28 minute read
HOMES TO LOVE Four unique homeowners from around the world showcase their beautiful homes.
HOMES TO love
We wanted to make it feel like a muted and cosy retreat, the domestic equivalent of sheltering in the shade of a huge tree,” Robyn Constantinou pg 50
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Surf's Up!
ele HOME heads to the laidback Brunswick Heads to chat to Karl and Gene, the owners of the charming coastal oasis, Bruns Surf Shack IMAGES: Jessie Prince STYLIST: Jason Grant
The built-in seating offers comfy and relaxing space to hang out, while the use of shutters and open timber screening allows for beautiful breezes to filter through the area.
Q & A
Tell me a bit about yourselves. We’re Karl and Gene – We’re both from North America, although yonks and yonks ago. Karl works in fundraising for Australian Red Cross. Gene is an organisational psychologist and works for NSW Health.
How long have you owned your home and what have you done since purchasing? We bought the house in early 2020, and literally took the keys in the early days when COVID was landing in Australia. At the time the living room was a converted carport with a concrete floor and there was an internal window to the front bedroom! But we loved the house and especially the garden. When we renovated, we didn’t want the final result to be too perfect so that we’d lose all the original details that made it so special.
Can you give me a bit of background on how you found the property? Are you originally from the area? Karl may have a Canadian accent – but his family goes back three generations in the Northern Rivers. His Mum’s family ran pubs in Murwillumbah, Kyogle, Lismore and Casino – so welcoming a new generation of guests feels like the family history has run full circle.
Do you have design backgrounds? We’re not designers ourselves, but we had a very clear vision about what we were looking for: a relaxed space completely designed around the moment when you come back from the beach, rinse off in the outdoor shower, and then settle into the outdoor deck for a relaxed chat and a barbecue.
Bedroom walls are painted in Dulux Natural White and Dulux Bay’s Water. Door is in Murobond Surf Shack by Mr Jason Grant (named after Karl and Gene’s home). Bed linen is from Major-Minor Wares. How would you describe your style? Relaxed and welcoming. We’re big advocates for local culture, so you’ll find local artists’ and crafts people’s work dotted around the house, including paintings, pottery and even basket ware.
What do you love most about your home? The large and varied subtropical garden.
Who designed the exterior and interior of the home? Jason Grant is a good friend who brought the interior design vision to life – he’s got great style, and a wonderful sense of colour. Bill Uhrich (Karl’s brother) and his firm Table Architecture Collective were instrumental in the design work – which they did, during COVID, over Zoom, without ever setting foot in the house!
Who designed the garden? Karl designed the garden with some help from his plant-loving friends. It’s a subtropical planting, with an emphasis on edibles, including bananas, paw paws and passion fruit.
Your best interior design tip? Keep it simple and warm.
What designers inspire you? Two stand out: Nina Freudenberger (who also wrote the book Surf Shack) for her relaxed, unfussy style– and Geoffrey and Bevis Bawa, the two Sri Lankan brothers who heavily influenced Tropical Modernism in architecture and landscape design. We visited (and stayed in!) their homes in Sri Lanka and it left a big impression on us.
What do you love about the Northern Rivers region? Karl’s non-religious aunt (who’s family settled in Bangalow in the 1890s) calls this God’s Country. We have to agree! There’s something about the intense natural beauty of the place, plus the creative energy that the people bring to everyday life here. There’s nowhere else like it.
Favourite places to eat and shop in your region? To eat: Mavis’ and Tweed River House in Murwillumbah (both for atmosphere), and Harvest in Newrybar (they have their own forager).
To drink: Wandana in Mullumbimby and Red Earth in Cudgen – both are micro-breweries.
To shop: Clem’s Cargo, Resould and Oscar & Keene in our very own Bruns – for pre-loved pieces and furniture.
Favourite pieces in your home? We have a painting by Mullumbimby painter Heath Wae that we really love – he’s a philosophical painter whose studio is just 10 minutes up the road.
