Bespoke beauty: Home renovation
A natural wonder
When it came to designing this Sunshine Coast abode, homeowners made sure it took in all the elements that they love: timber, concrete, black accents and open-plan living. They built the home from the ground up, doing most of the labour themselves while also lending their eye for design to craft furnishings, including the beautiful blackbutt timber daybed with leather strap arms. A slender H&G Designs shelf displays stylish pieces, a smaller shelf supports a cascading pot plant and a Norsu Interiors leather bucket keeps seasonal throws handy.
John Downs
Kitchen
The couple’s chic open-plan kitchen features Laminex Impressions Polar White cabinetry teamed with chic leather handles – available through H&G Designs – a Caesarstone island bench in Clamshell and a striking wallpaper splashback. Bold choices in black – ‘Husk’ pendants from Beacon Lighting, tapware from Samios, a stone sink found on Ebay and a sleek Sharp glass fridge from Harvey Norman – bring definition to the centre of the home.
John Downs
Living room
Decorative ‘Easygroove’ wall panelling from Easycraft, painted in Dulux Domino, creates a striking backdrop to the living area and a Hanna Konola ‘Katto’ print from Norsu Interiors. A floor-to-ceiling mirror, partially masked by timber batons, adds visual drama and extra light. Hailey, a natural stylist, loved selecting the furnishings, including a geometric Fenton & Fenton rug, replica Acapulco chairs and a ‘Brooklyn’ couch from Freedom topped with a leather Nathan & Jac ‘Dot’ cushion.
John Downs
Study nook
Homeowner divides her working days between her home studio and this purpose-built office nook off the kitchen. The couple made the floating desk to be just large enough for her computer and
a few office essentials to help keep clutter to a minimum. An oversized ladder rail suspended by black leather straps is the perfect place to suspend a retro-look ‘Lunar 1’ pendant from Beacon Lighting. An ‘Organic’ chair from Replica Furniture and a storage sack from Pretty Tidy complete the sleek office space.
John Downs
Stairway
Floating blackbutt timber stairs are a sculptural element and make a beautiful textural contrast to the soaring concrete block wall. A powder room sits neatly within the void below, allowing enough space to display lush greenery on a wire plant stand.
John Downs
Dining
The crafty couple made their own dining table from a slab of blackbutt timber. “We wanted the layout to feel as open as possible, so opted for a breakfast bar attached to the island bench, which and suits our casual style,” explains Hailey.
John Downs
Main bedroom
“We really wanted a large bedroom that felt more like a living area and I think we achieved that feel by merging the room with the ensuite,” explains the family. Easycraft ‘Easygroove’ wall panels add a nod to the home’s Queensland location and provide a gallery wall for prints from Norsu Interiors, YorkeLee and foliage framed in a Moebe frame from Hello Little Birdie. The bed is a textural delight dressed in a Cultiver blush linen quilt, grey pillowcases from Adairs, decorative cushion and a House Of Baltic Linen valance. A jute rug from Adairs tops dark grey carpet from Solomans.
John Downs
Ensuite
Central to the main bedroom’s layout is a custom mirror suspended above the vanity. Elegant large format Calacatta Oro Honed tiles on the floor and wall separate the wet area from the sleep zone. The deep freestanding bath and sculptural powder-coated black spout from Highgrove Bathrooms (for similar, try Zucchetti’s ‘Pan’ standing floor spout in Satin Black) are the stars of the room. An occasional table displaying cascading greenery was cleverly crafted by the homeowners.
John Downs
Dressing area
Useful and decorative, a leather ladder by H&G Designs displays accessories and clothes, while a Norsu Interiors leather basket is a convenient drop zone for washing. A door on an industrial style rail sourced on Etsy leads to a walk-in wardrobe.
John Downs
Sitting room
Spare timber was put to use to create a deep daybed, designed with Hailey’s signature leather straps and custom upholstery. Eadie Lifestyle and Oyoy cushions add a touch of soft pink. “We made it in situ and it weighs a tonne, so we’ll have to leave it as a chattel if we ever move,” they say of the beautiful piece anchored by a jute rug from Ikea.
John Downs
