Suburban style with personality

Hospitality identities Tony Rigas and Louise Huxham are selling the vibrant oasis that has been their family home for nine years

ON first glance from the outside, this white rendered house with a grey tiled roof presents as fairly unassuming in suburban Ashmore.

Step inside the front door, however, and you’re transported into an eclectic space that’s bursting with personality.

For Gold Coast nightclub supremo Tony Rigas and partner Louise Huxham, renovating their own family home was never going to be an exercise in conformity.

“Your home needs to represent your personality, who you are and what you’ve done over the years,” Mr Rigas said.

Co-owner of The Pink Flamingo Spiegelclub in Broadbeach, Mr Rigas has also had a hand in Shooters, Mybar, Quest Lounge Bar, East, Opium and The Oriental Whiskey while Ms Huxham had Love Nightlife.

Having spent so much time in the city’s hottest beachside suburbs, Mr Rigas admits Ashmore wasn’t what they had in mind when the couple first set out in search of an inner city acre plot.

“For me it was the wrong postcode so I didn’t even want to look at the property,” Mr Rigas said. “It was full of trees, shrubs, bamboo and widow-makers – you couldn’t even really see the house coming up the driveway. It was rented with at least a dozen people living in the place and like six dogs.”

Ms Huxham saw the potential and they purchased in 2012, spending nine months ripping out root systems and knocking down walls to create their open plan oasis.

“Going to Bali and particular resorts, I wanted that feel,” Mr Rigas said.

“The block sits above the roofline of your neighbours and all that is exposed is the mountains of the Hinterland. Watching the sunset every afternoon is like being in Ku De Ta in Bali.”

Timber veneer, stone and ceramics create a balance of textures while metallic and patterned wall papers and bold paint choices are applied with confidence throughout.

“The kitchen is most spoken about by anyone who sees it,” Mr Rigas said. “Stainless steel gives it that commercial element – you can hose down that whole area – while the over-size island bench provides a social centre when we’re entertaining.”

One wall is adorned with crucifixes collected from travels around the world while a blue-themed room with over-size velvet lounges screams relaxed cool.

“It’s got that cool hotel foyer in LA vibe – somewhere you can sit, read a book and be served a martini or, in our case, watch kids splashing around in the pool and listen to some music on the surround sound stereo.”

With 12-year-old son Jonathan preferring to spend more time with mates and the couple choosing to inject funds into their business, Mr Rigas said they plan to downsize on water.

“It does sadden us a little bit to sell the house but this will be a new chapter and a new way of living which we are getting excited about,” he said.