Melissa Ambrosini and husband Nick Broadhurst have a home in Bondi, but have spent all available holidays visiting Nick’s family in Noosa. The lure of the north became irresistible, as Melissa explains stepping off the plane and being ‘immediately engulfed’ by the relaxed energy of Noosa. The couple decided to make the move, and enlisted Nick’s parents, who work in the property sector, to help. They pored over real estate listings over the kitchen bench, until they stumbled across a property that seemed to have the potential to become their dream home – the Tree House.
While the ‘location, size and potential’ were all winners, the renovation process was slightly more complex. Enlisting Melissa and Nick’s good friend architect Dirk Anderson to head up the process, the three of them got to work on creating their dream home. The apartment is the penthouse in a three unit complex, or ‘essentially a house built on top of two units.’ The entire space had to be reconfigured, and Nick reveals that at the beginning of the demolition process an auspicious note literally fell out of one of the internal walls, which read ‘this wall is f*cked!’. This emphatic statement led to closer observation of said walls, and it quickly became clear that an entire internal rebuild was necessary.
The primary agenda for the reconfiguring of the space was to adapt the mezzanine space for Melissa’s office and Nick’s music studio, and to insert a large window overlooking the ocean. Nick explains ‘this window opened the entire space to northern sunlight, and the game changer was going from a home with limited views, to sweeping views of Noosa.’
In addition to those magic views, the interiors also offer plenty to catch the eye. The pair worked with the team at local Clo Studios to source all of the internal elements, settling on a palette of natural stone (*that* marble bench top!), white oak and brass details. Melissa highlights the timber detailing, and artwork as her favourite elements. In the lounge room hangs a painting by Vicki Lee, and the work in their bedroom is by local artist Kristian Hawker.
Beyond aesthetics, though, it’s the location and connection to nature that makes this house so special for its owners. Melissa explains ‘it is a 30-second walk to the beach, up in the trees… and each morning we wake up with the sun and the birds singing, it is so peaceful.’ The couple describes the space as warm and natural – the perfect base for their conscientious approach to life, wellness, and work, all under one roof.
