Photography: Hannah Puechmarin / Styling: Hayley Jenkin
Luminous white render, elegant arches and textured travertine underfoot combine to create a stunning Mediterranean coastal style home. Though the glittering blue comes from the swimming pool and not the Mediterranean Sea, the parallels are clear in this Sunshine Coast new build. For Janelle and her husband Mark, the home blends the best of Europe and Australia, creating a Mediterranean coastal style.
Space was the primary motivation behind their move to this enchanted spot. They loved their location, in the Sunshine Coast suburb of Bli Bli. But with four children and an increasing menagerie of pets, they were bursting at the seams of their home. “We needed more space, and we wanted the kids to be able to enjoy the outdoors a little bit more,” says Janelle. Finding an existing home that met their needs was a challenge. After looking for two years, it became clear that building from scratch might be the best way to tick every one of their boxes.
This three-and-a-half-acre property, straddling developed land and raw bush, popped up as a private sale. When Janelle went to check it out, it was love at first sight. “I stood in the place where our house is now and looked down over our land and heard the birds and wildlife, saw the dam glistening and thought, ‘This is it’. It was beautiful.”
“I wanted to have as many windows as possible, and a beautiful sky-high ceiling with sky lights.”
Janelle, homeowner
Who lives here?
Janelle and Mark, founders of home design showroom QEBS; three of their four children, Lara, 20, Charlotte, 12, and Harry, 10; and a menagerie of animals, including Luna the German Shepherd and Winston the Border Collie.
What is your favourite space?
Janelle: “The kitchen and lounge room, the heart of the home, a space to come together and reconnect as a family.”
Can you describe your interior style?
“Mediterranean coastal, a light, neutral palette, earthy hues, textures and linens, grounded with pops of lush greenery.”
Best budget buy?
“The beautiful $25 bougainvillea, which is very much a trademark of Bask el Sol now.”
The Mediterranean coastal style build
Janelle and Mark already had knowledge of the building process thanks to their business, QEBS, a home design and building showroom specialising in kitchens, bathrooms and flooring. Added to this was the advantage of working with a trusted crew, as they enlisted close friends Dall Designer Homes to drive the home from concept to completion. “We worked alongside them to come up with the build and they oversaw it. Then we put in the fixtures and the kitchen,” says Janelle.
Janelle had a coherent vision from the outset. “The look and the energy we wanted was coastal because we love that aesthetic. But then I love the Mediterranean and Europe as places I’ve always been inspired by, so we wanted to bring that in with a European farmhouse vibe, using the reclaimed timber, terracotta and travertine tiles, arches and render,” says Janelle.
An abundance of texture brings warmth and incomparable character to the new build. There is truly something to admire in every visual frame. Having been persuaded to hire out the home as a location for photo shoots, Janelle says it’s been wonderful to see the joy their carefully crafted space can bring. “It’s been a beautiful little thing for our home, sharing it with people who have been able to use it to create beautiful images.”
Entrance
Patterned tiles from Jatana Interiors flow from outside to in. These clearly define the entrance of the home, which is simply furnished with a console from Impreshens. The urn, which feels plucked from antiquity, is from Rosemount Nursery.
Living area
Creating a cosy nook within the vast double-height expanse of the main living, dining and kitchen area was a must. Janelle grouped a matching pair of Oz Design sofas around a Miss Amara rug and coffee table from Alabaster Trader. The corner of the space has its own defining character with pops of green. These come in the form of a painting by Jai Vasicek and lush fiddle leaf fig.
Dining
The vast kitchen, dining and living area leaves plenty of room for a banquet-sized dining table. This was a necessity for the family, with their four children. The dining table and chairs are both from Eclectic Style in Noosa. A large table deserves a large centrepiece and this huge vase from Clo Studios fits the bill.
We love… surfaces that patina with age
A sense of character and timeless charm can be hard to come by in a brand new build. Age-worn surfaces achieved this, from the reclaimed timber in the kitchen to the antique Indian doors to the media room. This media room is positioned above the kitchen and the doors are sourced from Alabaster Trader. “It was always the plan to create a lived-in look with textures. Like it’s not a new build – we walked straight into a home,” says Janelle.
Kitchen
The kitchen Janelle designed is strikingly straightforward. “It’s a very simple layout, there’s nothing too fancy,” says Janelle. “We don’t have any tapware in the main kitchen, I kept everything tucked away in the butler’s pantry. The island bench is purely for entertaining – I wanted to have nothing hindering it.” Streamlined surfaces form a clean backdrop for reclaimed timber shelving and patterned tiles from Jatana Interiors. The tactile charm of rattan is repeated in bar stools from Eclectic Style and pendants from Raw Sunshine Coast.
Main bedroom
A framed print from Bed Threads ties together the colours of the bedlinen in the main bedroom. These include cushions from H&M, and timber furnishings, such as the Clo Studios bedside table and bench from Alabaster Trader. A ‘Mila’ lamp from Paola & Joy adds soft curves.
Ensuite
The terracotta tiles, which are from Jatana Interiors, bring texture and warmth to the ensuite. This is complemented by timber touches in a stool from Lounge Lovers and pendant lighting from Facebook Marketplace.
Alfresco dining
The home’s outdoor living spaces are at the front of the building. The entrance tiles from Jatana Interiors match the bougainvillea. These flow outside to inside, from the alfresco area into the entranceway.
“We wanted to make something unique, that we felt would be a beautiful home for us.”
Janelle, homeowner
Pool house
With its wide arches, the pool house is a striking feature within the garden, but also an extra living area. “It’s a beautiful spot to relax and unwind,” says Janelle. A large sweep of travertine tiles from Slate & Stone defines the patio area.
Pool
The home is angled for stunning views. The pool takes centre stage and is framed by a dense green backdrop of native bush. The timeless simplicity of creamy travertine and bright blue water sets a Mediterranean resort scene. Patinaed urns and luxuriously comfy loungers from Freedom furnish the space.
SOURCEBOOK
Design and construction: Dall Designer Homes, 1300 362 084, www.dalldesignerhomes.com.au
Kitchen, bathroom and finishes: QEBS Design & Build, www.qebs.com.au