Biggest splurge? A New hot water heater on the roof that we had to install when we burst a water main when we moved a big tree in the front yard.
Greatest budget buy or budget decorating tip? We make no secret that we really like Kmart – they have a mustard 70s dinner set that takes pride of place in the kitchen!
What’s your favourite way to spend a day in your region/home? A sunrise walk on the beach (yes, we wake up early, and so do a lot of folks in Bruns!); the Mullum market on Friday to pick up local coffee and bananas; on the weekends, a drive through the hinterland to do a hike or visit quirky little villages like Burringbar and Uki.
@brunssurfshack www.brunssurfshack.com.au Bruns Surf Shack is available for stays via Airbnb
Dulux Bay's Water
Farrow & Ball Calke Green
Dulux Highgate
Resould, Brunswick Heads, NSW
Garden design by Sri Lankan brothers Geoffrey and Bevis Bawa
Bill Uhrich (Karl’s brother) from Table Architecture Collective
Karl & Gene's Style Guide
Clem’s Cargo, Brunswick Heads, NSW
Tweed River House, Murwillumbah, NSW
Artwork by Paul Harbour @paulharbour Paulharbourart.com
Mavis’s Kitchen, Uki, NSW
Designer, Jason Grant, brought the interior design vision to life
Tropical Tonic
This coastal home north of Durban, South Africa, distils innovative architecture, punchy natural textures and lively colour to achieve a user-friendly sophistication formulated for family holiday living
WORDS: Liz Morris IMAGES: Lar Glutz/ Bureaux Production Sven Alberding
Clad in white timber, the main living and dining space features a bone-coloured linen upholstered modular sofa, cushions in fabric by Pierre Frey (pierrefrey.com/en/), an organically shaped coffee table made from a solid piece of wood, and an oak and leather armchair from Weylandts (weylandts.co.za). The artwork, which inspired the palette of this seating area, is by Michael Taylor, from Cape Town gallery What If The World (whatiftheworld.com).
It is not always the case that a home is designed and decorated from scratch to completion by a duo of architect and decorator colleagues for family friends, but this was the case here. And the result was a focused vision from a tight-knit team, which played an intrinsic role in creating the special atmosphere and aesthetic of this completed project. As the home is set on a steep site, within a verdant tropical landscape where summers are humid and hot and winters blissfully sunny and temperate, architect Lisa Rorich’s objective was to provide solutions to the climatic challenges. Also key was meeting the owners' brief for a family space that combined a seamless contemporary open plan with more intimate areas, all of which should be rooted into the natural surroundings. It’s a big house: there are five bedrooms in two timber-clad, barn-style structures with several white-painted living areas and outdoor decks and enclosed verandas connecting them. The spaces feel lofty, open, airy – you need this in the cloying summer climate – but the scale is still human, with compelling flow created by a continuous use of natural materials between the exterior and interior architecture. “We used timber cladding on a lot of the outside walls because it weathers so beautifully,” says Lisa, “but also brought it indoors on the same vertical plane which, when all the doors are open, bands the spaces together as one in nature and not simply as inside and outside rooms. I really feel you get more living out of a home this way.” And certainly, surface textures distinguish the project, imbuing it with a contemporary clarity. Decorator Robyn Constantinou worked closely with Lisa on the interior finishes from the word go, electing to paint some cladding white to invite more crispness and light into the kitchen living area – where the ceilings were similarly clad – as well as in the bedrooms and the interleading stairwells. Other coups include a floor-to-ceiling wall of malachite-green zellige tiles in the main bathroom, and a wall of black-painted clad stone (another surface continuation from the outside) in the rear courtyard room.
