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A modern bohemian home in the Byron Bay hinterland

A basic brick house in Byron Bay is transformed into an idyllic family home with global style.

Before they’d even received the keys to their house, Amanda recalls climbing through a window with husband Brad to peel back the carpets and see what lay beneath. “We were dying to get started and make changes, because the house wasn’t aesthetically pleasing in any way,” says Amanda. “We’d bought because the block had two beautiful big old fig trees, plenty of space for the kids to run around and we really liked the area.”

home entry
The final piece of the layout puzzle was in relocating the entrance, then incorporating a new opening to fit a chunky vintage Indian door from Ha’veli. (Credit: Louise Roche)

Ten years on, the home in the Byron Bay hinterland is unrecognisable; a testament to the couple’s wish to create a haven for themselves and children Phoebe, 17, Indiana, 14, Summer, 11, and Marley Rocket, nine.

living room
“Although I’m a collector, it was important not to overcrowd our small house, so there are deliberate places for display,” says Amanda (Credit: Louise Roche)

Ripping out the carpet was only the beginning. “In the early days we’d put the kids to bed, put on the tool belts and begin knocking out internal walls, dismantling light fittings, chipping away where we could,” says Amanda. “It was full on.”

kitchen
Patterned Jatana tiles from benchtop to ceiling steal the show in the kitchen. (Credit: Louise Roche)
Black oven
(Credit: Louise Roche)

The couple was determined to make the most of the 1970s double-brick home and its modest footprint – and over time they reimagined the entire layout, shifting the entrance, kitchen, living and dining areas.

 

kitchen
Beyond the kitchen, a hand-painted mural by Phoebe and Amanda upscales the laundry. (Credit: Louise Roche)

Two bedrooms were cleverly carved up to create three children’s rooms and a bathroom, linked via a built-in veranda. New enlarged windows and doors throughout the house draw in abundant natural light and connect the internal spaces to the outdoors.

A shed on the property was also converted to include a mezzanine level, two bedrooms, a bathroom and an open-plan studio from which Amanda runs her homewares business, Casa Bohemia.

bedroom
The homeowners created a separate parents’ retreat (below) by converting a shed that was formerly used to service trucks! (Credit: Louise Roche)

The masterstroke? Rendering, inside and out, which set the tone for the home’s distinctive style. “I’ve always loved European architecture, which ages well over time, and I really wanted the home to feel like it’s always been here,” says Amanda, of the hand-trowelled tactile finish.

four poster bed
The children’s modest-sized bedrooms are furnished simply, yet stylishly, as places to sleep. (Credit: Louise Roche)

Whitewashed Mediterranean buildings inspired the gentle curves of flowing, formed concrete bench seats, alcoves and shelves, while feature floor tiles including travertine and patterned Moroccan encaustics define zones and add a rustic feel underfoot.

piano
Previously a veranda, this space was enclosed to create a hallway, where one end is the perfect width to accommodate a piano that has been in Brad’s family for three generations. (Credit: Louise Roche)

The home’s interior is layered with sentimental pieces and finds the owner collected during her trips overseas, which complement the timber furniture, vintage light fittings and tactile textiles. “Now we’ve settled, I love the way everything has come together,” she says. “It all ignites memories and reflects where we’ve been.”

bathroom
In keeping with the rest of the renovation, the aim for the bathroom was to create a space that felt rustic and established rather than shiny and new. (Credit: Louise Roche)
bathroom vanity
Vintage cabinet from Ha’veli, Ottoman Imports brass taps and a marble basin from Bisque Traders. (Credit: Louise Roche)

As for the future, the next stage includes plans for an outdoor room, an extension of the couple’s bedroom and a pool. “This is the only house we’ve bought and I think it will always be home,” reflects Amanda. “Because we built it together it has a special connection to all of us.”

 

 

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