PEOPLE
The Treehouse: At Home with Laura Dewit and Ben Whittaker
Tucked into the canopy of Church Point, the home of Laura Dewit and Ben Whittaker unfolds quietly among the trees. Elevated and immersed in nature, their recently renovated “Tree House” is less about statement and more about feeling. A home shaped by light, materiality, and a deep respect for its surroundings. What drew them here was immediate. The connection to landscape, the sense of retreat, and the potential to create something considered yet effortless.
01 Can you tell us the story behind your Tree House home — what first drew you to the space?
The Potential. I still remember the first time we climbed through the overgrown landscape to see the abandoned home - the bones were so promising. What really drew us in was the unique shape of the house tucked away in the treetops - an Aframe build flooded with natural light. A year or so later we were told the property was going to market - a heads up from my sister who lives next door. We took a risk, borrowed the money and started a pinterest board.
02 What was your original vision, and how did it evolve throughout the renovation?
The original footprint was the perfect starting point as we used the existing features as inspiration - We loved the exposed wooden beams that ran through the living room and used these to influence our next steps. We wanted to preserve the midcentury influence whilst bringing our colourful pallet to the home. I (Ben) always envisioned a tiled kitchen and bathroom - once we decided together on our color scheme ,forest green, burnt orange & stainless steel features, we began souring the materials.
03 How did the natural surroundings influence your design direction?
The natural surroundings influenced our design direction heavily as the landscape surrounding us is a jungle of native palms, wildlife and flowing creeks. Specifically the cabbage tree’s deep green colour was a key player when choosing our tiles for the kitchen and island bench.
04 What materials, textures, or tones became central to the space?
I (ben) became fixated on a specific green carpet for the bedrooms & staircase. I had found inspiration online from mid-century homes & a common feature was wrapping the staircase in carpet. Whilst Loz took some convincing - it has become one of our favorite features.
05 What were some of the key challenges that shaped the final outcome?
Some key challenges we faced were restoring the original timber and the tediousness of a full tile layout. As we wanted to preserve the home’s original timber features we had to go through the lengthy process of sanding, staining and oiling. This was an all hands on deck task but well worth the extra hours as the exposed beams are a key feature in the outcome today. Secondly, the desire to tile the entire kitchen and bathroom in 100ml X 100ml tiles was ambitious. I had help from my work crew and utilized our landscaping skills to create a unique design in our most used spaces.
06 How would you describe the mood you wanted to create throughout the home?
Our aim was to create a cozy home that was uniquely ours yet practical to raise a family. We would describe the overall mood of the house as inviting and warm. We wanted to curate a space for friends and family to relax and feel as if they’ve stepped into a temporary oasis. It was through working with McMullin that really brought these moods to life as their structural yet comfortable pieces made our house a home.
07 Do you have a favourite space or moment within the home?
My (Laura) favourite space is our bedroom. Ben built the most divine wardrobe space out of cedar wood on both sides of the room- both practical and inviting. The cedar smells earthy & brings a softness to the space. Our view from bed is the vast jungle of native trees which makes our home feel like a private retreat. In the mornings the light streams in & the only sounds are those from running creeks & surrounding wildlife.
08 How do you see the home evolving over time?
Our home will evolve as we evolve - switching out art work, growing a garden & slowly curating forever pieces. Being a landscaper, I (Ben), look forward to the next steps of renovations - landscaping our property into a tropical oasis. The goal is to create an outdoor living space for entertaining in the warmer months & a large space for our kids & their cousins next door to play amongst the palm trees.