The dining area, with a solid timber table from Weylandts and high-back chairs from The Gatehouse at Mavromac slip-covered in a natural linen, forms part of the main living space and opens out onto the courtyard. On the outdoor terrace, architect Lisa Rorich's (lisaroricharchitects.co.za) use made of raw and painted timber cladding and decking to wrap vertical and horizontal surfaces in a common natural application. The heavy trestle table by Weylandts is made of solid timber planks, while the chairs and day bed from Weylandts are in bleached timber with woven rattan panels, echoing the minimalist design language of the floor and walls.
The rear courtyard room functions as a sort of enclosed veranda. The feature wall is black painted stone. A long sofa from The Gatehouse at Mavromac with a brace of chartreuse cushions faces the garden, but the appeal of the room is it’s secluded atmosphere, as well as its access to the courtyard and main living area of the house.
A double under-slung vanity slab in engineered stone combines with a woven grass Zulu mat from Ilala Weavers in Northern Zululand and a pair of brass-framed mirrors by Weylandts hung against a white painted timber clad wall to create serene symmetry in the main bathroom. Striking green Zellige tiles from Southern Art Ceramics, applied in a vertical broken bond pattern, are a feature of the guest bathroom.
Dulux Turquoise Sea
Dulux Colorbond Monument Dulux Natural White
In the spare bedrooms, the brief was for quiet, natural tones. Decorator Robyn Constantinou used sand-coloured timber floors throughout with loose-laid coir matting and headboards upholstered in a lattice pattern to turn up the textural aspect. For even more sensory impact, swathes of mushroom coloured linen curtains (fabric from Mavromac) were used for privacy between the bathing and sleeping zones, instead of doors.
The open-plan kitchen is anchored by a broad central island, which accommodates a hob, oven and prep sink plus concealed storage underneath and a flank of exposed storage shelves in the adjacent dining space finished in colours that refer to the kitchen's colour palette.
Interestingly, this space – sheltered from the elements, and with its back to the sea view – feels dusky and seductive: it's pretty much the antithesis of expected beach house decor 101, yet turns out to be the most socially popular of the whole compound. “We wanted to make it feel like a muted and cosy retreat, the domestic equivalent of sheltering in the shade of a huge tree,” explains Robin, “almost like an alter ego of the other living areas, which with their bleached palette, definitely communicate a sun, sand and surf blitheness.” And the genesis of the black stone wall? “It was white to begin with,” Robyn recalls, “and then Lisa and I looked at it and thought no way. It jarred, it was too Mykonos.” Painting the surface black – not jet black, but a more mercurial, cast-iron black – gave the room an earthy and grounded focus that in turn invited bold upticks of decorative language and colour contrast. Cue a 2.5 metre-long sofa in kingfisher blue, which faces the verdant leafy garden via huge sliding slatted doors, and a round, four-seater, marble-topped table at which the home's wine-connoisseur owners gather in the evenings when they feel for an outdoorsy but secluded spot. Designing for the way the owners wanted to live here on holiday was a key driver for the interiors throughout. “They didn’t want a highly styled layering of composed collections and tablescapes,” says Robyn. A fuss-free, fit-for-purpose tableau has obvious benefits for a second home, but it can often be at the expense of character. However, Lisa and Robin soundly trounced that possibility with their cohesive and combined approach to the project, knowledge of the owners' lifestyle and understanding of the climate. “The details, interest and information had to be in the architecture, the fixtures, wall features and furniture,” says Robyn. “The design of this was absolutely making sure those aspects did all the work.” lisaroricharchitects.co.za
Details of succulent plants and grasses, all of which thrive in these coastal conditions, growing in the many cultivated roof garden planters.
