Minett Studio is a Melbourne architectural and interior design practice specialising in new homes, renovations, extensions and coastal residences in Blairgowrie, Sorrento and the southern Mornington Peninsula.

Blairgowrie and Sorrento offer some of the Mornington Peninsula’s most distinctive residential settings — from established beach houses and village properties to elevated coastal sites, significant vegetation and contemporary homes overlooking Port Phillip Bay and Bass Strait.

Our approach brings together architecture, interior design and landscape design, allowing the home and its surroundings to be considered as one complete composition from the earliest stages of design.

Coastal Homes & Renovations in Blairgowrie and Sorrento

Many properties in Blairgowrie and Sorrento occupy exceptional sites but the existing house doesn’t necessarily make the most of them.

Older beach houses may have poor orientation, limited natural light, fragmented additions or little connection between internal living spaces and the surrounding landscape.

A thoughtful renovation or extension can completely transform the way a property functions without necessarily requiring the existing home to be demolished.

We begin by understanding what is already valuable about the property and identifying where architectural intervention will make the greatest difference.

This may involve reorienting living spaces toward northern light, capturing coastal or landscape views, improving circulation, creating additional accommodation or establishing stronger connections between the house, garden, swimming pool and outdoor entertaining areas.

Our objective is not simply to create a larger house, but a better home that responds specifically to its coastal setting.

New Homes in Blairgowrie & Sorrento

Designing a new coastal home begins with understanding the site.

Orientation, topography, views, prevailing winds, existing vegetation, privacy and neighbouring properties all influence our architectural response. On elevated and sloping properties, careful siting can create opportunities to capture views and natural light while allowing the building to sit comfortably within the landscape. The relationship between indoor and outdoor living is equally important.

Rather than relying on a single exposed terrace, we consider how courtyards, gardens and outdoor spaces can provide different places for shelter, sun, entertaining and relaxation throughout the changing seasons.

The result is architecture designed specifically for the site and the way its owners want to experience the Mornington Peninsula.

Holiday Homes & Permanent Residences

A home in Blairgowrie or Sorrento may need to accommodate very different patterns of living.

Holiday homes often need to comfortably accommodate extended family and friends while retaining the informal, relaxed quality of a coastal retreat. Flexible sleeping arrangements, generous communal spaces, outdoor showers, storage for beach equipment, durable materials and easy connections between inside and outside can all become important parts of the brief. For permanent residences, the challenge is often to retain that relaxed coastal character while providing the storage, amenity, thermal performance and functionality required for everyday living. We design each home around the particular way its owners intend to use it rather than applying a predetermined idea of what a beach house should be.

Town Planning & Mornington Peninsula Shire Council

Residential projects in Blairgowrie and Sorrento can involve complex town planning considerations, particularly on sloping, vegetated, coastal or environmentally sensitive sites.

Minett Studio has experience working with Mornington Peninsula Shire Council and navigating the town planning process for residential projects throughout the Peninsula.

Depending on the individual property, planning considerations may include neighbourhood and landscape character, building height and setbacks, vegetation and tree protection, bushfire requirements, environmental and landscape overlays, overlooking and privacy, site coverage and other planning controls affecting the property. We investigate these requirements early so that planning considerations can inform the architecture from the outset.

Where a planning permit is required, Minett Studio can manage the architectural town planning process from initial site analysis and concept design through to preparation of the planning application, coordination with specialist consultants and responses to Council throughout the assessment process. For challenging sites, early architectural and planning advice can be particularly valuable in establishing what may realistically be achievable before significant design work begins.

Architecture, Interiors & Landscape

The landscape is fundamental to the experience of a Mornington Peninsula home.

Minett Studio provides architecture, interior design and landscape design as an integrated service, allowing the house, interiors and garden to develop together. Courtyards, terraces, swimming pools, gardens and outdoor entertaining areas are considered as extensions of the architecture. These spaces can be carefully positioned to capture views, create privacy and provide protection from prevailing coastal weather. Inside the home, we develop kitchens, bathrooms, bespoke joinery, lighting, stone, flooring, fixtures, fittings, furniture and material selections as part of the overall architectural concept. The result is a consistent design language throughout the property and a home that feels considered at every scale.

Designing for the Coastal Environment

The coastal environment of Blairgowrie and Sorrento requires careful consideration of materials, detailing and long-term maintenance.
Exposure to salt air, wind and weather can significantly affect external materials, finishes and building components.

We consider durability alongside aesthetics, selecting materials and construction approaches appropriate to the particular location and level of exposure.Passive solar design, natural ventilation, insulation, thermal performance and protection from prevailing weather are also fundamental considerations. A successful Peninsula home should be comfortable and enjoyable throughout the year — not simply during summer. Swimming Pools, Gardens & Outdoor Living For many Blairgowrie and Sorrento properties, the outdoor spaces are just as important as the house itself.

Swimming pools, terraces, outdoor kitchens, lawns and gardens can be positioned to create a natural extension of internal living spaces while responding to sun, wind, privacy and views.

By considering landscape and architecture together from the beginning, we can also use planting and built elements to create sheltered outdoor rooms and frame views rather than simply surrounding a completed house with landscaping.

This integrated approach creates a stronger relationship between the home and its coastal setting.

Pre-Purchase Architectural Advice

Finding the right property in Blairgowrie or Sorrento can be difficult, particularly when orientation, views, vegetation, topography and planning controls can all influence what may ultimately be possible. The existing house does not necessarily need to tick every box.
Sometimes a thoughtful renovation or extension can transform an otherwise excellent property, while other sites may offer an opportunity for a substantial new coastal home.

Minett Studio can provide pre-purchase architectural advice to help clients understand the potential of a property before committing to it.

We can assess the existing home and site, identify opportunities and likely constraints, discuss potential renovation or redevelopment strategies and provide initial guidance around the likely scale of construction budget required.

Understanding what a property could become can help buyers make a more informed decision before purchasing.

Considering Building or Renovating in Blairgowrie or Sorrento?

Whether you are considering a new coastal home, transforming an existing beach house or assessing a property before purchasing, early architectural advice can help establish the opportunities, constraints and likely pathway forward.

Minett Studio offers a complimentary initial design consultation to discuss your property, your ideas and what may be possible.

Minett Studio — Architecture · Interiors · Landscape