Kimberly Amos and Stephen Eakin of The Atlantic Byron Bay moved into their Brunswick Heads home in 2015, after discovering the site on a bushwalk. The property belonged to family friends who used it for camping, and Kimberly and Stephen ‘immediately felt the calm and isolation, while still being only 15 minutes from Byron Bay.’
Incredibly, they built their home inside an old pig feeding shed (!) that had existed on the property for over 20 years. Kimberly explains ‘as we discovered views of the bay and the lighthouse, we created loft rooms for the boys to overlook the ocean.’ The home is designed with a big rustic kitchen (for feeding hungry teenage boys!), and the exterior is painted with a deep charcoal, to cover the patchwork of corrugated iron and give a unified aesthetic.
The aesthetics of the interior are influenced by the many winters the family has spent in the United States, in mountain towns. Kimberly explains the family’s love of barns and cabins has helped inform the interiors here, decribing the aesthetic as ‘rustic Colorado ranch house.’
The cosy quality is enhanced by the introduction of a huge Canadian industrial fireplace, that channels warmth up to the loft areas. Many of the walls are painted with Dulux Domino, as a way to mask dirty finger prints (!) and create a moody, intimate feel. Meanwhile, bold geometric artwork by talented HSC student Hunter adorns many corners of the house!
This warmth is accentuated through the use of reclaimed timber and vintage finds. Old bridge timbers from nearby Bangalow were introduced to support the mezzanine. While beach side living doesn’t often conjure an idea of a mountain hut, this home shows that Brunswick Heads can be both cosy and beachy breezy. A touch of California dreaming, on the Northern New South Wales coast.