A Tiny Piece of Paradise
A love of travelling off-grid, inspired Tim and Amanda Hogg to build their very own tiny abode on the coast of South Australia. Their home, Yambara, offers visitors a raw and rugged escape with panoramic views of the Eyre Peninsula, designed with nature and the environment in mind. WORDS: Amanda Hogg IMAGES: Lauren Photography DRONE IMAGES: Hook and Hammer Creative Media
Our names are Tim and Amanda Hogg and we are the founders of EYRE.WAY. We are a family of five,our children are India -six, Elka - three and Jybah - one and a half. Tim owns a local plumbing business and is very handy when it comes to building and construction. He renovated our 1970’s pink caravan on his own which is our family holiday home on wheels. I am a primary school teacher but since having children has found a new love that really makes her heart sing. We feel together we make a great team, and this project is full of everything we love in one. We began EYRE.WAY early in 2021 and finished the construction of Yambara (our first tiny home) in November 2021. We are days away from launching our second tiny abode Maldhi which we are beyond excited about. It will be a striking contrast to Yambara. We have lived in Port Lincoln for almost 10 years and just adore where we live, we spend our weekends and holidays exploring in our caravan and boat. We stumbled across this land through the owner who is actually my beautician. We told her our concept of building Tiny Homes but not having any land to put them on. She replied “Did you know we own a beach? You could put it down there.” We really don’t have design backgrounds we just have a love of design and are self-taught. We are passionate and feel a sense of calm, contentment and positive energy when doing anything to do with design. I remember some of my most beautiful childhood memories would be to search though my Nanna’s old Better Home and Gardens magazine to create collages of my dream homes. Eyre Way’s “Tiny Abodes” have been inspired by the landscapes they are surrounded by. Neutral tones coupled with materials that provide a sense of warmth and sophistication will help the intended guests relax during their short stays. Plenty of glazing to take in the breath-taking scenery, crisp details and minimalist finishes. While the “Tiny Abodes” lack in size, they make up for in sleekness and functionality. The metal tray roof and external wall cladding provides sharp disconnect lines within the low-lying coastal shrubs. Despite the four wheels attached to the trailer chassis the home exudes a sense of place and permanence. We love the panoramic floor to ceiling windows that bring the stunning views of the rugged coastline right inside. But to be honest we love everything, from the handmade cookery sets designed just for Yambara, to the locally crafted couch out of Tasmanian Oak. The Venetian plaster is so dreamy we just love it and we couldn’t be happier with the Dekton Liquid shell bench top, the texture and earthiness is timeless.
Moore Design and Construct did the design, and I designed the interior. Melissa Slade, who is a clever local interior architect, helped with the final finishes to ensure it was all perfection. Our love for travelling off grid inspired our tiny home. The Eyre Peninsula is an incredible untouched, rugged, raw coastline that is predominately private land. We want travellers to experience this but there was limited accommodation available with views of the true Eyre Peninsula. We are very aware of how delicate this coastline is, so we wanted low impact on the environment and travellers to visit without leaving behind a carbon footprint. We find our inspiration through so many areas of our life but the designers who we think are just nailing it at the moment would have to be Simone Haag, she is so clever in the way she designs spaces to create memories (which has inspired our design). Josh and Jenna Densten who have been buying properties to renovate since they were 18.Claudia Stephenson who believes in selecting with intention, with such a small space every decision we have made has had to be with intention. My last but not least favourite designer is Sarah Andrews who is the owner a beautiful little Tasmanian slow stay that has inspired the hosting world. I have her book, but cannot wait to do her stylist course ‘The Hosting Masterclass’. The earthy crockery set was designed just for Eyre Way by Mrs Fishery Pottery.
The custom designed couch needed to fit the space and be comfortable, versatile, and practical. It took an interior architect, a designer, a talented cabinetry maker and followed by local upholsterers to complete. Upholstery is Warwick Eastwood Fawn. Seat base is Laminex White.
