SITCHU MAGAZINE Explore More Stylish Homes Peek inside exquisite properties and boutique accommodation across Australia and hear what inspired the architects, interior designers and homeowners. sitchu.com.au/home-tours Architect: Callum Eve, MUM design Builder: Jack James Construction Styled by: Claire Denton Photography: Shaun Naylor-Clarke Words: Olivia Storrie A charming coastal town on New South Wales’ laid-back South Coast, life in Mollymook is guided by the rhythms of sea, salt and sun. Nestled comfortably within this idyllic community on Boag Street, you’ll find one of Mollymook’s most striking residents, The Molly House. Designed by architect Callum Eve of MUM Design, this innovative build harnesses the power of materiality to create a home that is durable, discreet, and packed with character that will only continue to evolve with time. For owners James and Claire, working with the sloped block was crucial in fulfilling the vision. “We didn’t want a two-storey home to feel disconnected, or to simply elevate the house on poles and leave unusable space underneath,” they share. By investing in extensive earthworks and tiering the backyard, they were able to blend the home seamlessly into the side of the hill. Not just a foundation for the rest of the build, this essential step was also Callum’s favourite aspect of the design. “I like the way it sits on the site, low and modest when viewed from the street, only exposing itself as you work your way through the building like a private moment between you and the house.” Effortlessly merging with its coastal backdrop, the home harnesses light, coastal breeze and a rawness that speaks to Australia’s landscape through carefully chosen materials that are both durable and low-maintenance. Materials like hardwood cladding and exposed galvanised steel were chosen by James and Claire so that they would “weather naturally and improve over time.” The choice to focus on industrial materials was both a functional and aesthetic choice. An homage to Mollymook’s coastal and rural farming background, the emphasis wasn’t just on character but utility, too. “The steel components are structural, carrying real loads, but we wanted to celebrate the raw materials rather than hide them”, they share. “Polished concrete floors offer excellent thermal mass, help regulate temperature, and are low-maintenance — ideal for children, dogs, and holiday living.” As for the floods of natural light, this was a consideration of Callum’s from the get-go. “Every bedroom features floor-to-ceiling sliding doors that maximise sunlight”, shares James and Claire. “A central void brings light from the second storey down to the ground floor, ensuring even the heart of the home feels bright and airy. The result is a house with virtually no dark spaces, where natural light defines and enhances every living area.” Not purely aesthetic, Architect Callum adds, “maximising direct sun access to the internal spaces heats the inside during winter, yet during summer months when the sun is higher in the sky, the considered eave size doesn’t allow direct sunlight into the space, removing the need for mechanical heating or cooling.” All part and parcel of the build’s sustainable focus. “The louvre windows let in the bright moonlight and the ocean echoes at night, creating a magical connection between the interior and the surrounding landscape. These spaces capture both the calm and the character of living on the South Coast.” — James & Claire The master bedroom and ensuite continue the quiet dialogue with the landscape, looking “directly onto a native garden filled with flowering gums, banksias, and all the local wildlife — birds, bats, possums.” James and Claire explain: “The louvre windows let in the bright moonlight and the ocean echoes at night, creating a magical connection between the interior and the surrounding landscape. These spaces capture both the calm and the character of living on the South Coast.” And at the centre of the home, fire becomes another elemental force. Framed by the void, this “serves the house in a way that it almost feels like a courtyard with a campfire,” shares Callum on his favourite feature. In a town where life is guided by coastal cadence, The Molly House responds in kind, not competing with its surrounds, but moving in rhythm with them.
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