THE CAKE HOUSE
Abbotsford
Six years in the making, The Cake House evolved alongside a family shaped by changing circumstances and a clear intent: to make intergenerational living feel considered, not compromised.
Set along the Parramatta River, the home is organised as a vertical neighbourhood. A grandparents' retreat occupies the top floor. Family and formal living anchor the ground level. Bedrooms and study sit below. And at the water's edge, a pool and basketball court bring an energetic, playful counterpoint to the quieter floors above. Each level holds its own rhythm; together, they form a coherent whole.
The interior began with subtraction. The original home was richly appointed but burdened by ornamentation that obscured its architecture. The task was to edit back to clarity to create something practical, playful, and built to last. Existing travertine floors were retained and extended, reframed within a quieter language so the stone reads as calm and enduring rather than decorative. Venetian plaster introduces warmth and depth, giving the interiors a soft, velvety atmosphere. In the double-height entry, a lightly antiqued mirror amplifies light and heightens the sense of arrival; together with the sculpted staircases, it lends the threshold a restrained majesty.
The planning supports multiple generations without friction. Shared spaces are generous and open, designed for gathering. Secondary zones allow different tempos and routines to coexist. The mahjong room by the water is a space for social ritual; the cinema room is cocooning and restorative. A new spiral stair links the terrace and lower level, resolving disconnection and clarifying flow throughout the home.
A consistent material palette travertine, Venetian plaster, mirrored surfaces unifies the interior language and amplifies the presence of the river, drawing light and stillness through every level.
Like the project's song, The Fog is Lifting, the design clears what is unnecessary and lets what matters come forward. Practical, playful, and enduring built not just for the family as it is, but for the family as it continues to grow.
