The Blackwood House—Mornington Peninsula
The Blackwood House is a short-stay luxury property, transformed from a weathered 1980s shack into a modern coastal retreat—guided by the owners’ love for Nordic minimalism and tactile materiality.
Words HANDE RENSHAW Photos TASHA TYLEE
‘We added a custom-built dining nook with leather upholstered backrests, which compacted the eating area just enough to make room for one of my non-negotiables; a cosy wood fireplace.’
Scandinavian-inspired tones: grounded browns, subtle pale oak, and a considered shift from moody exterior to calm, light-filled rooms.
‘We wanted the materiality of this project to reflect our deep love and passion for interior design—the use of the natural elements such as timber, metal and stone each played a role in shaping the character of the home.’
“The Blackwood House is a space where design and comfort meet effortlessly to reflect a sense of calm, and a place that invites rest and connection away from the stresses of modern-day life.”
‘When it came to colours, we approached each decision with the same level of thought—who knew there could be so many shades of white?!’
There are two bedrooms featuring two queen beds, sleeping up to four people.
‘Our love for Nordic minimalism helped shape the material and colour palette for the house–it was all about stripping back the unnecessary, allowing light and space to breathe, all while seamlessly combining functionality and beauty.’
‘The added detail of an outdoor hot water shower and bathtub were the final touches, ensuring that no matter the season, comfort and connection to the natural surroundings would always be part of the experience.’
A generous open fire pit offers a space for stargazing, storytelling and soaking up the sounds of the nearby ocean.
An expansive outdoor deck was built to invite long summer evenings outdoors.
‘Our commitment to creating a home that feels considered and yet relaxed, modern but yet timeless, is a true reflection of the life we’ve built and the treasured memories we hope others will create here too.’
On Bunurong Country in Rye on the Mornington Peninsula, The Blackwood House is a two-bedroom coastal stay shaped by owner-operators Suzi Rose and her partner—a weathered 1980s shack recast as a calm, design-led retreat.
Suzi’s bond with the peninsula is longstanding: ‘When we started searching for a holiday home for our small family, we were immediately drawn to the Mornington Peninsula, having spent many childhood holidays there, I was filled with a deep sense of familiarity and connection.’ Opened in June 2024, the two-bedroom retreat sleeps four—pets welcome—and sits a short stroll from the water.
The find was serendipitous. ‘It was raw and rundown, but it ticked all the boxes; location, block size, and the potential to create something truly special,’ Suzi shares. Rather than knockdown and rebuild, the pair worked with local trades, family and friends to re-plan the modest footprint—tightening the kitchen with integrated extraction in lieu of an overhead rangehood, building a leather-upholstered dining nook, and layering storage so compact rooms feel generous.
‘Everything had to change. The original 1980’s styling was unmistakable throughout the house. It had been in the one family for over 40 years and while my husband was set on knocking it down and starting fresh, I wasn’t in any rush to bulldoze a home with so much legacy,’ shares Suzi.
Materially the property is restrained and tactile: timber, metal and stone set against a blackened exterior. ‘The only original feature we kept was the exterior cedar board cladding,’ Suzi notes, a detail that ultimately ‘gave it the name The Blackwood House.’
Outdoors, the landscape is as considered as the interiors. A broad deck extends daily rituals into the garden; the fire pit draws evenings under the stars; an outdoor hot-water shower and bath make winter dips as appealing as summer swims. Inside, a soft, Scandinavian-leaning palette tempers contras, the moody black exterior giving way to pale oaks and warm brown, so daylight does the editing.
Guided by a Nordic-minimalist sensibility, the palette is restrained and the edit deliberate, stripping back the unnecessary so that light and space can do the work. ‘Our love for Nordic minimalism helped shape the material and colour pallet for the house,’ Suzi says. ‘Every decision was made with the intention to create a home that understood the art of living well, and one that offers guests an unforgettable escape from the pace of modern-day life.’
What lingers most is the sense of effort made light. The house feels edited but warm; practical yet quietly expressive. It’s the kind of place where a winter fire earns its spot on the plan, where materials invite touch, and where a family’s hands, literal and extended, have shaped something that reads as both considered and easy. In Suzi’s words, it’s simply, ‘a shared space built with love, intention and connection.’
