Photography: Maree Homer
Family came first in the renovation of this stunning bayside holiday home in Port Stephens, a two-hour drive north of Sydney. The homeowners, a married couple with three adult daughters, bought the Mediterranean-inspired abode 10 years ago, but it wasn’t until March 2021 that they enlisted the help of interior designer Lisa Burdus to take the rooms from dated to dreamy.
Who stays here?
A husband, wife, their three adult daughters and two pet dogs.
What’s your weekend ritual? “There’s a beautiful coastal pathway across the road from our house, which takes us into the local township. We buy coffee from our favourite local bakery and often fresh fish from the cooperative at the Mariner.”
Best piece of renovating advice? “Trust in the process and employ a great team of people. The house is as beautiful as it is because it was a real team effort.”
Mediterranean influences
The architecture of the home took cues from Italian design, a style that suited the owners well. “We had a beautiful family holiday on the Amalfi Coast and stayed at the iconic Le Sirenuse,” explains the homeowner. “We fell in love with this hotel.” She recalls saying to her husband, “Imagine if we could recreate our favourite aspects of this hotel”.
Since Lisa was living in the UK, Le Sirenuse was a short flight away, so she travelled to the hotel to help inform her material choices. There she found a palette of hand-painted tiles that were striking in their use of colour and pattern, from terracotta tones to geometric designs featuring bright bursts of blues and reds. “I said to the homeowners, ‘don’t be scared’,” says Lisa of the bold selections. “That’s what I love about them. They trusted me and they had the courage to do it.”
Inside the family-focused architecture
The house had been built so that each of the two levels was entirely self-contained with an internal staircase connecting them. The upper level even has an equally beautiful second kitchen. But the homeowners didn’t want to rent it out as two apartments. “I hope this house will be where we can all come together, to enjoy happy times in the future,” she explains.
While there are no grandchildren in the picture yet, she envisages a future where her daughters and their families can stay on the larger ground level, while the homeowners retreat upstairs. “The house has a flexible floor plan and both levels have been decorated to the same level,” she says, “so if my husband and I stay upstairs, we will be just as comfortable.”
The secret to renovation success
While the renovation went smoothly, it was an extensive project. The team from North Aspect Building lived on site while they completed the work.
“Having Lisa in the UK worked to an advantage because she was able to source the materials and furnishings we needed to make the house feel as authentic as possible,” shares the homeowner.
After two years, the renovation was done and the family have enjoyed even more holidays, under the one roof but with their own personal space, too. “We couldn’t be happier with the end result,” says the homeowner. “We think it’s just beautiful.”
“It exudes warmth and a real sense of fun. It’s the sort of house where you know you’re going to have a good time” – Homeowner
Tour the colourful Mediterranean style home
Custom terracotta tiles, which were handmade in Italy by Francesco De Maio and shipped to Port Stephens, NSW, immediately set a European tone at the entrance of this holiday home. The rustic flooring was used throughout, paired with the warm white of Porter’s Paints Irish Linen.
The palette was inspired by Le Sirenuse, a hotel on Italy’s Amalfi Coast where the homeowners enjoyed a family holiday. Interior designer Lisa Burdus took cues from this accommodation while working with lively colours, layers of pattern and antiques. “It has aspects of this memorable hotel,” says the homeowner. “Beautiful deep greens and mustards, strong reds and blues.”
Sitting room
The open-plan sitting room, kitchen and dining area on the ground floor is the homeowner’s favourite space to relax. A generous window reveals vistas of the bay, while custom curtains crafted with Rose Cumming ‘Orsini’ fabric from Burdus & Co provide privacy.
Colour and pattern were essential to the homeowners. Antique armchairs were upholstered in the gorgeous mustard ‘Kasbah’ linen by De Le Cuona. The sofas received the deep green ‘Honeycomb Emerald’ by Flora Soames. “Due to the fabrics that have been chosen, not only in the sofas, cushions and rugs but in the beautiful blinds and curtains as well, the holiday house has texture and warmth,” says the homeowner.
A large Cadrys rug from the ‘Amara’ collection was handwoven by Afghan artisans and adds to the international influences seen throughout. Another worldly example is the colourful painting that takes pride of place above the fireplace. Titled ‘Conversations’, it was bought from a Spanish artist while the family travelled around Barcelona.
Decorative open shelves
Joinery is positioned on either side of the sitting room fireplace, in arched niches that house open shelves and a television. The arches complement the Mediterranean style.
Colourful, handpainted plates and bowls, which were purchased by the family in Positano, Italy, have been stacked together. Coffee table books, including ‘Amalfi Coast’ by Carlos Souza and Charlene Shorto, hold worlds of inspiration within their pages. Botanical artworks from Via Rustica and a painting of the seaside by a local artist complete the decorative scene.
For the homeowners, the sitting room epitomises the casual elegance they requested from Lisa. “My brief was always to produce an elegant home that was comfortable and unpretentious,” says the homeowner. “We liked the rustic European feel of the house, where nothing looks or feels too precious.”