The bedroom’s French linen is from I Love Linen. The living and bedroom space is painted in Taubman’s Cradle White
Our biggest splurges are our windows and roof line. We tried to reduce the size and do a flat roof from various advice we received to cut the budget, but we just couldn’t do it. The pitched roof line with those windows is the main feature, we just didn’t realise how much the windows actually cost. They are all double glazed to increase energy ratings, which we are so glad we did as the tiny abode rarely needs the aircon or heater on. Our greatest budget decorating tip is to collect native vegetation from your surrounds and pop them in a vase! We have very intricate handmade vases in our tiny abodes that are full of little sticks, bunny tails and various vegetation we find from the area… it really brings the outside in. We are so lucky to be only 25 minutes from a main town centre, Port Lincoln. If you can drag yourselves away from the private beach, panoramic ocean views and the bird songs that you’re greeted by all day long you can venture into town. Port Lincoln is the capital of seafood in Australia so, the Fresh Fish place for a bite to eat is a must, followed by grabbing a coffee at Boston Bean Coffee Shop. If you fancy a very nice meal created with local produce with a spectacular view, then Peter Teakle winery is a must. After lunch you will be spoilt for choice with the local shops, the Bayroom and Ella and Zaffron are beautiful homeware and fashion boutiques that you will not leave empty handed. My go to shop for an outfit to spoil yourself is Call Me the Breeze. To end your trip with a bang L’Anse cafe is a definite for breakfast, lunch or to just get patisseries for the road. We are so excited to be launching Maldhi at the beginning of July, our second tiny abode. We have designed this tiny abode completely inspired by the rocky rugged valley it rests in. Maldhi, is nestled on the edge of a picturesque gully overlooking the coastal cliffs of Sleaford Bay, on the south coast of the Eyre Peninsula. It features world-class views across Sleaford Bay to the vast expanse of pure white sandhills materials and textures, resulting in a look that is both edgy and laid back. The cladding and roof are in Colourbond Dune with contrasting white windows.
@eyreway eyreway.com Eyre way is available for short stays via Airbnb
Owners, Tim and Amanda Hogg and their youngest, Jybah
The Vacay Co
When Hannah Williams came across a rundown home in the beachside Sunshine Coast suburb of Mooloolaba, she knew it would be the perfect spot to create her vision of the perfect vacation stay. WORDS: Katie Skinner IMAGES: Palm Co. & Anthony Lazaro
The Pool House is a new construction added to the rear of the property. The house is clad in Dulux Black painted wood siding contrasting beautifully with white window frames in Dulux Casper White Quarter and white roofing. Decking is from James Hardie.
Queensland’s Sunshine Coast is having its literal moment in the sun. It is that perfect mix of coastal and hinterland, with a thriving food and wine scene, stunning beaches, and a busy tourism industry, yet it still retains that village, regional feel. It is not hard to see why property prices are booming and experts are calling it the next Byron Bay. It was here that Sunshine Coast local, Hannah Williams, a property professional, and her partner, Huw, a doctor, chose to purchase a three-bedroom home back in 2016 with the idea of renovating to create a luxury holiday rental. After an overseas holiday, Hannah and Huw came back determined to share what they had experienced. “Vacay Co. is our little dream come true, combining our passions for travel, design and property development. It all began with a trip to Morocco and Greece. Inspired by so many beautiful interiors, unique stays and local hosts we were determined to bring a piece of that back to the Sunshine Coast.” Three months after returning they had purchased a home in Mooloolaba, a centrally located suburb on the Sunshine Coast, surrounded by pristine beaches and canals. Hannah says “I grew up on the Sunshine Coast and really wanted my own little piece of paradise. When searching for the property I was looking for something with tall ceilings that was walking distance to the beach and cafes.” Their plan was a major renovation on the original home, which would become The Palm House, and a new build in the backyard which would become The Pool House. The home was in its original state and Hannah and Huw set about renovating it from the ground up. They did as much as they could themselves on the main house before beginning the build of the New York style loft pool house, pool, deck, carport and finally, the landscaping.
