The Best Beach Houses

MARIKO AND JEFF PROVAN

This charming Mount Martha getaway is still one of our favourite beachside retreats EVER.

When it came to creating a beach retreat for his own family, Neometro’s designer director Jeff Provan found himself adopting a surprisingly ‘hands-off’ approach after taking possession of this humble fibro shack ‘we love this place so much and it works so well as a beach shack, that we are keeping it exactly as is’ says Jeff. ‘It’s not pretentious or precious, and has a great relaxed feeling to it’.

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REMO AND MELANIE GIUFFRE

The Bondi apartment of Remo and Melanie Giuffre isn’t a weekender – but its proximity to Sydney’s best loved beach makes it worthy of inclusion here.

The Giuffré family aren’t really big on material things. The greatest advantage of living here, Remo says, is being close to the beach. ‘Proximity is everything’ he explains. ‘A few more blocks and that magical nexus between home and ocean would be broken. We love being just a few minutes away, and get a special thrill when we see wet footprints on the stairs leading up to our apartment’.

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LISA BLACK AND ROBERT BLEAKLEY

When it comes to WOW-factor, we can’t imagine a more spectacular beach retreat than the Byron Bay home of jewellery designer and landscape architect Lisa Black, her husband Robert Bleakley and their two teenage children.

Characterised by rich textures and a moody colour palette, an impressive art collection and antiques sourced from all corners of the globe, this incredible home is surrounded by meticulously maintained lush tropical gardens, with a 180° view across untouched hinterland to Cape Byron.

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MARK TUCKEY AND FAMILY

One of our all time favourite home stories EVER, the home of furniture designer Mark Tuckey and family at Clareville on Sydney’s Northern Beaches is total DREAM HOME material.

I mean… the front garden opens out onto the SAND at the BEACH.  ‘ Nuff said.

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SIMONE HAAG AND FAMILY

This rugged, relaxed beach cabin in Phillip Island belongs to well known Melbourne designer / stylist Simone Haag, her husband Rhys Haag and their two young daughters Goldie and Clover.

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 any form of amenity such as wifi, a dish washer or heating, microwave or air con – but we always make do!’

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JEN STUMBLES AND BEN KERR

Perched up high, overlooking Copacabana surf beach on the NSW central coast, this impressive beachside home with panoramic views belongs to Jen Stumbles and Ben Kerr, owners of Eco Outdoor.

We love the distinctive, robust materials palette here – a combination of textured stone, reclaimed timbers and lime-washed surfaces.

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LOUISE AND GRAEME BELL

Nestled on a deep block just a short walk from the beach, and surrounded by lush plant life, the incredible mid century home of retailer Louise Bell of Table Tonic, her partner, architect Graeme Bell is one in a million!

Situated on Sydney’s Northern Beached, the house was originally built in 1957 by Australian architect Loyal Alexander for his own family.  Louise and Graeme have given it a subtle, considered update since they’ve been here – adding an era-appropriate breeze brick wall beneath the balcony, and pops of perfect yellow to complement the white facade.

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LAURA AND MICHAEL MCCORMACK

Property developer and entrepreneur Michael McCormack of Milieu, and his wife Laura, a speech pathologist, both spent summer holidays growing up in Point Lonsdale, and have a strong connection to the area.

There is something so familiar about their relaxed 1970s ‘Lonnie’ beach house, with its distinctive cedar timber panelling, soaring raked ceilings, and a charming hodge-podge of salvaged furniture and treasured pieces – just the way a weekender should be!

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BUTTERFLY HOUSE

When a home built in the 1950s still looks ‘out there’ in 2017, you know you’re looking at an architectural icon. Such in the case with Dromana’s McCraith House (or ‘Butterfly House’, as it is colloquially known). Designed by Chancellor and Patrick in 1955, this remarkable house was commissioned by Gerald and Nell McCraith.

Though its distinctive top-heavy design makes the Butterfly House a unique design and engineering feat – inside, it’s surprisingly modest. With just two tiny bedrooms, Gerald and Nell’s now-grown-up grandaughter  Bin Dixon-Ward recalls spending many summer holidays squeezed into bunk beds with her siblings and cousins. ‘There was a hierarchy and competition for who slept in which bunk,’ Bin recalls. ‘The boys always got the best of course!’

In 2013, the McCraith House was gifted to RMIT University, and now serves as accommodation for RMIT’s writer-in-residence program.

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OZZIE WRIGHT & MYLEE GRACE FITZGERALD

Pro surfer / artist / musician Ozzie Wright and his partner, songstress Mylee Grace Fitzgerald purchased their gorgeous rambling old 1930’s house, on a busy main road in Newport on Sydney’s Northern Beaches in 2010. Though their weren’t officially in the market at the time, a chance conversation with a  local real estate agent led them to this place – and it seems fate was on their side.

Though the home itself was built in the 30’s, in the 90’s previous owners added the front lounge room with enormous windows, which makes the most of the view.  From the street you would never guess the MAGIC that lies beyond the house – namely, an uninterrupted view of beautiful Bungun Beach, one of the only beaches in the area with no vehicular access.  SO special.

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