The house and the boathouse is located in Cronulla, the vibrant beach suburb where the city meets Sydney’s ring of national parks. It was the result of a genuine collaboration between the design team at Amber Road and owner, Michelle Kalpou. Yasmine Ghoniem (interiors) came to meet the owner by an unusual route. Michelle Kalpou had seen a picture of Yasmine in a magazine profile of young designers and called to ask where she bought her trousers, and if Yasmine would design her house. It was the beginning of a conversation that would result in a sophisticated take on the Australian bungalow, perfectly adapted to the owner’s life. ‘We wanted it to be relaxed and calming, with colour in the furnishings. And simple – we don’t like pretentiousness,’ said the owner. The working relationship with Amber Road was marked by this kind of clarity as well as a great confidence between designer and owner.