Property development and design has always interested Hannah. She studied property economics at university and has been working in the property industry since she was 18. When Hannah started renovating, she had no formal design experience but has since studied interior design in the UK. The exterior and interiors of both properties were designed by Hannah, with many late nights after work sketching how she wanted it all to come together. Hannah also designed the garden and through her work has been lucky to work with some of the best landscape architects in Australia, which guided her design. Hannah set out
Black and white striped upholstery from Create Estate. Pendant from Inartisan.
Black SMEG appliances coupled with tapware from ABI Interiors set against walls in Dulux White on White add dramatic effect. Decking is from James Hardie. The Geometric black and white tiles ‘Arcade Harrow’ are from Beaumont Tiles.
Image: Anthony Lazaro
Image: Anthony Lazaro
Dulux Black
Dulux Colonel Mustard
Dulux Casper White Quarter
The double height ceiling in the Pool House presents a dramatic impact especially when combined with the polished concrete floor
to keep the garden very tonal with lots of greens rather than having a lot of colours. One of Hannah’s joys is seeing how the garden has taken off over the years, watching it grow and evolve. Hannah has also managed to capture that beautiful indoor-outdoor flow. “There is nothing quite like opening up the bifold doors to get a seamless to the sea breeze and a connection to our beautiful tropical garden and pool.”
When asked to describe her style Hannah says “My style has definitely evolved throughout my twenties, but I have always tried to introduce character through using a mix of old and new finishes. I love to use raw unlacquered brass and organic materials like recycled timber and marble.” Her best interior design tip is a bench seat “People often seem hesitant when I recommend them, but I always ask them when they go to a café do they instantly go for the bench seat or a chair? They are comfortable, great space savers and you can also build in storage.
Hannah and Huw have been surprised by how in demand their properties have become and as Hannah says they are incredibly grateful to be able to help their guests make lasting memories with an authentic local experience in the Mooloolaba beachside community. Their next adventure is renovating their latest holiday home in the UK and continuing to grow their business further by providing more quality and unique stays for all their loyal guests.
Hannah created a cosy dining nook in the Palm House with a mix of old and new pieces. The French oak herringbone floors from Floorwood are featured throughout the Palm House and the pendant light is from Kim Soo. The dining table is Hannah’s sister’s childhood desk.
The V-groove kitchen cabinetry is from The Kitchen shop, coupled with SMEG appliances, and aged brass tapware from Astra Walker.
Getting to know Hannah Williams – owner of the Vacay Co. What designers inspire you? Tough question, I have so many! At the moment my favourites are Athena Calderone, Kelly Wearstler, Sophie Bell, Jake Arnold and Lynda Gardener.
Favourite places to eat and shop on the Sunshine Coast? The Sunshine Coast has evolved into a foodie’s paradise over the past five years and I couldn’t be happier about it! My top restaurants would be: Sum Yung Guys Rice Boi Pier 33
We also have so many beautiful boutiques. My favourite spot for fashion is Alterior Motif and the best spot for artisan homewares is Hello Trader or Clo Studios.
Favourite pieces in your home? Our recycled timber barn door that leads into the ensuite. It was given to me from my grandmother and is from my dad’s childhood home. It’s over 100 years old and adds so much character in the space and that can be difficult to achieve in a new build.
Biggest splurge? Our beautiful hardwood European oak herringbone floors in the Palm House.
Greatest budget buy or budget decorating tip? I love a raw log side table. I have had my dad cut me many from his wood pile. They are perfect by the bed or next to the sofa.
What’s favourite way to spend a day on the Sunshine Coast? Our favourite kind of day starts with a smoothie at the Noosa Farmers Market followed by a hike and a swim in Noosa National Park.
Favourite coffee haunt? The Velo Project Favourite restaurant? Sum Yung Guys Favourite overseas destination? It’s a tie between Italy and Greece Favourite Australian fashion label? St. Agni Favourite flower? Poppy
The Palm House and The Pool House are both available for holiday stays via Airbnb or visit: @vacayco vacayco.com.au
