Coastal cues Chill zone

INSPIRED BY THE GENTLE HUES OF ITS OCEAN SURROUNDS, THIS INVITING BLUE BEDROOM IS A LESSON IN MULTIPURPOSE DESIGN

FINE LINE “Introducing feature panelling in gorgeous Dulux Five Fingers Peninsula hit the coastal-luxe brief,” says Az of the Easycraft VJ wall panels (above). “Offsetting the bold colour with natural textures such as rattan pendants [by Beacon Lighting] complemented the palette,” he adds. The sandy tones of the Adairs bedding, Ikea ‘Trysil’ bedside tables and prints from The Print Emporium (on shelf above left) and Olive et Oriel continue the soothing theme.

Craving privacy in a busy household, homeowners Stefanie and Luke aspired to transform their grey and uninspiring bedroom into a multi-purpose parents’ retreat in the home they share with their children, Noah, six, and twins Izzy and Tommy, four, in a seaside town southwest of Melbourne. “We wanted the room to be beach-inspired and have space for our ‘special’ things to be on display,” explains Stephanie. On their wish list? A chic study to accommodate their work-from-home schedules. “Since our day-to-day lives significantly revolved around our home living room, it was time to set aside a space to call our own,” explains Stefanie, who engaged interior designer Az De La Cruz after discovering his design studio, Haus of Cruze, on Instagram. With a limited budget, Az made bold cosmetic changes that introduced a feature wall, striking decor and functional shelving in a cohesive coastal scheme, evoking the nearby surf coast. “Because the beach is their happy place, the colour palette was inspired by the ocean and the natural textiles and grit that you often find there,” says Az. “While the hero panel wall is bold in colour, the surrounding walls in crisp white help to keep the space feeling light, bright and airy,” adds the designer.

panelled

“OUR WALL GETS THE MOST COMPLIMENTS! colour WE LOVE THE AND WOULDN’T HAVE CHOSEN IT OURSELVES” ~ STEFANIE, HOMEOWNER

OFFICE HOURS Fulfilling the couple’s vision for a working zone, Az transformed a cluttered corner into a sophisticated study nook (below). A wall of windows offers a verdant outlook beside the fresh ‘Brusali’ desk and a pair of ‘Ekby Osten’ shelves, all from Ikea, along with a replica Hans Wegner ‘Wishbone’ chair by Replica Furniture. “For extra storage, we installed floating shelves above and a magazine shelf to the adjacent wall so as to not compromise on desk space,” Az says, of the room’s features, all softened by an Edison globe. SHELF ENVY “One requirement from Stefanie and Luke was a functional space where they could display personal memorabilia,” says the interior designer. “We sourced a pair of beautiful white bookshelves from Ikea [above] that almost blend into the white walls, creating the perfect backdrop for their special pieces.” Styled with woven baskets and a clay bead garland, the shelves provide plenty of storage and a place for the homeowners to layer with personal touches.