Houzz Tour: Luxury Weekender Soaks Up Dream Oceanfront Location
This Palm Beach holiday house was renovated with resort-style relaxation in mind
The owner of this stunning holiday house had a vision when he acquired it for use as a weekender and holiday house – for it to feel like a resort where he could unwind from the stresses of the week and relax with family and friends. He had recently holidayed on Hamilton Island, staying at the exclusive Qualia resort and decided he wanted the same look and feel at his beach house. He even appointed the same interior design firm that had worked to create the six-star style at Qualia – Pike Withers – and called on the architectural expertise of Justin Long Design to rework the home inside and out to bring in the light and make the most of those stunning ocean views.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A businessman who uses it as a weekender. It’s also a high-end rental property
Location: Palm Beach, Sydney
Size: The 320-square-metre house (4 bedrooms over 2 storeys) and garage sits on a 960-square-metre site
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A businessman who uses it as a weekender. It’s also a high-end rental property
Location: Palm Beach, Sydney
Size: The 320-square-metre house (4 bedrooms over 2 storeys) and garage sits on a 960-square-metre site
There are numerous spots to sit and unwind or gather with friends and family. This barbecue area and poolside terrace is one of the owner’s favourite features.
Roda Mistral sun lounger: Domo; Pop umbrella: Cosh Living
Roda Mistral sun lounger: Domo; Pop umbrella: Cosh Living
The ground floor has a large open-plan kitchen, living room, dining area and an open study with extensive glazing to both sides for expansive views to the ocean. “It’s the perfect weekender,” Long says.
Gervasoni Gray 07 armchairs in ‘Natural American Walnut’: Anibou; Gervasoni Gray 46 coffee table in ‘Natural American Walnut’: Anibou; Gervasoni Bolla lamp: Anibou
Gervasoni Gray 07 armchairs in ‘Natural American Walnut’: Anibou; Gervasoni Gray 46 coffee table in ‘Natural American Walnut’: Anibou; Gervasoni Bolla lamp: Anibou
Wide banquette seating has been implemented in living areas, bedrooms and on decks to add to the resort feel. There is always somewhere inviting to laze about and soak up the views.
A wall of operable glazing maximises cross-ventilation and takes advantage of ocean breezes. The lounge room also has a large 4m x 3m operable roof that can open up to the sky.
A wall of operable glazing maximises cross-ventilation and takes advantage of ocean breezes. The lounge room also has a large 4m x 3m operable roof that can open up to the sky.
The timber screens can slide to open the room to the view or slide close to shield it from the sun when required.
Long’s brief was to make the most of the aspect, views and solar access available and “implement the required level of luxurious yet durable finishes required for a weekender and high-end rental property.”
The operable roof is the feature Long is most proud of in this project, as well as the “understated yet luxurious” feel of the home.
Long’s brief was to make the most of the aspect, views and solar access available and “implement the required level of luxurious yet durable finishes required for a weekender and high-end rental property.”
The operable roof is the feature Long is most proud of in this project, as well as the “understated yet luxurious” feel of the home.
Getting the operable roof built was the biggest challenge of the project for Long. He initially contacted various specialist suppliers but it was a chance meeting that helped him make his vision a reality. “In the end, I met a friend of a friend at a party who specialised in motorised front gates and he designed the whole system for me. I couldn’t have done it without his technical knowhow.”
Gervasoni Log L trunk with glossy black lacquered sides: Anibou; Gervasoni Gray 44 side table in ‘Natural American Walnut’: Anibou
Gervasoni Log L trunk with glossy black lacquered sides: Anibou; Gervasoni Gray 44 side table in ‘Natural American Walnut’: Anibou
Red cedar and blackbutt teams well with Basaltina tiles in this guestroom ensuite. “Basaltina is a beauitiful dark stone like bluestone; the timber provides a warm contrast and brings out the warmth in the stone,” Long says.
Interior designer Amanda Pike, of Pike Withers, worked in collaboration with Justin Long Design to bring the look and feel of Hamilton Island’s Qualia resort into the home’s interiors. “The owner wanted a laid-back feel that was intrinsically calming,” Pike says. A particular request was to be able to ‘sit on the view’.
