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A classic coastal weatherboard becomes a grown up beach house

A rough around the edges beach house reconnects with nature and finds new life through an eclectic mix of colour and pattern.
The façade of a holiday home on the South Coast of New South Wales.
Photography: Nat Spada

There are many tips to be taken from the enchanting interiors of this home on the South Coast of NSW, but perhaps the overriding one is ‘never judge a book by its cover’. Set to a soundtrack of birds and breaking surf, this classic coastal weatherboard belies the wonders inside: sophisticated yet homely interiors, boasting a treasure trove of colours and patterned fabrics that turn typical ‘beach house’ style on its head.

Busy professionals Bec and David bought the five-bedroom abode in 2017 as a holiday home; a place to relax and spend time with sons Gabriel and Leo, and David’s older children. “David used to camp in the area when he was young, and I got to know it through friends and fell in love with it,” says Bec. They did a basic renovation downstairs to make the previously unused space liveable, then six years later, when the appliances and shower all broke at once, Bec saw it as a sign. “The house was over 20 years old and the wear and tear was beyond ‘fixing up’. We also wanted something more beautiful to stay in and to rent out.”

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Hugged by national park and a hop, skip and a jump to the ocean, it’s no wonder Sydneysiders Bec and David fell for this beachside beauty on the NSW South Coast as a holiday home. A renovation took in water and treetop views and created the inviting facade. Photography: Nat Spada

Who stays here?

Medical professionals Bec and David holiday here with their children.
Favourite features? Bec: “There were so many amazing surprises: the dining table and banquette, the kitchen servery window and, of course, the stunning bedheads.”
Any renovation revelations? “I wasn’t sure about replacing the wardrobes with open joinery, but Sarah was spot on. It’s so much more practical for a holiday stay.”
Best unsung design hero? “The lovely Lo & Co door handles. They’re not super expensive, are heavy, and good quality, which really elevates the overall look of the interiors.

The living room inside a holiday home on the South Coast decorated in Australian style.
Photography: Nat Spada

The couple handed the project to Tim and Sarah Yarrow of Yarrow Build and Sarah Yarrow Interiors, who had upgraded their Sydney home. “Sarah and I both love nature, authenticity and Australian fabrics so I gave her the freedom, within budget, to make the home ‘different’ and connect it to the landscape.”

Downstairs, a new bathroom, spacious lounge and a family-sized bedroom turned the ‘make-do’ area into a retreat, while the upstairs bathrooms, bedrooms and living areas were completely reimagined. The game-changer was replacing a wall and TV with enormous new windows looking out to unobstructed views.

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“There was such a disconnect with the outside,” says Sarah, who also rotated the layout to take in the vista. The living areas were squeezy, so maximising space was key. A built-in banquette and dining table now fit snugly at the back of the lounge, while a new kitchen island and servery window add extra places to perch, inside and out. “We love cooking when we’re here, so it was important to have a great kitchen and lots of places to eat, chat and relax,” says Bec.

The decor was about “pushing the boundaries of what a beach house could be by utilising colour and patterns,” says Sarah, who used greens, blues, rusty hues and “left of centre” fabrics inspired by the ocean and leafy locale. Stunning bedheads, contrasting wainscoting and “all slightly different” brass lights champion a bespoke look in the bedrooms.

Other upholstered pieces and bathroom tiles join the pattern party, while the white kitchen adds fresh contrast. After five months, the “big reveal” moved Bec to tears. “We hadn’t seen anything before this day and it was more beautiful than I could ever have imagined,” she says. “Sarah put so much thought into the design that it feels more like our home at the beach than a beach house.

Kitchen

Australian style kitchen inside a coastal holiday home.
Photography: Nat Spada

When they’re not walking, swimming or paddle boarding, the couple relish a cook-up in the now-sociable kitchen, where Inartisan stools welcome guests at the new servery window and Dekton Cosentino bench.

Australian style kitchen inside a holiday home on the south coast.
Photography: Nat Spada
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“The open shelves were part of the aesthetic, but I also wanted guests to be able to grab a bowl or glass without opening every cupboard to find them.”

Australian style kitchen inside a holiday home on the South Coast.
The vase and chopping boards are from Few & Far, the utensil holder is Koskela, and bowls and cups are from Clay by Khoa. Photography: Nat Spada


“There’s a lot of colour elsewhere in the house, so the kitchen was about restraint.”

