Nic Gossage
Grand entrances, both inside and out, offer a glimpse into the proportions and elegance of this luxury beachside abode, the newly built home of Victoria, founder of Victoria Waters Design, and husband Richard, pictured opposite with their seven-year-old twins Isla and Mac, and family pooch, Indie. “While I love classic Hamptons style, I also wanted to create the sentiment of an Australian coastal home,” says Victoria.
On the outside Victoria “steered away from grey”, instead choosing Dulux Beige Filter for the exterior weatherboard walls, its warm colour picking out tones in the limestone cladding and creating contrast to the Dulux Natural White timber work. The ‘Cabin Wall’ lights are from Astro.
Victoria’s much-loved Arteriors Home ‘Adele’ pendants take centre stage in the entrance, and an antique sideboard from Lucinda Rose offers oriental charm to the classic space. Tim Shaw’s aptly named painting Morning Swim adds a touch of colour.
Who lives here? Victoria, an interior designer, and her husband Richard, who manages agricultural investments, with their twins Mac and Isla, seven, and Indie the cavoodle.
Favourite design idea? Victoria: “The playroom, which connects to the living area, has a half glass bar door, so the children have their own space, but I can keep an eye on them.”
Top interior style tip? Victoria: “Clearly define your design style before you start. Prepare mood boards so you are clear on the style you would like to achieve.”
Weekend ritual? Victoria: “I love to cook and entertain friends, and, on a Sunday, you’ll often find me pottering around the garden.”
OPEN-PLAN LIVING Palatial proportions bring grandeur to the hub of the home, where eyes are drawn to the 3.2-metre-high sectional ceiling, stackable doors and linen curtains by Draperly. “I wanted the ceiling to be a feature,” says Victoria, who blends Hamptons style with a relaxed coastal look in the room’s three zones. Whitewashed rattan pendants from Bisque Traders bring beach vibes to the dining table.
Chairs from MCM House and Coco Republic make dinner guests feel at home. In the lounge area, a limestone-clad fireplace steals the scene. The ‘Salsie’ sofa is from Freedom. “We needed a big sofa for this space,” says Victoria, who loves its “Hamptons-style shape and removable covers.” Cushions and a throw add splashes of colour to the sofa.
With toddler twins running around a squeezy two-bedroom terrace, the time was right for interior designer Victoria and her husband Richard to build their dream family home, close to the beach in Sydney’s eastern suburbs where Victoria grew up. In 2016, they came across a 1950s home with the right price tag and a prime location.
KITCHEN “I love standing in the kitchen… and being able to see everyone interacting around me,” says Victoria. “I couldn’t find an engineered stone that gave me the same joy,” says Victoria, seen here next to the enormous ‘Super White’ marble island in her sumptuous kitchen. “I like to be sociable when I’m preparing food so it’s deep enough for people to sit all the way around,” says the designer, who chose Satara’s ‘Anna’ bar stools for their high backs. Taking the space from functional to fabulous are white textured subway tiles, Emac & Lawton ‘Gadsden’ pendants and bespoke cabinetry displaying Victoria’s beloved pieces of handblown glass.
LAUNDRY & BUTLER’S PANTRY “Next to the kitchen, the laundry is the most important room, and we gave a lot of thought to the design and joinery,” says Victoria, who raised appliances to ergonomic height and designed a hidden, pull-out plinth to stand on and reach the dryer. “We even designed the joinery with pull-out drawers to hide away the dog’s food,” says Victoria, which Indie the cavoodle seems to know. The artwork, Honey Grevillea Dreaming, is by Brenda Punytjina Armstrong.
Victoria and Richard planned to knock down the old house, using the generous backyard to build a bigger single-level home and pool, however, one day they climbed on to the roof and saw the ocean views building up would capture… and the rest is two-storey history. “This is our forever home so we made sure the house would grow with us,” says Victoria of the luxury beach house they finished in December 2020.
DINING ROOM Tim Shaw’s painting ‘Seaspray Landscape’ anchors the dining zone.
MAIN BEDROOM A rattan bedhead from One World Collection sits happily next to Astro’s ‘Ravello LED Reader’ (Enlightened Living) in a blend of elegant and effortless. McMullin & Co’s bolster cushion sits atop a Macey & Moore French linen quilt and an Elias Mercantile bed cover, while a Provincial Home Living throw complements the wall colour, Porter’s Paints Half Wood Smoke.
OLD WITH NEW
“I love bringing old pieces into new homes as it adds authenticity and lived-in personality,” says Victoria, of the oriental bedside table she found on Gumtree. For one-off, unique pieces, keep an eye on Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace and seek out the websites of vintage shops, such as dirtyjanes.com and lunatiques.com.
Bronze accents embellish the ensuite. The ‘Crema’ towels are from Købn.
The serene family bathroom.
Smart decisions included designing the seven-year-old twins’ bathroom with a double vanity and large shower to accommodate their needs as adults. “The best decision I made in this bathroom was installing a laundry chute,” says Victoria.
FAMILY BATHROOM Tradition and luxury imbue the all-white bathroom, with its Forme ‘Apollo’ bath, Zaffero ‘Galveston’ wall lights and shaker-style joinery. “I used Carrara marble for the benchtop and niche to create a high-end finish,” says Victoria. Tapware by Astra Walker and ottoman from Merci Maison.
The interiors are timeless yet bursting with personality. “I wanted a home that was enduring, with a classic style I won’t tire of,” says Victoria. “I love coastal Hamptons style and have a passion for Queenslanders, so this house is really a combination of both.”
For similar bronzed brass handles, see Bankston’s ‘Brunswick’ range.
In Mac’s room, a bookshelf displays decorative items, including a Castle ‘Little Red Doggie’ print.
The couple loves entertaining so a generous living area with optimum indoor/outdoor flow got a big tick and a fully selfcontained studio at the front of the house means friends and family are welcome to stay (as are guests on Airbnb). Victoria also wanted “lots of light and ‘green’ views from every room.”
OUTDOOR AREA “With seven-year-old twins, a pool was always on the family’s wish list,” says Victoria, pictured here in the armchair of Harvey Norman’s ‘Rimini’ 3-piece Outdoor Chat Setting, accompanied by Richard, Mac, Isla and cavoodle Indie. “The wraparound balcony with white timber balustrades and double post details gives the home a Queenslander feel,” remarks Victoria, “whilst the exposed rafter tails and highlight windows are in keeping with Hamptons style.” The limestone poolside pavers are from Barefoot Living and the wall lights from Emac & Lawton.
As she watches the children play in the pool or enjoys a coffee in her dream kitchen, what is she most proud of? “The fact that my husband and I have built this beautiful home for our family, and for our friends to enjoy over the coming years. It was a long process but when we look at it and all we’ve achieved we are so thrilled. We wouldn’t change a thing.”
HOME OFFICE Victoria meets clients around a marble ‘Tulip’ table in her office.
Source book
Interior design: Victoria Waters, victoriawatersdesign.com.au, Sth Coogee Beach House on Airbnb.
Building design: Norrsken Ko, norrskenko.com.au.
Builder: David Simonetti, Ecobuild Construction, ecobuildconstruction.com.au.
Joinery: Michael Vartuli, Esito, esito.com.au.
