Contemporary family home with natural light, coastal elegance, indoor-outdoor living, and flexible spaces.

Coastal Elegance Meets Modern Functionality in Craig Steere’s Mezzanine House in Perth

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Written by Seth Sebastian

2026-09-11

Architectural Harmony with Coastal Elegance in Perth

Nestled in the vibrant cityscape of Perth, Australia, Mezzanine House by Craig Steere Architects artfully merges contemporary design with natural materials. This home is a striking reflection of coastal elegance and inspiration, incorporating the soothing interplay of sunlight and ocean breezes. Designed with a family of five in mind, the layout balances expansive communal spaces with private nooks for solitude, catering to both lively gatherings and peaceful retreats.

An innovative one-bedroom apartment sits above the main dwelling, offering flexibility for visiting relatives and future lifestyle shifts. A palette of concrete, timber, and metal enriches the textural experience, while sustainability features like solar panels, rainwater collection, and passive solar strategies underscore the home’s commitment to environmental mindfulness. The overall design radiates coastal elegance.

Modern family house interior with abundant natural light and open living spaces.
Inside Mezzanine House in Perth by Craig Steere Architects, a contemporary family home shaped by natural light, coastal inspiration, indoor-outdoor living and flexible spaces.

Timeless Design through Coastal Elegance and Natural Materials

The home’s architecture blends classic elements with contemporary aesthetics. Using concrete, dark timber, and metals, the design achieves a robust yet elegant visual identity that embodies coastal elegance. The orientation and massing are carefully considered, ensuring ample natural light and seamless transitions between indoor and outdoor environments, echoing the architectural ethos of Perth.

Bright interior space featuring open-plan design and large windows.
Inside Mezzanine House in Perth by Craig Steere Architects, a contemporary family home shaped by natural light, coastal inspiration, indoor-outdoor living and flexible spaces.

Entrancing Entry through Water and Landscaping

A patio and calming water features greet visitors at the home’s entrance. This thoughtful design extends into the landscape, forging a meaningful connection between the indoor spaces and their natural surroundings, enriching the family’s living experience with a touch of coastal elegance.

Front patio features concrete, timber, and a water feature surrounded by landscaping.
The front patio and water feature at Mezzanine House combine concrete, timber, landscaping and water in a contemporary Perth home designed by Craig Steere Architects.
Contemporary home entrance with patio, water feature, and landscaping details.
The front patio and water feature at Mezzanine House combine concrete, timber, landscaping and water in a contemporary Perth home designed by Craig Steere Architects.
Garden view of front patio combining water, timber, and concrete elements.
The front patio and water feature at Mezzanine House combine concrete, timber, landscaping and water in a contemporary Perth home designed by Craig Steere Architects.
Timber and concrete patio space with integrated water feature and plants.
The front patio and water feature at Mezzanine House combine concrete, timber, landscaping and water in a contemporary Perth home designed by Craig Steere Architects.

Seamless Indoor-Outdoor Pool Design

The pool runs parallel to the house, surrounded by sleek pale paving and integrated into the home’s architectural narrative. A bold black metal staircase adds visual intrigue above, creating a juxtaposition against the crisp white exterior and lending the pool area a sharp, modern feel. This area perfectly enhances the sense of coastal elegance.

Pool area with pale paving, glass walls, and a textured perforated facade.
The pool at Mezzanine House sits alongside the architecture, with pale paving, glass walls, a black steel staircase and a textured perforated facade.

Material Palette Introduced in Foyer

The foyer sets the tone for the house with its substantial use of stone and timber. These materials, paired with airy open spaces, create a welcoming introduction and reflect the design language of the entire residence, rooted in coastal elegance.

For more innovative coastal design, explore the Skybox in Nova Scotia which melds modern minimalism with cottage charm.

Bright foyer featuring timber, concrete surfaces, and an open material palette.
Step inside the foyer of Mezzanine House in Perth, where concrete, timber and natural light introduce the contemporary material palette of this family home.

Expansive Living Room with Outdoor Views

Central to family life, the main living room invites gatherings with its open-plan design. The seamless relationship with the exterior spaces channels coastal inspirations, while a stone-clad fireplace serves as a captivating focal point, enhancing the communal atmosphere of coastal elegance.

Living room with fireplace, television, and open plan designed for family life.
The main living room at Mezzanine House features a fireplace and television area within an open-plan space designed around family living and outdoor connections.

The Show-Stopping Kitchen Island

In the kitchen, a commanding green and blue stone island draws attention, merging effortlessly with warm timber cabinetry and providing a vibrant contrast. Black pendant lights and a dark timber ceiling enhance the sophisticated ambiance while ensuring the space remains bright and inviting.

Kitchen with rich timber cabinetry, green stone island, and dark timber ceilings.
The kitchen at Mezzanine House combines rich timber cabinetry, a dramatic green stone island, dark timber ceilings and an open connection to the living area.
Modern kitchen layout featuring timber and stone elements with open living area.
The kitchen at Mezzanine House combines rich timber cabinetry, a dramatic green stone island, dark timber ceilings and an open connection to the living area.
Sleek kitchen showcasing dark ceilings, timber cabinetry, and a stone island.
The kitchen at Mezzanine House combines rich timber cabinetry, a dramatic green stone island, dark timber ceilings and an open connection to the living area.
Connected kitchen and living area with dramatic green stone and timber design.
The kitchen at Mezzanine House combines rich timber cabinetry, a dramatic green stone island, dark timber ceilings and an open connection to the living area.

