CONCRETE JUNGLE
Surrounded by bushland behind Noosa, this industrial-style house provides a mix of urban notes and tranquillity for this creative couple
This creative couple proves that living in a rental doesn’t mean giving up on showcasing your personality
Serendipity was definitely at play when Leonie and Chadd Holland came across this rental on the Sunshine Coast. Unsure where to settle after deciding Sydney wasn’t for them, Leonie was struck down with glandular fever and her father offered his Queenslander in Coolum Beach as a respite while he was overseas. Unbeknownst to the couple, this temporary relocation would soon become a more permanent fixture. Spotting this contemporary rental among the rustic beach retreats of Doonan, the couple knew it was an opportunity not to be missed and snapped it up. “We like the idea of buying acreage in this area one day, but our transient lifestyle means renting suits us better right now, giving us the flexibility to move around and explore new places,” says Leonie. This explains why the couple is so adept at making wherever they find themselves feel like home. “Whether it’s a unit, a converted warehouse or a concrete masterpiece, we like to add our own personality. Here, with more storage than we knew what to do with, it was about choosing furniture that complemented the simplicity of the spaces and highlighted the natural textures and earthy colours,” she says.
Inspired by Arthur Casas’ São Paulo house in the Brazilian rainforest, the building has been designed with vast amounts of glass to allow the greenery to merge with the interior spaces, while the raw materials evoke an organic feel. At the top of the house, glass louvres encourage the breeze to flow through, removing the need for air-conditioning, while mango trees and rustling bamboo cast dappled sunlight onto the house and shade it from the intense heat. As well as the enormous void in the centre of the building that creates a wonderful sense of openness in the living area, the standout feature is the three-metre by 10-metre sliding glass doors that make the side of the house almost disappear. “We get to see the bushland all day long and, other than when we are sleeping, we never close the doors,” says Leonie.
Nurturing this sense of tranquillity is the soothing patina of the concrete walls, which are perfectly matched with the couple’s laid-back style. “We both appreciate simple, clean design, but it has to also feel warm and homely,” says Leonie. “We’re influenced by pared-back Scandi interiors and 1970s architecture. The simplicity of this house complements any furniture choices we make, which is good because every week I’m adding, removing and rearranging.” As renters, she and Chadd were reluctant to spend a lot of money on furniture and sourced most items from op shops, Gumtree
Every space in the house is constantly evolving as I rearrange and add things each week LEONIE HOLLAND
However, one decorating aspect that heavy artwork on the walls. “Even wouldn’t work on the concrete – we Leonie. “Instead, we have our plants. We always joke that when a truck just for them.” and Chadd, their landlords are flflflexible, the house to suit their style and even to all the windows. “Most of the time, their tenant cares and wants to says Leonie. “But if you fififind you’re limited in what you are allowed to do, it just takes some creative re-thinking. For example, we changed the light fittings in the living space from giant paper lanterns to exposed Edison globes to suit our style. We’ll just change them back when we leave.” However, not all their money-saving decisions have been as successful, and Leonie is the first to admit the pallet beds in the spare bedrooms were a mistake. “We thought they’d work with the industrial vibe perfectly, but they turned out to be a massive pain. Not only are they heavy to move, they drop splinters and are uncomfortably low to the ground,” she says. Despite the minor decorating dilemmas, the house has been a source of inspiration for the couple and it’s also captured their hearts. “We decided to have our wedding here. It was very relaxed with our nearest and dearest,” says Leonie. “No wedding dress, flowers or aisle, just the sublime architecture and mesmerising landscape that set the tone for the day – it was magical.” To book accommodation at this house, visit stayz.com.au/150035. Find out more about Leonie’s work at lioninthevillage.com and check out Chadd’s work at dutchcouragecreative.com.