Bower Architecture

Swedish simplicity meets Italian warmth in this sustainable coastal retreat.⁠ ⁠ Designed for gatherings and cosy escapes, The Blairgowrie Beach Club by @bowerarchitecture features mid-century charm, smart zoning, and passive design; turning a family’s story into a soulful coastal sanctuary.⁠ ⁠ Head to the post link in our bio to read the full project article on The Blairgowrie Beach Club.⁠ ⁠ 🏡 Explore more homes like this & connect with a designer who fits your style → link in bio.⁠ ⁠ Architecture & Interiors: Bower Architecture and Interiors⁠ Photographer: @shannonmcgrath7 ⁠ Builder: @fidoprojects ⁠ Styling: @jesskneebone

Ernest House, Brighton is a renovation and restoration of a 1968 Harry Ernest & Associates designed Mid Century villa to create a comfortable, light and warm forever home for our clients Andrew and Eliza. Internally, the renovation respected and reinforced the home’s mid-century character, retaining original brickwork, timberwork, and glass elements. New joinery drew inspiration from existing proportions and details, while door hardware, tiling and handles were selected to closely match the originals. Original lights were restored and more than 40 samples were prepared to find the right timber finishes. Hand-turned rounded corner beads were crafted at every doorway to echo the original design. Read more in the latest Design Files Magazine Issue 04 @thedesignfiles Shortlisted in the 2026 Australian Interior Design Awards, Residential Design Architecture and Interior Design by @bowerarchitecture Photography by @gemmola Styling by @natjstyling and clients @mcmenthusiast Builder: @crispprojectsmelbourne Landscape by @brockstar64 installed by @joneslandscapes Window coverings by @clearviewsuncontrol The Boonwurrung/Bunurong peoples are the Traditional Owners of this land #harryernest #ernesthouse #midcenturymodernhome #beforeandafter #aida

Ernest House, Brighton is a renovation and restoration of a 1968 Harry Ernest & Associates designed Mid Century villa to create a comfortable, light and warm forever home for our clients Andrew and Eliza. The project weaves the restored original Mid Century features with the new elements, creating a fresh chapter for the home that feels like an integrated whole. While deference is given to its origins, the refreshed home and interior design creates an enhanced living environment perfectly suited to its two adult occupants. The improved focus towards the courtyard via the reconfiguring the circulation around it, and new and enlarged glazed openings, integrates landscape into the home. Read more in the latest Design Files Magazine Issue 04 @thedesignfiles Architecture and Interior Design by @bowerarchitecture Photography by @gemmola Styling by @natjstyling and clients @mcmenthusiast Builder: @crispprojectsmelbourne Landscape by @brockstar64 installed by @joneslandscapes Window coverings by @clearviewsuncontrol The Boonwurrung/Bunurong peoples are the Traditional Owners of this land #bowerarchitecture #harryernest #midcentury #ernesthouse #midcenturymodern #midcenturymodernhome #foreverhome #designinspo #australianarchitecture #brighton #beforeandafter

The whimsical "Bridge to Nowhere" at the connection gallery of Cheshunt House, Point Lonsdale. Jill and Peter's grandkids love being on the bridge watching the action below or chatting to their nan and pop. The central connection gallery of the house creates moments of interaction via this playful bridge and operable openings between levels. These allow family members to see and speak to one another across spaces while still enabling privacy when desired. It also creates views up to sky, spectacular natural light and adaptable cross ventilation. Architecture and Interior Design by @bowerarchitecture Photography by @nikoleramsay Styling by @the.generalstore.stylist Landscape Design by @aplantlandscapes with @coastal_elements_landscaping Built by @heinz_builders Traditional owners: the Wadawurrung People Talent: Lottie and Gus

"One of the design features that I love is how when you come to the facade of the house, you're greeted by the beautiful masonry and the timber beams, and they sort of follow you throughout the house, and it gives it a warm and comforting feeling as you work your way through the house. And whether you're upstairs or downstairs, you can see all of those elements almost at every time." Tim Heinz, Builder, Cheshunt House, Point Lonsdale. Architecture and Interior Design by @bowerarchitecture Photography by @nikoleramsay Styling by @the.generalstore.stylist Landscape Design by @aplantlandscapes with @coastal_elements_landscaping Built by @heinz_builders Traditional owners: the Wadawurrung People Accoya timber from @brittontimbers Glue laminated engineered timber by @vicbeam Bricks by @krausebricks

