Step inside this Mornington Peninsula home modelled after a childhood doll house
By Heather Nette King
The home
Kingston, a two-storey, six-bedroom, American-style home with a double-stacked porch, sweeping staircase and pool on Victoria’s Mornington
Peninsula.
Tom Cahill, Georgia Bardoel and their young family on the staircase of their dream home.Credit: Armelle Habib
Who lives here
Tom Cahill, a builder, with his wife Georgia Bardoel and their four children, Teddi, 5, Kingston, 3, Coco, 2, and Rex, 6 months.
What we did
“With my brothers at Cahill Building Group, we built our dream home, inspired by Georgia’s childhood doll’s house,” says Cahill. “Our vision was bought to life with help from Kate Walker Design, DNB Design Group and Plume Studio landscaping.”
Our favourite room
“The al fresco area, with the swinging couches I made during the pandemic,” says Cahill. “It feels like a resort in the evenings when the fire’s lit and music is playing.”
The ’hood
“Being on a hill, we love the view towards Mornington Pier, particularly the sunsets,” says Cahill. “We’re a stone’s throw to the beach and local cafes.”
Future plans
“This home is perfect for us,” says Cahill. “But we love the creative process,
so there is always a temptation to build another one.”
Best advice
“We used Pinterest and Canva to help bring our creative vision to life and
to ensure all the rooms were cohesive,” says Cahill.
“We use this island bench for family meals and kids’ arts-and-crafts activities,” says Cahill. The benchtops are Calacatta Vagli marble.Credit: Armelle Habib
A sitting room off the hall is decorated in a palette of pale blues, with “Essay” chairs and “North Shore” coffee tables from Adairs. The artwork is by Kimmy Hogan.Credit: Armelle Habib
The main bedroom boasts uninterrupted views of the Mornington Peninsula and Port Phillip Bay from its four-poster bed. Credit: Armelle Habib
The elevated swimming pool runs along the rear of the property. The three-piece “Rye” setting is from the upcoming Adairs spring/summer collection.Credit: Armelle Habib
“This is our favourite place to unwind, and as it’s undercover we use it all year round,” says Cahill.Credit: Armelle Habib
“We absolutely love living on a hill with a beautiful view towards Mornington Pier and the magical sunsets we get to enjoy each night,” says Cahill.Credit: Armelle Habib
A free-standing Victoria + Albert “Marlborough” bath sits on a custom-made marble mosaic floor by Kate Walker Design. Credit: Armelle Habib
This intimate “whisky room” is the ultimate parents’ retreat, accessed via a secret door in the main bedroom. The Adairs “Avril” chairs swivel to make the most of the Mornington Peninsula views.Credit: Armelle Habib
The Adairs modular “Tulsa” lounge upholstered in chunky corduroy creates a relaxed vibe in the upstairs family lounge, which incorporates a home office. Credit: Armelle Habib
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