THIS IS THE LIFE
“We love entertaining here,” says the owner. “The kitchen is an easy area to hang out in, especially with the bar nook so handy.” Being just five minutes’ walk from the beach, the area scores top points for this outgoing, outdoors-loving family too. “There are lots of other kids in the street for the boys to hang out with,” adds the owner. “They’re always together, down the beach for a surf or skating around the neighbourhood.”
interiors. “We immediately got on like a house on fire,” says Sally. “I altered the floor plan slightly to improve the flow and made some minor adjustments to make it more functional for the family’s needs, such as taking some space from the butler’s pantry to accommodate a built-in bar in the kitchen that can be hidden behind a barn-style sliding door when not in use – a feature the owners really appreciate when they entertain,” she says.
Sally then turned her attention to the interior palette and furnishings. “The owner wanted a simple and sophisticated coastal look with lots of beautiful textures, but was keen not to veer into cliched Hamptons territory,” she says. Given the family’s active lifestyle, tough, easy-care finishes were a must. “Every element had to be hardwearing, easy to look after and super practical. We decided not to use natural stone or anything too precious,” says Sally.
A palette of dusty blue, soft grey, natural timber and acres of white created the laidback, luxe-coastal feel the owner was after, and speaks to the home’s coastal setting. Texture has been introduced in clever ways throughout the home. In the bathrooms, terrazzo, zellige tiles and marble-look engineered stone are artfully layered. V-groove panelling is used on the cabinetry in the kitchen, bathrooms and hallway, with more formal Shaker-style cabinetry in the living area. “Mixing joinery styles can add real depth and visual interest,” says Sally. “There are no rules.”
The much-loved heritage arches were carefully restored and repainted, and now play a starring role in the new scheme. “I love combining original features with a more contemporary look in this way – it’s always a great way to tell the story of a home,” says Sally.
In the kitchen, where the family spends a lot of its time, Sally designed a generous multifunctional island. The sink and cooktop are installed on the rear benchtop to ensure there’s a clear expanse of benchtop for entertaining or for the kids to do their homework, she explains. The island is topped with Quantum Quartz, an engineered stone selected for its durability and minimal upkeep, which extends about 30 centimetres over the edges of the island at either end. “Little touches like these are cost-effective and can make a big impact,” says Sally.
With all the space they require in one beautiful, familyfriendly package, the owners are settled in for the long haul. “The house feels bright, relaxed and spacious – it’s the sort of home you never want to leave.”
“MIXING JOINERY STYLES CAN ADD REAL DEPTH AND VISUAL INTEREST. THERE ARE NO RULES.”
Sally Rhys-Jones, interior architect
Rhys/Jones Interior Architecture, Mona Vale, NSW; sallyrhysjones.com. Joanna Lukaszewicz Architect, Coogee,
NSW; (02) 9315 7152 or jlarchitect.com.au. Virtue Projects,
Waverley, NSW; 0407 245 468 or virtueprojects.com.au.