“This required an extensive rethink to the planning of the whole house,” Pike says. The kitchen and living areas were completely redesigned to create larger spaces that flowed seamlessly into one another; balconies were extended, and Pike says the automated sliding roof installed over the living room allows the house to “literally open up”.
Benchtop: Silver Travertine
“This required an extensive rethink to the planning of the whole house,” Pike says. The kitchen and living areas were completely redesigned to create larger spaces that flowed seamlessly into one another; balconies were extended, and Pike says the automated sliding roof installed over the living room allows the house to “literally open up”.
Benchtop: Silver Travertine
“I love the relaxed vibe and the view from this house,” Pike says. “The house had previously been refurbished but was lacking the ‘serene’ beach house feel the owner required,” she says.
Honed Basaltina flooring from Artedomus has been used throughout the home.
Honed Basaltina flooring from Artedomus has been used throughout the home.
Timber stairs and wall cladding link the two levels of the home in style.
The lower-ground floor living area can be a cosy place to relax at night on wintry, windy days when temperatures drop. The warmth of the fireplace and timber joinery contrast with the light sofa and walls to give the room appeal no matter what the weather’s doing, however. The cool walls, painted with Dulux ‘Natural White’, work to tie the different spaces of the home together.
Modular lounge: Jardan; coffee table: Koskela; rocking armchair: Domo; side table: Domo
Modular lounge: Jardan; coffee table: Koskela; rocking armchair: Domo; side table: Domo
Gervasoni InOut ceramic vases in Blue and Jade: Anibou
“It was important for us to maintain an Australian feel and avoid the Bali clichés in producing a resort aesthetic,” Pike says. “Although the aim was to have open spaces that were more communal and social, this needed to be balanced with quieter spaces.”
The outdoor dining area offers views over the infinity pool to the ocean beyond. The pool was rebuilt to cantilever beyond the existing retaining wall in the renovation.
Dedon Pontoon table in Charcoal: Domo; Roda Harp 359 chairs: Domo
Dedon Pontoon table in Charcoal: Domo; Roda Harp 359 chairs: Domo
This side view shows how the pool now extends into the view.
Although it may seem wasteful to renovate a home, only to renovate it again, Pike and Long tried to re-use what they could.
“The bones of the house were good, so nothing was demolished without justification, and some of the elements from the existing house, such as some large timber beams, were re-used into the landscaping,” Pike says.
There was also an emphasis on improving the amenity of the house. “The building changes meant that ventilation and light penetration were improved greatly,” Pike says. “The use of custom-made sliding timber and glass louvered screens meant that these elements could be controlled and flexible and therefore prevented a drain on artificial heating/cooling and lighting.”
“The bones of the house were good, so nothing was demolished without justification, and some of the elements from the existing house, such as some large timber beams, were re-used into the landscaping,” Pike says.
There was also an emphasis on improving the amenity of the house. “The building changes meant that ventilation and light penetration were improved greatly,” Pike says. “The use of custom-made sliding timber and glass louvered screens meant that these elements could be controlled and flexible and therefore prevented a drain on artificial heating/cooling and lighting.”
Grasscloth wallpaper from South Pacific Fabrics give this bedroom an island feel, not to mention the sliding doors that open to the view.
The master bedroom features the same colours and materials palette as the rest of the house, and has a spacious ensuite. This bedroom is the only one on this floor, providing privacy when the house is full of guests.
Pike says one of the challenges of the project was getting the balance of materials right. “We wanted to combine natural timbers and stones – materials that have real texture and depth to them – but to not over-design, and to keep what is a very high-end home looking relaxed and unpretentious.”
Handmade Italian tiles: Aeria Country Floors
Handmade Italian tiles: Aeria Country Floors
As well as this poolside deck and lounging area, the lower ground floor has a large open-plan living room that opens up to the ocean views, along with the guest bedrooms and sauna room. Long selected spotted gum for the decking and cladding for its warm colour and durability. “There are contrasting black steel elements throughout,” Long adds.