When David and Sue reached out from their beautiful townhouse in Mariner’s Cove, they had a clear vision — to bring more of that Hamptons charm into their home. They wanted the classic look of a dado rail wrapping around their lounge, dining, and hallway, and a custom-built door and frame to keep the warmth upstairs and add a little privacy between spaces.
We love projects like this — where design meets craftsmanship, and small details make a big impact. So, challenge accepted!
Designing the Perfect Dado Rail
We started with the Hamptons-style wall panelling, designing the dado rail completely from scratch. Every wall space was measured and mapped out so the panels would fit perfectly — no half panels, no awkward joins, just seamless flow from room to room.
That’s one of the things we love most about this style — it brings texture and elegance without taking away from the home’s warmth. The cool grey walls paired beautifully with the fresh Dulux Aquanamel Semi Gloss in WA White, which we used on both the panelling and doors for that crisp, coastal contrast.
The result instantly lifted the whole downstairs area, giving it structure, personality, and that Hamptons-inspired sophistication David and Sue were dreaming of.
Building It the Old-School Way
Upstairs came the next puzzle: a doorway that needed closing off — but the opening wasn’t a standard size. Ordering custom doors would have meant waiting 6–8 weeks and paying over $1,000 per door, plus they only came in fixed sizes.
Luckily, we’ve got a bit of an ace up our sleeve — one of our builders has over 40 years of experience, trained in old-school carpentry that’s rarely taught in modern apprenticeships. So instead of ordering something that wasn’t quite right, we built it ourselves.
Each custom-built door measured 2400mm x 570mm, perfectly tailored to the space. But as always, homes have their quirks — there was a light switch on one side and continuous skirting on the other, meaning we couldn’t install standard swinging doors without creating a clash.
That’s when Glenn had one of his clever “lightbulb” moments 💡. He suggested joining the doors together with a piano hinge to create a bi-folding system — strong, practical, and stylish. It opened smoothly, saved valuable space, and looked absolutely spot-on within the custom-built frame.
By building everything from scratch, we kept the cost down, reduced the wait time, and delivered a finished result that was made to fit — not forced to.
A Happy Client (and a 5-Star Review)
David and Sue were thrilled with how everything turned out — the craftsmanship, the finish, and the care that went into every detail.
“We asked Glenn to create some wall panelling to match our Hamptons-style home. We had a rough idea of what we wanted. Not only did he design and then (he and his team) install something that exceeded all expectations, but the finished product was superb after his painting team continued the quality workmanship and attention to detail evident from start to finish. Highly recommend.”
Read their review on Google →
The mix of classic Hamptons panelling, the cool grey tones, and their antique-style furnishings now flow together beautifully — timeless, elegant, and full of character.
Project Highlights
- 📍 Location: Mariner’s Cove, Mandurah
- 🎨 Paint: Dulux Aquanamel Semi Gloss – WA White
- 🏡 Features: Custom-built doors, custom-built frame, dado rail, Hamptons-style wall panelling
- 💡 Special Touch: Bi-folding doors with piano hinge for strength, style, and space-saving function
Inspired by Hamptons Style?
If you’ve been dreaming of adding Hamptons-inspired panelling, a custom-built frame, or a feature door to your home, we’d love to help bring it to life. Whether it’s a small touch-up or a full makeover, we pour care, precision, and a little bit of creative magic into every detail.
👉 Contact Love Building Co today to chat about your next project — and let’s make your home one you’ll truly love coming back to.
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