The Local Project

Inside a Family Home Where Nature Shapes Every Room (House Tour)

Inside a family home where nature shapes every room, White Rock by Matters + Made is a coastal sanctuary designed around family life, material richness and a deep connection to its Avalon Beach setting. Located between Avalon and Whale Beach, the home reflects the relaxed rhythm of Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Owned by Garth Elliot, founder of ZETR, White Rock was shaped through a highly personal design and build process. Having lived in the original house for many years, the family understood the site intimately – its generous scale, outlooks, gardens and potential to become something more attuned to their needs. Designed by Matters + Made, inside a family home where nature shapes every room is an exercise in balancing abundance with calm. Chloe Matters approached the project with an understanding not only of the site but of the family itself, creating spaces that feel energetic, joyful and grounded. The result is a home that embraces bold materiality while remaining practical for everyday living. From the entry, nature is brought into direct focus. A large rock and tree frame the arrival experience, setting the tone for a house where the landscape is never treated as separate from the interior. The plan unfolds from the outdoor terrace and swimming pool into the living, dining and kitchen areas, creating an easy connection between gathering spaces and the garden beyond. At the rear, inside a family home where nature shapes every room is most clearly expressed through the relationship between the kitchen and existing garden. By retaining the lower level of the garden at the same height as the kitchen bench, the design creates the feeling of a sunken lounge immersed in greenery. Materiality is central to the home’s character. Stones, metals and richly detailed tiles are layered with timber, limewash paint and leather, creating a palette that feels tactile and earthy. These contrasts bring depth to the interiors without overwhelming them, allowing the home to feel refined yet lived in. One of the most defining gestures is the boulder and tree placed within the centre of the plan. Initially an ambitious idea, it became a natural anchor for the home, reinforcing the project’s sense of connection to landscape. Inside a family home where nature shapes every room, this element turns the interior into a living environment rather than a sealed enclosure. The dining area continues this sense of personal expression. Designed by Elliot, the 12-seat table combines stainless steel, acrylic, walnut and Ceppo Rosa marble, becoming both a functional centrepiece and a reflection of the home’s hands-on making process. Inside a family home where nature shapes every room, White Rock captures the achievement of building something truly personal. Full of memory, energy and calm, it is a family home shaped by friendship, trust and a shared belief in the power of design to support everyday life. 0:00 - Introduction To Inside a Family Home Where Nature Shapes Every Room 1:33 - Creating A Home Of Calm And Abundance 3:05 - Blurring The Boundaries Between Interior And Exterior 4:23 - Layering Materials To Create A Unique Identity 6:12 - A Family Home Built For Connection For more from The Local Project: Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thelocalproject/ Website – https://thelocalproject.com.au/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-local-project-publication/ Print Publication – https://thelocalproject.com.au/publication/ Hardcover Book – https://thelocalproject.com.au/book/ The Local Project Marketplace – https://thelocalproject.com.au/marketplace/ For more from The Local Production: Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thelocalproduction_/ Website – https://thelocalproduction.com.au/ LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/thelocalproduction/ To subscribe to The Local Project's tri-annual print publication see here – https://thelocalproject.com.au/subscribe/ Photography by Pablo Veiga. Interior design by Matters + Made. Build by Custom Construction. Styling by Jack Milenkovic. Filmed and edited by The Local Production. Production by The Local Production. Location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia The Local Project acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land in Australia. We recognise the importance of Indigenous peoples in the identity of our country and continuing connections to Country and community. We pay our respect to Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Indigenous people of these lands. #FamilyHome #Nature #InteriorDesign