Living thecoastaldream
We visit ‘Swell’, a family’s coastal escape on the southern NSW coast, designed and styled by The Stables Creative Director, Catherine Heraghty.
Catherine Heraghty, owner and Creative Director of interior styling company The Stables, knows a thing or two about design. As one of Australia’s leading designers Catherine is known for her beautifully curated spaces that convey a sense of both light and comfort.
ele HOME talked to Catherine about one of her designs for a family living in Kiama, on the Southern NSW coast. Kiama is famous for its incredible coastline and ocean pools along with having the world’s largest blowhole. It is a short trip from Sydney making it easy access for day trippers and weekenders and the perfect spot to design and style a home.
Who lives here?
Our beautiful long-time clients, the Ettridges, own this property.
How long have the family owned the home and what was their motivation for renovating?
The Ettridges have owned this property for approximately six years. ‘Swell’ is actually a newly built addition upstairs to their family home. They decided to build this addition for the purpose of holiday accommodation and to have another space to use when family and friends come to visit, as well as having a functional kitchen and bathroom for when they take on further renovations to the main family home. For the Ettridges this move was a sea change, they were living the fast-paced Sydney lifestyle and decided to simplify and move down south for a calmer, slower pace of life.
What was the client’s brief for designing the home?
Our client was seeking assistance on the full renovation of their two-bedroom apartment addition. This included design as well as furnishing and styling. Due to the location and the clients’ personal preferences, they were after a contemporary coastal feel. We took on this project in the lead up to Christmas 2018, so ensuring the project was complete by Christmas was essential!
What was your inspiration when designing this home?
For inspiration you can look no further than out the window. The apartment has panoramic views of the ocean and stunning Kiama coastline, and this influenced our selections.
What do you love most about the end result?
We love how calm you feel when you enter the space, and we just love the fact that due to it being holiday accommodation many people will feel that same sense of calm as they enter the property.
How would you describe the style of the home?
Contemporary coastal.
“this move was a sea change, they were living the fast-paced Sydney lifestyle and decided to simplify and move down south for a calmer, slower pace of life”
The master bedroom bedhead is called Momi Bay from Naturally Cane.
Your best interior design tip when designing this home?
When designing a property that has such an outstanding view, do not attempt to compete with it. Keep your interiors simple and timeless and let the location do the rest.
Favourite room in the home?
The combined kitchen and dining space, you just cannot go past that view!!
Favourite pieces in the home?
Our favourite pieces were all the small styling elements found at local south coast homewares stores. It is the finer details that really completed the coastal look.
Biggest splurge?
The biggest splurge would have definitely been all of the beautiful custom joinery for the kitchen.
Greatest budget buy or budget decorating tip?
When furnishing this apartment, we had to rely on items readily available and cost effective. Our favourite purchase is the James Lane linen slipcover sofa in Moody Blue fabric as it really sets the tone for the space. This sofa is the deep version meaning if an extra guest had to sleep on the lounge, they could!
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The little things……..
Interior paint: Dulux Vivid White throughout
Sofa – Como Deep Sofa in Moody Blue by James Lane Occasional Chair – Malawi Chair in Natural by Malawi Cane Master Bedroom Bedhead – Momi Bay by Naturally Cane Kitchen and bathroom – Uneek Interior Solutions, SMEG, Di Lorenzo Tiles.
For a bright and airy feel the entire interior is painted in Dulux Vivid White.