Sarah, interior designer.
Kitchen cabinet inside a holiday home on the South Coast.
The design was about “keeping it neutral but adding texture through hand-painted cabinetry and tiles,” says Sarah, who used Porter’s Paints Baroque and two tiles for a bespoke effect: ‘Rice’ gloss in Natural and Bianco from Tile Bazaar. Photography: Nat Spada

Living

The living room inside a South Coast holiday home.
Photography: Nat Spada
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Thanks to new glazing and a reorientated layout, the lounge enjoys bushland views from its chic medley of seats. Against a backdrop of Dulux Natural White, a Camerich ‘Lazytime Plus’ sofa joins Naturally Cane ‘Pretzel’ chairs with cushions in Utopia Goods ‘Youngiana’ fabric. The slim Bedsahead ottoman upholstered in Warwick ‘Islington’ ties in with the window seat covered in Warwick ‘Eames’ fabric.

Bedrooms

A bedroom inside a holiday home on the South Coast.
Photography: Nat Spada

Sheet Society bedlinen and custom blinds soften one of the guest bedrooms.

A bedroom inside a holiday home on the South Coast.
In another, nature’s palette brings depth, with wainscoting in Porter’s Paints Olive Grove. Photography: Nat Spada
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We love…bespoke bedheads

A signature feature of the home, the fabric bedheads bring each bedroom to life, making them feel more customised. “Paint colours differentiate interiors, but bespoke upholstery and unique fabrics take it to another level and ensure nobody else has that room,” shares Sarah, who opted for this sweet scalloped Bedsahead ‘Waves’ bedhead in Echo Echo Textiles ‘Printemps’ for one of the guest bedrooms. “The shape of the bedhead feels a little more interesting and traditional,” she says.

Colourful bedroom inside a holiday home on the South Coast.
Emac & Lawton wall lights and bedsides from Lirash at Etsy dial up the classic overtones in one of the guest rooms, while the open joinery – complete with a luggage ledge– makes for practical holiday stays. A Rug Collection rug, Sheet Society bedlinen and cushion from Few & Far finish the layered look. Photography: Nat Spada

“I’m comfortable with not matching everything and being a bit eclectic.”

Bec, homeowner.
A bedroom inside a holiday house on the South Coast.
Photography: Nat Spada

In Bec and David’s bedroom, the Bedsahead ‘Isla’ bedhead in Maresca Textiles ‘Chintz’ contrasts with wainscoting in Porter’s Paints Dark Newport Blue. Sarah chose Ralph Lauren Home wall lights from Lighting Affairs, bedside tables from T&C Furniture and a cushion from Few & Far.

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Bathrooms

The standing bath inside the main bathroom of a South Coast holiday home.
Photography: Nat Spada

Using inexpensive tiles to dramatic effect in the main bathroom, Sarah enveloped three quarters of the walls in a dark, moody hue with ‘Manual’ tiles in Militare Verde. “It’s an affordable way to create impact,” explains the designer, who used the same tiles in White above. A Marquis ‘Pier’ vanity in oak offers warmth and softness, enhanced by the curved basin and bath, both from Shire Bathware. Faucet Strommen ‘Cascade’ tapware brings that hint of tradition.

The bathroom inside a South Coast holiday home.
Photography: Nat Spada

Decorative ‘Hamptons’ floor tiles and their dusky blue sidekick, ‘Coco’, both Tile Bazaar, add pattern to the main ensuite. The remaining walls are clothed in regular tiles for the practical purpose of “inexpensively covering the walls”.

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Alfresco

The alfresco of a holiday home on the South Coast.
Photography: Nat Spada

Inartisan timber stools invite family and guests to chat at the breezy new servery window, which connects the kitchen with the sheltered deck area. Bec and David repurposed their existing outdoor table and dining chairs from Early Settler.

The alfresco area of a South Coast holiday home.
Photography: Nat Spada

Interior design: Sarah Yarrow Interiors, sarahyarrowinteriors.com.au
Builder: Yarrow Build, yarrowbuild.com.au
Stay: This home is available for holiday rentals and sleeps up to 14 people. To book, visit whereweescape.com.au

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