Simone and Rhys Haag

Like many of you, we’re just three days in to our working year and still dreaming of summer holidays, so it seemed only fitting to kick off our ‘Australian Homes’ for 2017 with one of Victoria’s sweetest beach shacks!

This beautiful getaway spot in Phillip Island belongs to well known Melbourne designer / stylist Simone Haag, her husband Rhys Haag and their two young daughters Goldie and Clover. This is relaxed Australian beachside living at its best!

Written

Lucy Feagins

Supported by Dulux

The holiday home of Simone and Rhys Haag and family on Phillip Island. Living room with original fire place, hearth tiles from Anchor Ceramics, rug from Kulchi at Criteria Collection. The lamp is by Rubn at Fred International, ottoman from Pony Rider, and sofa from IKEA with tasseled Kip & Co throw, and H&M cushions. Styling – Simone Haag. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

The front exterior of the house features deck built by Rhys, and oars, planters and camping stools from Waverley Antiques Bazaar. Styling – Simone Haag. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

Dutch vintage table from Modern times, Terracotta vessel purchased in Portugal and lock set from The Society Inc. Styling – Simone Haag. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

The dining room centres around the Bumling pendant purchased in Sweden, IKEA dining table, and Carl Hansen vintage chairs from Modern Times, pictured with blanket from Scout House, vintage stool by Clement Meadmore, and cactus print from Middle of Nowhere. Styling – Simone Haag. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

The dining room has an original, in-built wall shelf that’s perfect for vintage finds and collectables. Styling – Simone Haag. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

Clover’s bedroom includes Eames Hang-It-All, curtains from Anthropologie, Glen Waverley Antiques chair, and rattan bassinet from The Woods Folk with linen from Kip & Co. Styling – Simone Haag. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

The master bedroom featuring wall shield from Scout House, hooks from The Society Inc, print from Warranbrooke, and pendant from Telegram. A magazine rack from Design Stuff sits beside an IKEA cork stool with lamp from Design Stuff. Simone sourced canvas bed linen from ACE Hotel, Palm Springs. Styling – Simone Haag. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

A room for guests, with wall lights from Schoolhouse Electric, ceramics from West Elm, and bed linen by In Bed x Tribe. Styling – Simone Haag. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

In the bathroom, lighting is from Schoolhouse Electric, and basin by American Standard. There’s also another IKEA cork stool – ‘I have these everywhere,’ admits Simone. Styling – Simone Haag. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

Simone Haag is a talented and versatile creative who knows precisely how to make a house a home! A long time ago we featured her supremely photogenic Ringwood home, and today we follow up with this unique weekender – a rugged, relaxed beach cabin in Phillip Island on Victoria’s Southern Coast. As with any space Simone turns her hand to, the ‘Angler’s Shack’ is full of unexpected details, and the perfect combination of designer and vintage finds (plus, in this case, the best of IKEA!).

Though it’s been given Simone’s distinctive touch in recent times, this property previously belonged to Rhys’s parents, so Simone and Rhys have a strong personal connection to the place, and have been coming here for close to decade.

Over the years, as Simone and Rhys made regular trips here, Phillip Island became very close to their hearts. The pair even got married on ‘The Island’, and would often scout the area for a beach house they might one day put their own stamp on. SO, when the in-laws decided to upgrade to a house around the corner, Simone and Rhys jumped at the chance to purchase the property and keep their much loved beach shack in the family.

With a decade of ‘thinking’ behind them, the reno was, in Simone’s words, ‘swift and enjoyable’ – lucky, since she was heavily pregnant with her youngest, baby Clover, during the entire renovation process!

The pair kept the bones of the place ‘as is’, making primarily cheap and cheerful updates rather than big structural changes. Rhys worked with Greener Kitchens to re-do some internal cabinetry, choosing to stain plywood doors black for a bold, dramatic look. Kitchen benches were tiled with simple white square tiles, taken right up to the ceiling to maximise a sense of height. All the floors were painted white, and all lights replaced – Simone’s all-time favourite find is the Bumling pendant from Sweden, which hangs over her dining table.

Pine lining boards stained black were added for warmth and texture in the living room, whilst the hearth was re-tiled with a beautiful handmade tile from Anchor Ceramics. The guest rooms were also layered up with lining boards, sea grass matting and wall lights from School House Electric.

Simone shared the renovation journey with her Instagram friends and followers – ‘so many of the decisions were ‘design by committee’ which was really enjoyable!’ Simone says.

With a laid back ‘Californian cool’ vibe, this place has an entirely different sensibility to Simone’s more Scandinavian inspired Melbourne home. ‘You really feel the shift in gears when you come here’ she says. ‘The place lacks in any form of amenity such as wifi, a dish washer or heating, microwave or air con – but we always make do!’