When you think of a beachside home, you imagine whitewashed finishes and bright, light interiors with blue and green hints. Nicquel and Sam Carmichael, owners of Carmichael Build, had land with an existing property in Palm Beach, Queensland. They wanted to set the home apart from typical white weatherboard and sandstone houses. The Carmichaels have made a statement with Onyx, the floating black box.
“Traditionally, people on the Gold Coast have tended to shy away from darker tones in architecture, clinging to the comfortable light coastal colours,” says Nicquel. “Breaking this mould and venturing into the mysterious and moody colour palette was a risk that we knew would pay off .”
The Elegance of Black
In feng shui, the colour black represents the water element, symbolising stillness and wisdom. While black is usually applied as an accent colour, Onyx showcases how this dark and moody hue can possess elegance and luxury. From the exterior cladding to all major interior furnishings, walls and even the ceiling, Onyx is a “floating black box” inspired by renowned Melbourne architecture and design.
A Unique Feature: The Stained Timber Ceiling
The stained black timber ceiling was a particular feature that the building designer, Sam Ray of Story Design Collective, was initially unsure of due to how much black was already being used in the build. Now, however, it’s one of his favourite features.
“Water flows, connects and creates life,” says Nicquel. “The black, charred timber ceilings were designed to do exactly this between spaces. Rather than feeling heavy and intrusive, it became a beautiful accent balanced with the blue hues from the natural stone and striking brushed nickel tapware.”
Overcoming Design Challenges
The original home on this flat, square, east-facing block was a single-storey brick house. The Carmichaels originally planned to renovate, but reinforcing the concrete slab and adding a second storey was costlier than rebuilding. Flood restrictions required the house to be raised 500mm, posing challenges for maintaining seamless indoor/outdoor connections and privacy.
Landscaping and Privacy Solutions
Floating stairs connect the home to ground level and the garden wraps around the home, creating an organic landscape like the coastal cliffs seen across the Mornington Peninsula. Six mature olive trees were craned in and planted to maintain privacy, while council also approved an increased fence height to 2.5m along with a gatehouse design.
“The gatehouse was designed to be like a hole in the wall, like entering a secret cave into a luxurious grand world on the other side,” says Nicquel.
The Heart of Onyx House
Onyx House is a five-bedroom, four-bathroom home with a study, powder room, pool, deck, barbecue, and firepit. The ground floor features 2.7-meter ceilings, with seamless transitions between internal and external spaces. Additionally, the centralized kitchen serves as the home’s hub, featuring a butler’s pantry, a five-meter island, 900mm induction cooktop, Zip HydroTap, and high-end appliances, including three pyrolytic ovens. On the top level, the sleeping quarters are located, including a spacious master suite with a double shower and dressing room.
“Onyx is breaking the mould and showcasing that black deserves a place in a coastal setting. It is warm, inviting and homely yet luxurious and sleek,” says Nicquel.
