The Kimpton is a new family home in Mount Martha that radiates retro charm from the moment you step inside the front gate.

Owners Mark Godek and Brea Watts have transformed a once ‘rugged bushland block’ into a private slice of Palm Springs, just an hour’s drive from Melbourne.

As the co-directors of property development company Project 718, the couple engaged the help of Rod Hannah Design Group, Colin Hyett, and Kate Walker Design (KWD) to help them build a striking mid-century modern inspired house.

KWD founder and director Kate Walker says in addition to capturing the iconic style of the era, the goal was to ‘connect every room with the garden’.

‘We were instinctively united on the ideal aesthetic for the location, and committed to delivering a Palm Springs-style home that was in keeping with the streetscape,’ Kate says.

The coastal location combined with the architectural design set the tone for the interiors from the outset. The classic flat rooflines, a wall of breeze blocks at entrance, cacti gardens, and the outdoor entertaining space with a 2.5-metre palm tree (that had to be craned into the property) drove home the nostalgic aesthetic, as Kate’s team bought a more ‘contemporary edge’ to the house with the material palette.

‘Every aspect of the interior offers a sightline to the exterior, creating a sense of cohesion with the landscaping,’ Kate adds.

‘We used a fresh white colour scheme, with iconic shades of blue, pink, and orange dropped into the palette to add a touch of kitsch surprise.’

A sweeping stone island bench is paired with warm timber joinery in the kitchen, and each wing of the house was also designed to have its own ‘identity’. Blue tones are used to differentiate the children’s spaces from the more playful pinks of the adult’s wing.

The two zones are connected by the terrazzo flooring used in the breezy living spaces, while stacking doors slide back to reveal the hero of the home — the uninterrupted views of the gardens and the idyllic pool!