'Nerissa' - The Ultimate Dreamy Escape

PROJECT ‘Nerissa’

LOCATION Rye, Victoria

DEVELOPHER Claire Larritt-Evans

DESIGN The Sociable Weaver

After a four year search for the perfect site and a two year project to bring this coastal retreat to life, DevelopHer and Interior Designer Claire Larritt-Evans of Larritt Evans and her husband, Scott Larritt, Owner and Creative Director of brand studio Swear Words, are ready to share their coastal retreat ‘Nerissa’ with us all.

Their vision was to create a serene escape that embraces the natural surroundings, offering a space to slow down and connect with nature. And with the help of The Sociable Weaver, they created just that – a tranquil and sustainable home that blends beautifully with its coastal environment.

“There are stars and sounds here that don’t exist in Melbourne. It’s about slowing down and listening to the sounds of the birds and the ocean, leaning into the peace and quiet.”

The home features a calming interior palette of gentle greens, warm whites and light timber tones, and the coastal-inspired landscaping, personally crafted by Claire and Scott themselves, was all sourced from the local nursery with the aim to emulate the varieties they see on their walks in the National Park at 16th Beach.

The exterior form and materiality were key considerations too. Aiming for a modern yet sophisticated finish, single cladding was selected for a cohesive finish and this was important in achieving the intended design aesthetic. Claire used James Hardie Axon Textured Cladding as a way of tying back to the natural environment without the need for any ongoing maintenance.

Originally intended as a sea change and a new family home of their own, they decided to share this restful escape as a short-stay accommodation for guests who are looking to enjoy the beauty of Rye’s beaches, wineries and more, in every season!

We spoke with Claire about the creative process for this project, how the DevelopHer community gave her the confidence to pursue her own developments and why she encourages others to enjoy the creative freedom of personal design projects.

What was your intent for the holiday home?

Originally, it was intended to be a home for us as a family. We bought the land during lockdown with the view that we may move down to the Mornington Peninsula – but we decided to ‘pivot’ and stay in the city, and so, open it up to guests on a short-stay basis. I wanted to make the most of my 15+ years in the Interior Design industry, utilising my trusted suppliers and trades to create a beautiful home for us (and now for guests to enjoy).

Did you enjoy working on your own project as a client as well as a designer?

Yes, I’ll always do client work, but now I want to keep pursuing my own developments. Creatively, I did find it a little different to working with clients. When working with clients the measure of a successful concept is how that sits against the brief, however being my own client meant I could always change the brief. Having said that, once I had locked in a few early materials (kitchen stone and exterior cladding were the first things I chose) the rest of the palette flowed from there.

Take us through your thought process behind the jux position of the dark black exterior form and the softer internals.

The exterior form and materiality was a large consideration. Given the slope of the site and the quiet surrounding area, I wanted the house to sit humbly in the landscape so we opted for a simple yet bold set of 2 pavilions set down over the slope of the block. I chose to work with James Hardie’s Axon Textured Cladding product due to the grain texture so, whilst at large the form is simple, when up close the vertical joint cladding reveals a timber look-grain, referencing back to the natural environment without the need for any ongoing maintenance. I opted to paint the cladding in a severe true black from Dulux, this provides a high contrast to the surrounding native environment and succeeds in presenting the house as sympathetic within the neighbourhood context.

Internally I wanted to flip the palette, we like to design interiors that make you feel something, there often is an audible sigh from friends and guests when they arrive, as if the interior design resets and delivers that shift in mindset and feeling you expect from a weekend retreat to the beach. We opted for soft greens throughout the home, to connect to the surrounding landscape, each room has a carefully framed view of the native trees.

“Overall the house needed to strike the balance of being detailed and elevated while also feeling approachable and relaxed.”

Can you share 5 things that were really successful and that you love about the build?

I love the framed views to nature, the kitchen layout and design and the way it opens onto the deck, the way the home sits into the landscape, we wanted the house to recede into the surrounding landscaping, making the most of the established local Moonahs and tea trees, which are synonymous with the Mornington Peninsula, and finally the relaxed feeling you get when entering the home.

What would you say to anyone looking to become a DevelopHer and would you do it again?

As a qualified Interior Designer, I’d always wanted to pursue personal projects but I was holding back. Once I joined the DevelopHer community, it gave me the extra push I needed to get started. If you’re curious, there any many ways to get involved – either through a project of your own or a shared joint venture experience. I am currently pulling together another project on the Mornington Peninsula as a joint venture with 3 other women from BuildHer Collective. I am passionate about creating homes that are driven by my two guiding principles of design and sustainability.