A new start A family home that feels like being on holiday everyday
AFTER SCORING A DREAM BEACHSIDE BLOCK, ONE COUPLE BUILT A FAMILY HOME THAT MAKES EVERY DAY FEEL LIKE A HOLIDAY
Gold Coast couple Fleur and Jeff don’t do anything by halves. When Jeff came up with the prototype for an electric skateboard he felt was superior to anything else on the market, they sold their first home to finance a production run. “Everyone thought it was a huge risk, but luckily, it ended up paying off,” says Fleur. When it was time to find another home, they made it happen with that same determined drive that had worked a treat for them before. “Nothing had been jumping out at us, but as soon as we noticed three new beachfront blocks were listed, just south of the Queensland border, we travelled down to have a look,” recalls Fleur. “We immediately fell in love with this one as it had a real holiday vibe and some glimpses through to the water. We stalked the real estate agent at an open home and made an offer that day!”
Once rated as one of their favourite spots to holiday, the sleepy enclave ticked all the boxes for a family home, thanks to its laid-back location. “We’ve loved the relaxed, creative, coastal vibe here for many years,” says Fleur. “The lifestyle is just beautiful, with quiet beaches, cafes and restaurants – and all within 20 minutes of the Gold Coast airport and 35 minutes to Byron Bay.”
Dreaming of a modern beach house with striking timber accents, similar to homes they’d seen on holidays to New Zealand’s South Island, Fleur and Jeff found a kindred spirit in architect Scott Carpenter of Create Architecture. “We initially looked into using an architect because the block was only 12 metres wide, so off-theplan options were next to none,” she says. “Then we found out that Scott had just been to Wanaka as he loves the homes there, too, so we knew we’d found the right person for the job straight away.” The result is a dramatic linear design that catches the eye from the street, and cleverly draws light into a vast central void lying above the generously sized kitchen and courtyard at its heart.
“It was important to me that we had some impactful architectural elements if we were going to design our own home,” says Fleur, who drew on the coastal surrounds to finish the interior with a dreamy mix of taupe, grey and sand hues. “I wanted it to feel modern and relaxed with lots of natural texture. And I insisted on a stone feature wall with a gas fireplace as a nod to the New Zealand holidays that we’d had,” adds the chic homeowner.
True to form, she and Jeff faced a race to the finish line to have the home completed in time to host an extended family Christmas celebration. “We moved in two days before Christmas,” recalls Fleur with a laugh. “That was the completion date given to us six months earlier and everyone said that we’d never make it. But we were persistent and our foreman was a miracle worker and he made it happen.”
Finally, there has been some downtime for the couple to enjoy their new seaside sanctuary and indulge in the precious family time they’d longed for with their children Max, 12, and Ella, six. “We travel a bit during the week and also interstate and overseas for work, so when we’re all home together we never want to leave,” says Fleur.