Open plan kitchen and dining
The couple already owned the sizeable wooden dining table, which perfectly suits the elevated and rustic style of the home. Lisa then paired the table with Sika Design ‘Romantica’ dining chairs, sourced through Domo and handmade with sustainable Indonesian rattan.
Dulux Natural White sets a neutral base on the kitchen cabinetry. Accents of green, red and blue pop against this background, in the form of Dulux Bay Leaf on the island joinery, custom tiles from Francesco De Maio in arched niches and decorative wall plates from Victoria Collison.
“Although the house has traditional features, we have also introduced contemporary art,” says the homeowner. One example is an abstract painting by the homeowner’s daughter.
The central alcove houses a La Cornue French oven while a narrow niche provides a handy spot for cooking oils. A Perrin & Rowe pot filler from The English Tapware Company complements the grand oven.
“I love my kitchen because it’s got a beautiful La Cornue French oven. I love cooking for family and friends and it is fun sharing meals around the big rustic dining table” – Homeowner
Main bedroom
Prior to the renovation, the upstairs level had two bedrooms, one bathroom and a laundry. The laundry moved to make way for a second bathroom, enhancing the self-contained aspect.
The main bedroom features a headboard custom-made by Lisa Burdus Design.
A wall sconce saves bench space atop the compact bedside table.
Main ensuite
The main bedroom and ensuite feature the same floor tiles, creating an easy sense of cohesion and flow. “The tile we used in the main ensuite was my favourite,” says Lisa of the custom-made ceramic.
The tile pattern seamlessly draws up from the floor and on to the shower walls, framed in a spectacular fashion by the arched shower entrance.
Roman blinds in Robert Kime’s ‘Ghost’ linen fabric offer privacy in the ensuite.
Guest bedroom and ensuite
Each suite has a different colour theme. While the main bedroom and ensuite has serene blues with contrasting accents of unexpected red, the second guest bedroom and ensuite feature vibrant lashings of red.
Red and white pair beautifully in the second guest bedroom, with curtains in Flora Soames plain stripe fabric in Ruby complementing the bedheads, which were custom-made by Lisa Burdus Design in Howe at 36 Bourne St ‘Lattice’ fabric in Red.
Tiles carry the red and white palette from the guest bedroom into the guest bathroom, where the Porta Romana ‘Holden’ mirror and Soane Britain wall lights add texture.
Second kitchen
The homeowners wanted the two levels of this Mediterranean inspired holiday home to be self-contained. That meant adding in a second kitchen and dining area (to see more of this stunning space, click here). But how do you renovate a smaller, secondary kitchen without making the space feel less impressive than its larger counterpart?
For Lisa, mainting the luxe Mediterranean-inspired material palette, with the same use of striking custom-made tiles, was the answer. Supplier Francesco de Maio created custom hand-painted tiles for every room, including this second kitchen. Large terracotta floor tiles add warmth, while splashback tiles feature blues and greens in a classic lotus pattern.
Worldstone Solutions ‘Navona’ travertine comprises the benchtops on the kitchen island and the benchtop that runs along the wall. The island benchtop has a lamb’s tongue edge. A mixture of brass finishes on the kitchen tapware and hardware maintains the sense of luxury in the adjacent dining area, without detracting from the show-stopping tiles and fabrics.
For avid entertainers, comfort is key in a dining area. Here, the banquette serves a practical and decorative purpose. Positioned against the stairs, it adds a plush colour pop. Custom-designed by Lisa in Schumacher ‘Larissa’ fabric in Burgundy, it comfortably seats up to three people.
Alfresco areas
Vistas of the gorgeous bay greet the family from various areas of the home. Even indoors, Lisa made sure to maximise the stunning view in every room.
Doors with trims painted in Dulux Pale Sage lead from the couple’s bedroom onto a terrace, creating an easy flow between interior and exterior zones. An antique pendant bought at an auction in Sydney offers light as the sun sets. Sunbeds with cushions upholstered in Lisa Fine Textiles ‘Calista’ are the perfect place to relax after a long day of merriment.
The owners purchased the dining table and chairs in the alfresco dining area from Yardware. An antique lantern bought at auction provides elegant lighting, but the cushions are the pièce de résistance, the same ones used by Le Sirenuse. “The hotel is flamboyant in its use of fabrics, furnishing and flooring,” says the homeowner. “We love colour, but Lisa pushed us further than we might have gone without her involvement. Lisa and our builder succeeded in creating a really beautiful home and we couldn’t love it more.”
Ample outdoor seating makes best use of the terrace. The family already owned the outdoor sofas from Dedon. Cushions were covered in Lisa Fine Textiles ‘Calista’ fabric and an umbrella from the Original Parasol Co completes the summery scene.
Source book
Interior design: Lisa Burdus Design, lisaburdus.com.
Builder: North Aspect Building, northaspectbuilding.com.au.
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