BIG IDEAS
THIS GUESTHOUSE ON QUEENSLAND’S SUNSHINE COAST WORKS MAGIC WITH THE TINIEST OF FOOTPRINTS
A minuscule parcel of land becomes a holiday haven through clever design and maximising of space
There’s something about the little pool house in Hannah Williams’ Mooloolaba backyard that’s instantly relaxing. As soon as guests walk past the palm trees and the pool, they feel like the best vacation version of themselves. This tiny house, which Hannah created for guests and as a holiday rental, opens perfectly to outdoor entertaining areas, while a loft bedroom overlooks the greenery that hugs the beachside block.
Hannah, who works in property development, spent six months designing the building. “I wanted to make the most of the Sunshine Coast climate and blur the lines between inside and outside,” she says.
Despite the fact that the house sits on a tight footprint of 30 square metres, the vibe is fresh and relaxed, and the space feels generous despite packing a lot in. “Let’s face it,” says Hannah. “You know you have it good when your hardest decision in the morning is between a swim in the ocean or in the pool!”
the breakfast club
This little house is big on outdoor entertaining and living. A breakfast bar sits in a nook of the alfresco dining area (above), creating a top spot to enjoy a morning coffee or a cheeky afternoon cocktail. The generously proportioned gas strut window from Stegbar allows for unobstructed views of the pool, and the flow of a porcelain kitchen benchtop from the interior to the exterior ties the spaces together.
The use of black ‘Axon’ cladding from Scyon Walls through to the kitchen further reinforces the indoor/outdoor feeling, and Indonesian-made ‘Lale’ bar stools from Inartisan add rustic charm.
lofty ambitions
Hannah’s style direction was “New York loft with a coastal twist”. Her goals were achieved with the help of her cousin Rohan Williams and his team at Total Building & Construction in nearby Maleny.
Industrial materials such as polished concrete and reclaimed timber are layered with natural elements like log side tables that come from Hannah’s dad’s firewood pile. A mezzanine bedroom gives the living area (opposite) a double-height ceiling – this vertical space is maximised by books and favourite objects, accessed by a ladder.
Colour and texture are in the form of a Freedom ‘Dahlia’ sofa, an Armadillo&Co rug and Kara Rosenlund’s print Byron Bay Rider.
what’s cooking?
Like the slimming powers of an all-black outfit, this black-on-black kitchen feels streamlined yet still makes a statement. Hannah bought the Smeg ‘Victoria’ oven first and used it as inspiration for the rest of the kitchen design. “I decided to use all black cabinetry and benchtops so nothing would compete with the oven,” she says.
The porcelain benchtop has a slim 10mm profile, which helps to visually shrink the space, while rough timber floating shelves and a limewashed recycled brick wall with a custom render give an organic casualness to the dark appliances and joinery.
sleep easy
“I made a conscious effort to use a mix of old and new materials and vintage pieces,” says Hannah of the layers of decor and depth in the tiny bedroom (opposite). The barn door was found in a shed at her grandmother’s house. “It is over 100 years old and from my dad’s childhood home, which makes it special to me,” she says. The pendant light by the bed was picked up by Hannah on a trip to Indonesia, while the walls, as for the rest of the interior, have been painted white.
wash & wear
In the spa-fresh bathroom (right and bottom right), an understated colour palette is elevated by a confident mix of materials. Hannah paired lush white Carrara marble tiles on the floor with a concrete sink from Schots Home Emporium and a custom timber vanity. “I think natural stone is timeless and luxurious,” she says.
In an adjacent dressing-room (bottom left), floor-to-ceiling cupboards accompany a leather hanging rail from H+G Designs. Hannah understands the power of minimising clutter to maximise Zen-levels. “I wanted to make sure there was plenty of space where bulky items like suitcases could be hidden out of sight,” she says.
go with the flow
Even when the temperature drops and poolside lounging is a no-go, this house offers an option to outdoor entertaining. Bifold doors in the living area open to a private yard (opposite), the hero of which is a fire pit from Bunnings anchored by a circle of Mary River stones. “I wanted to have a connection to the outdoors all year round,” says Hannah. “You can dine outside at the pool in summer or sit by the fire with a glass of red in winter!” Sounds like just the way to vaycay. If you’d like to enjoy Hannah’s pool house, book a stay by visiting airbnb.com.au/rooms/26397383. See more projects by Total Building & Construction at totalbuildingandconstruction.com.au.