“All our guests rave about the upstairs shower!” Jill, Bower Client and owner, Cheshunt House, Point Lonsdale. We love elevating the everyday into cherished moments with architecture and interior design. Architecture and Interior Design by @bowerarchitecture Photography by @nikoleramsay Styling by @the.generalstore.stylist Landscape Design by @aplantlandscapes with @coastal_elements_landscaping Built by @heinz_builders Traditional owners: the Wadawurrung People Curved travertine tiles from @perinitiles

"A lovely aspect is our ensuite which has a high window all around and when you look out through that in the morning you see the trees out the front." Jill, Bower client and owner of Cheshunt House, Point Lonsdale. The main bedrooms suite is at the ground floor of Pete and Jill's home. It is designed to be their haven but also with graceful aging in place in mind: great natural light, connections to the outdoors, considered circulation and design that can adapt to future needs including planning for future grabrails and a shower screen that can be removed if space for assistance is ever needed. Architecture and Interior Design by @bowerarchitecture Photography by @nikoleramsay Styling by @the.generalstore.stylist Landscape Design by @aplantlandscapes with @coastal_elements_landscaping Built by @heinz_builders Traditional owners: the Wadawurrung People

We are very excited to share that Ernest House, Brighton has been Shortlisted in the 2026 Australian Interior Design Awards Residential Design Category! See more about this renovation and restoration of a 1968 Harry Ernest & Associates designed Mid Century villa on our website. Photography by @gemmola Styling by @natjstyling and clients @mcmenthusiast Builder: @crispprojectsmelbourne Landscape by @brockstar64 installed by @joneslandscapes Window coverings by @clearviewsuncontrol The Boonwurrung/Bunurong peoples are the Traditional Owners of this land

Out now! Look out for the beautiful issue 04 of The Design Files Magazine featuring Ernest House, Brighton and our clients Andrew and Eliza. "The restoration is true to [Harry] Ernest's original design, while being tailor made for self described home bodies Eliza and Andrew, who love their Sunday lie-ins reading the papers, and listening to music in the sun. The house feels warm, relaxed, and cosy - a testament to Ernest's enduring vision." by Amelia Barnes Architecture & Interior Design by @bowerarchitecture Photography by @gemmola Styling by @natjstyling and clients @mcmenthusiast Builder: @crispprojectsmelbourne Landscape by @brockstar64 installed by @joneslandscapes Window coverings by @clearviewsuncontrol The Boonwurrung/Bunurong peoples are the Traditional Owners of this land #harryernest

Our other clients: a tribute to the pets of our projects for International Pet Day today! All photos by @shannonmcgrath7 unless otherwise noted below. Projects included are New Modern Caulfield, Big Small House South Melbourne, another of New modern by @sayherheffernan , Bellbird House Blackburn, and Kate's House St Kilda.

Cheshunt House, Point Lonsdale is a carefully sequenced journey of spaces that expands and contracts, drawing people together while offering retreat. From the tall, screened entry walk to the central gallery that connects living, dining and garden rooms, the house reveals itself gradually. Discover the project on our website (link in our Bio), and look out for the project feature on @thedesignfiles Architecture and Interior Design by @bowerarchitecture Photography by @nikoleramsay Styling by @the.generalstore.stylist Landscape Design by @aplantlandscapes with @coastal_elements_landscaping Built by @heinz_builders Traditional owners: the Wadawurrung People

The Bower team, our clients Jill & Pete and Heinz Builders are delighted to present Cheshunt House Point Lonsdale, a coastal home of interconnected indoor and outdoor spaces, shaped by the colours and textures of Point Lonsdale. Jill and Peter approached Bower to design their forever home — a place to live fulltime in retirement, and to gather children, partners, grandkids, grand-dogs and friends for long summer holidays and celebrations. Active members of the Point Lonsdale community and enthusiastic entertainers, they sought a home that would feel generous and joyful when full, yet intimate and restorative when it was just the two of them. Discover the project on our website (link in our Bio), and look out for the project feature on @thedesignfiles Architecture and Interior Design by @bowerarchitecture Photography by @nikoleramsay Styling by @the.generalstore.stylist Landscape Design by @aplantlandscapes with @coastal_elements_landscaping Built by @heinz_builders Traditional owners: the Wadawurrung People