Cozy Second Living Room Retreat

A secondary living area offers a softer, more intimate atmosphere. A curved couch and pony wall with a fireplace create a snug area, offering the family flexible living options and maintaining a blend of collective and individual spaces that embody coastal elegance.

Second living room with a curved couch and cozy fireplace setting.
A curved couch and fireplace feature in the second living room at Mezzanine House, creating a relaxed space within the flexible Perth family home.
Relaxed living space with a curved sofa and central fireplace.
A curved couch and fireplace feature in the second living room at Mezzanine House, creating a relaxed space within the flexible Perth family home.
Interior view of living room featuring curved couch and warm fireplace ambiance.
A curved couch and fireplace feature in the second living room at Mezzanine House, creating a relaxed space within the flexible Perth family home.

Elegant Dining Room with Tree Views

The dining room’s double-height design combines expansive glazing with black-framed windows, inviting natural light and external greenery in. The warm timber flooring and a traditional round table create a relaxed dining setting beneath a prominent black pendant light.

Dining room with round table, patterned chairs, and expansive glass windows.
A double-height dining room at Mezzanine House pairs a round timber table, patterned chairs and a sculptural black pendant with expansive glazing and treetop views.

Versatile Home Office

The home office, designed to double as a guest room, showcases the home’s adaptability. This dual-purpose space epitomizes the thoughtful planning that allows the residence to evolve with the family’s needs.

Versatile office space functioning as a guest bedroom for flexible family use.
Mezzanine House includes a flexible home office that can also function as a guest bedroom, helping the Perth home adapt to changing family needs.

Architectural Features of Staircases

The staircases are more than functional elements; they are integral to the home’s architectural identity. A black steel-framed staircase partners with floating timber steps and extensive glazing, while another, lighter in design, features sleek black railings and glass balustrades, emphasizing connection and natural light, culminating in a sense of coastal elegance.

Staircase with floating timber treads, black metal accents, and glass balustrades.
Mezzanine House features two distinctive staircases, combining floating timber treads, black metal, glass balustrades and natural light within the contemporary Perth home.
Modern stairs featuring wooden treads, black metal, and glass design elements.
Mezzanine House features two distinctive staircases, combining floating timber treads, black metal, glass balustrades and natural light within the contemporary Perth home.
Stylish staircase with light-filled spaces and contemporary materials.
Mezzanine House features two distinctive staircases, combining floating timber treads, black metal, glass balustrades and natural light within the contemporary Perth home.

Cocooning Bedroom Features

The master bedroom envelops occupants in warmth with its vertical timber paneling and rich textures, complemented by crisp white bedding and colorful accents. This harmonious blend creates a restful, immersive retreat, reflective of coastal elegance.

Bedroom design highlights dark paneling, wood floors, and coastal views.
Dark timber paneling, warm wood floors and coastal views come together in the bedroom of Mezzanine House, a contemporary family home in Perth by Craig Steere Architects.
Contemporary bedroom with timber accents and expansive ocean views.
Dark timber paneling, warm wood floors and coastal views come together in the bedroom of Mezzanine House, a contemporary family home in Perth by Craig Steere Architects.

Natural Elegance in the Bathroom

Soft gray stone and charcoal surfaces interlace with rich timber in the bathroom, where a green stone countertop introduces vibrant color. Skylights and strategically placed windows ensure a continuous flow of daylight, elevating the rejuvenating ambiance of this private space with coastal elegance.

Luxurious bathroom with gray stone, timber cabinetry, and freestanding bathtub.
Inside the Mezzanine House bathroom, soft gray stone, dark surfaces, timber cabinetry and a green stone countertop create a calm contemporary space with a freestanding bathtub.
Bathroom design features soft gray stones, timber cabinetry, and green countertop.
Inside the Mezzanine House bathroom, soft gray stone, dark surfaces, timber cabinetry and a green stone countertop create a calm contemporary space with a freestanding bathtub.

Flexible Living with Mezzanine Apartment

Perched above the main home, the one-bedroom apartment offers versatile living solutions. This addition supports evolving family dynamics, providing both a comfortable guest suite and potential long-term accommodation options.

Discover another flexible living solution with a stationary tiny home, offering more space than most city apartments.

Mezzanine level offering one-bedroom apartment for family adaptability.
The mezzanine at Mezzanine House provides a flexible one-bedroom apartment designed for visiting family and future changes in the family’s needs.

Overall, the Mezzanine House exemplifies the integration of practical family living with Perth’s coastal architectural style, thanks to visionary design by Craig Steere Architects and beautifully captured by Blake Hobson Photography. This residence stands as a testament to coastal elegance, beautifully marrying design and function.

Source: contemporist.com

Frequently asked questions

What is the design theme of the Mezzanine House?

The Mezzanine House embodies coastal elegance and inspiration, incorporating natural materials and a soothing interplay of sunlight and ocean breezes.

What materials are used in the Mezzanine House?

The house uses a palette of concrete, timber, and metal, enriching the textural experience and reflecting coastal elegance.

How does the Mezzanine House promote sustainability?

The house includes sustainability features like solar panels, rainwater collection, and passive solar strategies, showcasing its commitment to environmental mindfulness.