Don and the ‘Burke’s Backyard’ team visited Margaret Porritt and Warwick Callander, who were spending the weekend at their spectacular beach house at Portsea, on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria.
The 80 square house was completed at the end of 2000, and was built to comfortably accommodate Margaret and Warwick’s extended family at holiday times. It was designed by Margaret’s son, David. The simple, western red cedar building consists of four modules connected by long passageways. The design is ‘seamless’, with all nailing, lights, gutters, downpipes and even the roof concealed from view. There are no windows, only double sliding doors.
Both Warwick and Margaret are in the fashion business. Margaret is the founder and designer of Feathers, an exclusive chain of fashion boutiques for women with stores in both Melbourne and Sydney. The clothes Margaret designs are minimal, functional and stylish, and she believes that she should live in the same way. She loves the modern, ‘slick’ look of the house and garden, which reflects her love of good, simple design in everything.