Brigid Arnott
Getting away for the weekend is good for the soul – especially when the destination is a holiday home as blissful as this. Nestled on the south coast of New South Wales in an unspoilt enclave of beaches and inlets, Mayfinn is a three-bedroom beach house with a luxury resort meets beach shack feel. As owner Tracy says, “It’s about getting back to basics when everyday life is so hectic. This home is where we come together to build memories.”
Mother to Lilly, 11, and Jake, eight, Tracy is the creative eye behind Mayfinn’s barefoot perfection. She regularly blocks out dates on the calendar to get her holiday house fill, and for the rest of the time the house is open to others who can call it their home away from home – on a short-term basis, of course.
Built on a vacant block and lined with James Hardie Scyon cladding in Colorbond Surfmist, the second house is the ultimate lifestyle investment. There’s loads of storage for easy unpacking, and plentiful decorating and design ideas that capture an easy style – which puts the entire family in an instant holiday mood. “Our phones are usually switched off and the TV is only used for a movie here and there. The focus of our time here is enjoying nature and just being together,” says Tracy.
Entry
It’s easy to find artistic and interiors inspiration from the environment when your temporary home by the seashore is situated on some of NSW’s most pristine coastline. A Salt.Life artwork from Zoe Young sets a relaxed tone from the minute you cross the threshold and speaks of sunny days spent at the beach.
Kitchen
In a holiday home, the kitchen is the social heart where friends and family gather to cook and hang out. Good storage helps Tracy and her guests to hit the ground running when they arrive for the weekend. With deep drawers for plates on one side, and cupboards for glasses on the other, the breakfast bench, adds Tracy, is an important part of the kitchen. “We love it,” she says. “It’s a really good working space and, even though we have a dining table, everyone ends up congregating around the benchtop.” The rustic stools from Rabbit Trap Timber balance the slick Smartstone benches.
“It’s about getting back to basics when everyday life is so hectic. This home is where we come together to build memories”
Tracy, Homeowner
Dining
Tracy chose raw textures and a neutral base that allow carefully selected coloured pieces to shine. “I just wanted the look raw and organic,” she says. “I love a white palette with a few elements that pop.” Tracy had this divine eight-seater dining table custom-made, with plenty of room for games and long lunches, and went to Rabbit Trap Timber to source the replica ‘Wishbone’ dining chairs.
Living
Plump furniture that begs to be collapsed into is a must in a holiday home, and this feather-filled lounge from Early Settler fits the bill perfectly. “The covers come off and can go in the wash,” explains Tracy. The holiday-maker added texture with a wall hanging from Barbara’s Storehouse, a teal rattan basket from Oz Design Furniture, a side table from Rabbit Trap Timber and a sisal rug. Cushion covers from Escape To Paradise live up to the brand’s name.
Low-maintenance surfaces are king in holiday home bathrooms – who wants to clean when the beach beckons? These 600mm x 600mm ‘Bianco Carrara’ splashback tiles from Amber resemble marble, but are made of porcelain, so there’s no need to seal them. Bonus – the large format is easy to clean due to fewer grout lines.
An inviting deck is a holiday house standard. It needs to be big enough to feel like an extra room, but with the splendour of being in fresh air. For this outdoor ‘room’, Tracy updated the cushions of an old wicker lounge with fabric from Lincraft that she treated with a water-proofing spray. Scatter cushions from Escape To Paradise and throws from West Elm and Oz Design Furniture add to the overall comfort of this popular chill-out zone.
SOURCE BOOK:
Builder: Matthew Williams
Book this holiday home here.
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