The Inside Outside house is a family home designed by Alex Mason of Studio aem to provide its future occupants a warm, healthy and luxurious environment.

After 15 years in the industry delivering high-end residential interiors in Sydney’s Eastern, Southern and Northern suburbs, Mason made the decision to step up and establish her own practice, Studio aem, 18 months ago. Her first solo project, the Inside Outside home has already been shortlisted for the 2021 AIDA awards.

Engaged by the owner of Burraneer Bay Building to design his family home based on previous projects they had delivered together, Mason was given a brief to push the boundaries of design and construction.

Passionate about authenticity, Mason has focussed on providing tactility as well as a healthy ambience for the home’s residents who suffer from allergies, using materiality to deliver on her design objectives. One favourite aspect is the floating Eveneer bench detail in a space she transformed from a pedestrian entry to a generous and welcoming arrival.

For the light-filled space with high ceilings, the challenge was to create warmth and personalisation, which Mason did with confidence, balancing the warm walnut tones of Fango and the deep luxury of Xilo Black Eveneer timber veneer with natural stone and purification tiles.

A frequent specifier of Eveneer, Mason was introduced to timber veneers from Elton Group as a young designer. She chose Scotts Kitchens to execute the joinery for the Inside Outside House based on their methodical approach and eye for detail.

Photography: Brigid Arnott