The Palm Co
Interior designer and SOUL Home founder Simone Mathews’ forte is creating homes that have a year-round holiday vibe, and a long list of stunning property makeovers proves it. Remember Soul of Gerringong, The Pause, and The Palm House Gerroa? All her handiwork! Her latest project, a single-story holiday house on the NSW South Coast called ‘The Bach’, is equally stunning.
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Before Simone, GUD Studios and local construction company Southern Edge Building set to work, the house was dark and outdated. They re-jigged the floorplan to allow plenty of natural light to enter. “Changing the layout allowed the once dark, closed rooms to come to life,” says Simone. “The biggest impact was the pitched roof in the living area which instantly draws you in from the moment you open the door.” We take a peek inside the house to bring you five beach house design tips to emulate at home.
1. Start with the flooring
Beach houses should be designed for barefoot living, says Simone, who always begins a renovation by choosing the flooring. “The oak flooring was the foundation for all of the selections,” she says, adding, “I was also drawn to how it feels underfoot.”
Sand is an inevitable intruder in any beach house, so it’s important to select flooring that can withstand frequent vacuuming, sweeping and mopping.
2. Stick to a refined colour palette
Coastal homes are often associated with fresh, vibrant shades of white. At The Bach, Simone stuck to a refined palette of soft blue, grey and white with touches of sandy beige – tones inspired by the home’s coastal location.
3. Don’t forget texture
A louvred door, salvaged from the original home, inspired Simone to use the doors throughout the house to add texture.
“We used them in a gorgeous blue tone to complement the kitchen and en masse in the master bedroom; allowing the wardrobe to become a feature rather than solely for practical purposes,” she says.
4. Make the outdoor spaces low-maintenance
Because holiday homes like The Bach are only occupied sporadically, it’s important to create a garden that not only looks great, but is low-maintenance too.
Luke Rogers, director at Southern Edge Building says everything about the garden was selected for its hard-wearing nature. “From the curved timber boardwalks with coastal plants to the circular firepit area, every area of the landscape was chosen with coastal living in mind.”
5. Go with the flow
Curves, a feature that really unites the house and landscape, weren’t even part of The Bach’s original design, says Simone. It was only once the house was fully built that it became apparent some of the lines created by the driveway and towards the deck needed to be softened.
“We created the curved wall, connected to the built-in garden boxes,” she says. “This created a focal point when viewed from the street, a sense of privacy for the family. A built-in seat creates an inviting space to observe and enjoy the sunshine.”
