@chante.mer.house via Instagram
The journey of Matty J and Laura Byrne’s south coast home renovation has been nothing short of captivating. Thanks to a steady stream of social media updates, we’ve watched the once-forgotten retro property transform into a contemporary coastal escape, complete with colourful bathrooms, character-filled living rooms, and chic bedrooms.
Purchased for $2.19 million in August 2024, the couple first introduced the project on Instagram, revealing the “little glass house on the seaside” had been “left locked up and empty for the past two years”.
Since then, every corner of the Ulladulla home has evolved in real time. From design wins and DIY setbacks to rooms the couple loved and others they later regretted, followers have been along for the ride as as “Chante Mer” slowly came to life. The renovation officially wrapped in January 2026 and, just months later, Matty J and Laura revealed the home is now available to rent on Airbnb for family getaways on the NSW south coast.
“If you want an escape where you can watch the dolphins from bed, she’s ready.” Laura & Matty J
Originally named ‘Chante Mer’ by its former owners, the DIY renovation has truly been a labour of love. Here, we look back at the full transformation, with complete before-and-after images of the idyllic coastal retreat.
Before and after: Matty and Laura’s Chante Mer house
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Living room
Upon unveiling the newly-renovated sunken living room at Chante Mer, the couple took to Instagram to share their dilemmas.
“The sunken living room cause the big debate: keep the dividing wall, install a balustrade… or open it right up? We went with the latter – removing the brick wall and then installing new flooring throughout, new windows and wider sliding door, rendering the back walls and pillar (softening the corners) and adding the pièce de résistance – the ‘spew tile’ cladding for the fireplace,” they wrote.
The fireplace has been a particular focal point of the home,with colourful pastel pink, orange, green and purple tiles. As Laura and Matty wrote on Instagram, these shiny, glazed tiles are sometimes called “spew tiles”, as they were often used in entryways and hall ways in traditional pubs. “I could not be more happy with how it turned out,” Laura shared in an Instagram video. “Here’s your reminder that it’s okay to do something really fun with your interiors.”
Kitchen
Transformed from a retro delight to a sleek, cafe-ready haven, the kitchen renovation included new tiles, Blackbutt timber cabinetry and Breccia Pernice marble benchtops. The couple had to gut the original framework due to white ants, which then allowed them to slightly open up the layout for a lighter, airier result. The Block judge Darren Palmer has since visited Chante Mer, declaring the Blackbutt cabinets and tiled floors were “absolutely gorgeous”.
Dining Room
The dining room at Laura and Matty’s house adjoins the sunken living room, and is also overlooked by the kitchen. The space can fit a slim, six-seater dining table for the family, which replaces a retro corner booth-style table with banquet seating.
Master bedroom
To update the master bedroom, Laura and Matty J painted the timber-panelled ceiling and walls. One thing remains the same though: Those stunning ocean views.
Guest bedroom
The guest bedroom was decorated in a contemporary coastal style. Matty J shared that after debating some bolder colours like salmon pink, but the couple “came to their senses” and opted for a warm white. Completed with Robert Gordon wall sconces, a rattan headboard, a cream coloured floor rug and mixed linen bedding in soft red and green hues, the bedroom has been turned into a soothing sanctuary for guests.
Kids’ bedrooms
Laura and Matty J revealed their children’s rooms drenched in pretty pastels. In one, a soft green built-in bench seat and floor-to-ceiling cupboard is the focal point. The room is both pretty and practical.
The other showcases how you can make a double kid’s room bright and airy without overdoing it.
Bathroom
Matty and Laura’s main bathroom, or the self-titled “deli meat bathroom” is every bit as bold and eye-catching as you’d expect . The renovation included removing a pink corner spa bath on an elevated platform, plus replacing, well, pretty much everything else.
Ensuite bathroom
The final piece of the renovation puzzle was Matty J and Laura’s ensuite, which the couple decribed as a “long haul” project. The dated ensuite was transformed into a fun and fresh space with groovy floor tiling, pops of pink and a stone basin, while retaining the structural elements of the space.
Exterior – backyard
The iconic back yard has undergone a significant renovation. While keeping the many windows that give the home its spectacular ocean views, the couple had their hands full with an incomplete deck and building facade. Part way through the back yard renovation, they wrote: “We’ve re-leveled, ripped out the old deck and brick paths (to reuse elsewhere), and made way for a bigger, better deck. New turf is down, fresh wooden sleeper steps are in, and while the garden beds are still waiting for their new plants, it’s all starting to take shape.”
Given the property sits on a 746-square-metre block, beyond the deck is a full backyard rolling on to the beach. The property also boasts a secluded sunken, paved courtyard.
Where is Matty J and Laura Byrne’s house?
Matty and Laura’s Chante Mer house is located in Ulladulla, on the New South Wales south coast. About three hours from Sydney, the property is located near the popular Racecourse Beach.
After purchasing the home, the celebrity couple took to Instagram to share the news of their impending holiday home renovation, adding: “The south coast is a magical place to us. It’s where we got married, and now it’s where we will make memories as a family.”
Some may be surprised to learn that Chante Mer is not Laura and Matty’s primary residence. Instead, the happy couple and their three daughters live at a $5.2 million property in North Bondi.
As well as serving as a vacation property for the family, the Ulladulla property is now available for other holiday makers to rent for short stays.
About Matty J and Laura Byrne
Matty Johnson and Laura Byrne met on season five of The Bachelor Australia in 2017. They were married near to Chante Mer, at Cupitt’s Estate in Ulladulla, on November 11, 2022. They share three daughters, Marlie-Mae Rose born in June 2019, Lola Ellis, born in February 2021, and Poppy Pearl, born September 2025.
Both Matty and Laura are mainstays of the Australian media. Matty J has appeared on a number of reality series after appearing on The Bachelorette and The Bachelor, including Dancing With The Stars and I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! He has hosted a number of podcasts, including Two Doting Dads and The Babble, and also co-hosted a season of Luxury Escapes.
Laura is also a seasoned podcast and radio host, sharing the mic with fellow reality star Brittany Hockley, with whom she hosts the popular Life Uncut podcast and radio show.
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