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Collection by Lisa Cacioli

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A sheepskin rug, a weave hanging on the wall, and vibrant fabrics add much personality to the small mobile home.
A sheepskin rug, a weave hanging on the wall, and vibrant fabrics add much personality to the small mobile home.
A skylight window illuminates the bedroom, which appears larger than it is because of the closet with mirror-clad sliding doors.
A skylight window illuminates the bedroom, which appears larger than it is because of the closet with mirror-clad sliding doors.
For $28,000, you can realize your mobile-living dreams in this surprisingly sleek, retro camper.
For $28,000, you can realize your mobile-living dreams in this surprisingly sleek, retro camper.
LNC Plug-in Wall Lamp with swing arm from World Market.
LNC Plug-in Wall Lamp with swing arm from World Market.
A renovated bathroom with a new showerstall and tiled wall.
A renovated bathroom with a new showerstall and tiled wall.
The couple did most of the build themselves, turning to friends for help with particularly challenging elements. “We did it on a budget – but it was paid for in other ways,” says architect-owner, Chris Stanley. “It took away most of our weekends throughout our 20s—most of our hangovers were spent building rather than watching movies!”
The couple did most of the build themselves, turning to friends for help with particularly challenging elements. “We did it on a budget – but it was paid for in other ways,” says architect-owner, Chris Stanley. “It took away most of our weekends throughout our 20s—most of our hangovers were spent building rather than watching movies!”
The top edge of the timber cladding was deliberately uneven. “I like a soft edge on buildings—it’s like looking at a skyline and seeing a broken line, rather than a hard, horizontal line,” explains architect-owner Chris Stanley. “It also provided a bit of privacy for the rooftop bath.”
The top edge of the timber cladding was deliberately uneven. “I like a soft edge on buildings—it’s like looking at a skyline and seeing a broken line, rather than a hard, horizontal line,” explains architect-owner Chris Stanley. “It also provided a bit of privacy for the rooftop bath.”
Floor Plan of Host House by Splinter Society
Floor Plan of Host House by Splinter Society
The couple wanted the house to be very open and connected, but still have a sense of rooms within it. As a result, most of the rooms are open, without doors—including a bathroom that looks out to the laneway.
The couple wanted the house to be very open and connected, but still have a sense of rooms within it. As a result, most of the rooms are open, without doors—including a bathroom that looks out to the laneway.
The home offers constant glimpses of the laneway through both strategically placed windows and the single paling fencing. “We loved living on the laneway—it was a circus day and night,” says architect-owner Chris Stanley. “There is a real permeability to the whole site and that was so important for us.”
The home offers constant glimpses of the laneway through both strategically placed windows and the single paling fencing. “We loved living on the laneway—it was a circus day and night,” says architect-owner Chris Stanley. “There is a real permeability to the whole site and that was so important for us.”
The couple often collect materials from warehouses and country yard sales. The exterior cladding is made from old Oregon timber beams from a warehouse in Sydney, while the joinery is crafted from Cypress timber from wind damaged trees that Chris purchased. “It’s about creating refined pieces from found materials,” explains architect-owner Chris Stanley.
The couple often collect materials from warehouses and country yard sales. The exterior cladding is made from old Oregon timber beams from a warehouse in Sydney, while the joinery is crafted from Cypress timber from wind damaged trees that Chris purchased. “It’s about creating refined pieces from found materials,” explains architect-owner Chris Stanley.
The couple often collect materials from warehouses and country yard sales. The exterior cladding is made from old Oregon timber beams from a warehouse in Sydney, while the joinery is crafted from Cypress timber from wind damaged trees that Chris purchased. “It’s about creating refined pieces from found materials,” explains architect-owner Chris Stanley.
The couple often collect materials from warehouses and country yard sales. The exterior cladding is made from old Oregon timber beams from a warehouse in Sydney, while the joinery is crafted from Cypress timber from wind damaged trees that Chris purchased. “It’s about creating refined pieces from found materials,” explains architect-owner Chris Stanley.
The couple wanted to keep the colour palette minimal and bring colour into the home through their collection of artwork. There is, however, a lot of texture. “Neither of us like plasterboard and we wanted to play with handworked finishes and recycled materials,” explains architect-owner Chris Stanley.
The couple wanted to keep the colour palette minimal and bring colour into the home through their collection of artwork. There is, however, a lot of texture. “Neither of us like plasterboard and we wanted to play with handworked finishes and recycled materials,” explains architect-owner Chris Stanley.
Enormous windows allow light to flood the interior, while carefully framed views of the garden blur the boundaries between interior and exterior. The deep concrete bathtub in the downstairs bathroom, for example, offers views of both internal and external gardens.
Enormous windows allow light to flood the interior, while carefully framed views of the garden blur the boundaries between interior and exterior. The deep concrete bathtub in the downstairs bathroom, for example, offers views of both internal and external gardens.
A feature display box-window in the front room was initially designed as a kind of “shop window” and was used to display the work of architect-owner Asha Nicholas, who is also a contemporary jeweller. The textured finish is discarded quarry stone skin, which reflects Asha’s use of stone, metal, and glass in her jewellery work.
A feature display box-window in the front room was initially designed as a kind of “shop window” and was used to display the work of architect-owner Asha Nicholas, who is also a contemporary jeweller. The textured finish is discarded quarry stone skin, which reflects Asha’s use of stone, metal, and glass in her jewellery work.
The couple travelled to Japan annually for almost a decade in the 2000s, and took inspiration from the way light was introduced into small spaces. “We are obsessed with the urbanism of Tokyo and how spaces have been designed to capture the light,” says architect-owner Chris Stanley. “We used a lot of those techniques—getting light in from the top and introducing long views—to make the home feel big.”
The couple travelled to Japan annually for almost a decade in the 2000s, and took inspiration from the way light was introduced into small spaces. “We are obsessed with the urbanism of Tokyo and how spaces have been designed to capture the light,” says architect-owner Chris Stanley. “We used a lot of those techniques—getting light in from the top and introducing long views—to make the home feel big.”
The small home was purposefully designed to accommodate entertaining friends. Much of the entertaining took place in the central kitchen, which is connected with the outdoor spaces and has views beyond the laneway.
The small home was purposefully designed to accommodate entertaining friends. Much of the entertaining took place in the central kitchen, which is connected with the outdoor spaces and has views beyond the laneway.
Despite the prevalence of black throughout the home, it is full of light thanks to the many windows and skylights. “You get such an unexpected play of light and shadow throughout the house,” says architect-owner Asha Nicholas. “We came to love the warm, golden glow of the westerly sun.”
Despite the prevalence of black throughout the home, it is full of light thanks to the many windows and skylights. “You get such an unexpected play of light and shadow throughout the house,” says architect-owner Asha Nicholas. “We came to love the warm, golden glow of the westerly sun.”