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If you’re looking for your next holiday destination on the NSW south coast, why not stay in Matty J and Laura Byrne’s lovingly renovated ‘Chante Mer’ house?
The seaside retreat near Ulladulla has already garnered a bunch of interest online, with the former reality stars documenting much of the renovation on Instagram. Now, its biggest fans will be pleased to hear you can book to stay in the home on Airbnb.
Given the time and dedication Matty J and Laura put in to their beach house renovation, few expected the couple to put it up for rent. However, in March this year, the celebrity couple took to Instagram to announce it would be available for holidaymakers.
“It took us about 12 months to finish the renovations, and then we enjoyed it for about another eight months,” Matty J told Home Beautiful on The Edit podcast. “Then we had our third child, Poppy, and work has been really busy, and it kills us to say it, but we just weren’t able to get down there as much as we wanted to. Also, the renovation cost a lot more than we anticipated.”
Listen to Matty J on The Edit podcast:
“We thought we were just going to, you know, make it watertight and put a lick of paint on, and we got sucked in to the renovation and made it a lot bigger than we originally planned,” Matty J explained. “We were like, we need help paying off this mortgage! So, we decided we would start renting it out. “
Why did Matty J and Laura put Chante Mer on Airbnb?
“We need help paying off this mortgage! So, we decided we would start renting it out.”
— Matty J on buying Chante Mer house
Matty J revealed to Home Beautiful that the home led the family to “a mountain of debt”. Combined with a need to be closer to Sydney for work, Matty and Laura decided to put the home on Airbnb to help pay the mortgage.
Starting at the beginning, Matty said he and Laura initially viewed the home on a whim without an intention to buy it. Then they completely fell in love with the view.
“There’s a photo that Laura took of me with Marley and Lola. Poppy, our third [child], wasn’t born back then. It was up in the master bedroom… and you had these beautiful glass windows which looked onto the ocean. And we kept going back to this image. I’d imagine waking up there and having that view,” he explained.
“The auction date was a little while away, and we kind of thought, let’s just chat to the accountant and let’s just see what they say. It was a bad idea financially.
“We are in a mountain of debt, and we will be paying off this house for a very, very, very long time.”
When the couple purchased the home, it had not been lived in for roughly four years, and was overrun with mould among other issues. It demanded the complete renovation it eventually received, but the couple couldn’t resist its fundamental appeal.
“It’s a stone’s throw down to the beach. So, you have this undertone of waves crashing everywhere you go. And, as much as the carpet was completely disgusting — black mould was growing almost in every other room — at the same time, standing in every little nook and crevice, in every bedroom, looking out at the ocean, we were just like, ‘oh my gosh, this is what you would dream of.'”
And as Matty J concludes: “What’s a bit of debt for the rest of your life?”
How to book Matty J and Laura’s ‘Chante Mer’ house
To book Chante Mer, head straight to the Airbnb listing! Select your dates (Note: there is a three-night minimum stay). When happy, click ‘Reserve’!
It’s also available to book directly through the Chante Mer website.
How much does it cost to stay at Chante Mer?
It costs between $740 and $1,600 per night to stay at Chante Mer, with a minimum three-night stay on Airbnb. (There is a minimum two-night stay listed on the Chante Mer website — but we don’t make the rules!) In winter, the price drops to as little as $739 for a week-long stay. Typically, however, winter stays are around $800-$900 per night for a three-night stay.
Meanwhile, in summer, you’re looking at around $1,600 per night, or more during peak periods.
Given the location and the size of the house, this isn’t too bad for a small group stay. Chante Mer sleeps up to eight guests across four bedrooms. There are five beds in total, and two bathrooms to share. Given the location, those driving from home will be pleased to know there’s also free parking.
Chante Mer cost:
- Winter: Approx. $800-$900 per night
- Summer: Approx. $1,600 per night
Where is Chante Mer?
Chante Mer is in Ulladulla on the NSW south coast. It overlooks Racecourse Beach and out to the ocean.
Hear more about the Chante Mer renovation on The Edit podcast:
