroom and living area access the courtyard, which contains the view with a high privacy wall. Trees planted around the perimeter will add to the property's seclusion as they grow.

The cement sheeting hides a retaining wall that was needed when part of the site was excavated to keep the house on a single level. A benefit of being tucked into the hillside is that the earth helps insulate the house, saving energy on heating and cooling, Rossetti says.

A small entry leads into the open-plan living area, which combines the lounge, dining room and kitchen. A higher-than-average ceiling 3m instead of the more common 2.4m makes the rooms feel larger. Floor-to-ceiling windows open onto the courtyard, letting in light and air. White travertine marble is used inside and outside to unify the areas and to enhance the sense of space.

In the streamlined kitchen, appliances and the pantry door are tucked behind white melamine to create a smooth, unbroken line. Integrated fingerpulls in the cabinets eliminate the need for additional hardware. The CaesarStone benchtop has a waterfall end, which further contributes to the streamlined effect.

Two skylights admit natural light into the kitchen, while under-cabinet lighting augments other recessed fixtures.

Glazed sliding doors that open onto the courtyard draw light into the master bedroom. In the ensuite, a large mirror reflects natural light, while a clear glass shower screen makes the most of the space. The same technique was used in the main bathroom to make it appear bigger.