Seasoned renovators Ben and Simone Mathews of SOUL Home have spent the last 20 years moving from house to house, bouncing back and forth between Sydney and the NSW South Coast. When their eldest son Marley was young, Simone would joke that by the time he had his own room and they stayed long enough for him to fully unpack his belongings, he’d be old enough to build the room himself. Fast forward to the present, and the couple have recently completed what they refer to as their “Maybe Forever Home” – Ben as the builder and Simone as the interior designer – and Simone’s prophecy has come true. Marley, now 19 and an apprentice builder, did indeed build his own room!
“You could say this home really needed a builder and designer duo to see the potential,” says Simone of the property in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire, which they purchased in 2020. “We always buy houses that everyone else views as hard work.”
She admits they were sold on the location rather than the house itself, with the beach up the road and restaurants, shops and cafes a five-minute walk away. And while they initially hoped to renovate the existing “ugly duckling” dwelling, council constraints meant the best option was to rebuild.
“Our main aim was to create a layout that functioned for our lifestyle while also working with the challenges of a sloping block,” Simone shares. “We needed extra bathrooms, more storage, a garage and we really wanted a pool. We also wanted a home that we’d be proud to pull up to.”
Flexible living
The three-storey weatherboard home that stands today has certainly achieved all of those wishes. With six bedrooms, three bathrooms, two powder rooms and two living areas, there is room aplenty for the couple and their four boys – Marley, 19, Archie, 17, Tully, 15, and Koah, 11 – plus Cavoodle pup Gypsy, to spread out or come together.
The smart exterior makes an instant impact, featuring classic charcoal grey roof tiles and Stegbar Timberaul doors for timeless character and appeal. Viewed from the front, you’d never guess at the spacious home that lies beyond.
“With the layout spread across three levels, the older boys have the space they need, while the younger boys can still stay close by,” says Simone. “The boys are always bringing their friends over, so having separate spaces for them to hang out has been a game changer.”
Parent’s retreat
Simone and Ben can escape to their master bedroom, where dramatic high ceilings lined with V-groove panels by Big River Group are a showstopping feature. A dreamy blue bedhead and rattan bench seat add to the hotel suite vibes.
Studio
Working from home is made easy, with a studio placed at the front of the house and Stegbar Timberaul doors granting external access. Simone runs her SOUL Home business from this space, where an oval travertine table is the hero, perfect for team meetings. “I made sure to include plenty of storage, with the Big River Group ArmourCab joinery with rattan inserts a standout feature,” Simone adds.
Kitchen
The kitchen and living zone encourage family time, with a round-edged, stone-topped kitchen island the perfect gathering place. A brass kicker, gooseneck tapware and rich spotted gum joinery make it a warm and inviting space, and the concealed butler’s pantry behind doubles their food prep and storage area.
Tying it all together, Big River Group engineered oak timber floors in Desert bring warmth and texture to the top two levels, while the ground floor, bathrooms and pantry are lined with limestone.
“It was chosen not only for its timeless style but also for its luxurious feel underfoot,” Simone explains. “We used it in different sizes and formats to add visual interest while maintaining a sense of continuity.”
Outdoors
The ample 900-square-metre block size allowed the couple to create multiple outdoor zones, including a self-contained studio for teen hangouts, a quarter-court basketball set-up, a sauna and ice bath and a Bahamas-inspired pool.
“The most used area is the outdoor room off our living and dining space,” says Simone. “By installing Luxaflex Evo Magnatrack awnings, we’ve transformed this balcony into an extension of our home. It has a bar and barbecue area, a dining table, a built-in lounge and a TV hidden behind the artwork for those cosy evenings.”
Eco inclusions
Sustainability was another big consideration for the couple, with thoughtful choices made along the way. “Bradford SoundScreen insulation has been instrumental in keeping our home cool in summer and warm in winter, paired with Gyprock HD plasterboard, which further enhances the home’s energy efficiency,” says Simone. “For our windows and doors, we avoided a one size fits all approach and worked closely with Stegbar to optimise our home’s energy performance. On the northern side, where heat gain was our main concern, we installed EnviraLuxe windows while scaling back in other areas to achieve the best balance.”
Simone’s style
When styling the home, Simone followed her SOUL Home formula: 70 per cent classic, 20 per cent organic and a final 10 per cent layer to tie it all together. “I love mixing unique finds with timeless staple pieces,” she says. “I’ve curated quite the collection of antiques over the years, with treasures sourced from Etsy, antique stores and roadside markets during my travels.”
Contemporary pieces from GlobeWest, MCM House and Tigmi Trading, curtains and shutters by Luxaflex and vibrant artworks round out the look.
“Living here feels amazing,” Simone says simply. “Whenever anyone visits, they often say they feel like they’re in a resort. To me, that’s exactly what I wanted to create – a home that captures that holiday feeling while offering a sense of space and relaxation. It’s a space that’s truly ours, and after years of moving around, it really feels like home.”
Interior design: Simone Mathews SOUL Home, soulhome.com.au
Building design: Paul Grounds, GUD Studio, thegudstudio.com
Builder: BAM Constructions Group, bamconstructions.com.au
Joinery: Steves Joinery, stevesjoinery.com.au
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