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Tucked into a quiet pocket of St Andrews Beach, just an hour from Melbourne, Onshore Retreat is a dreamy coastal escape shaped by its natural surroundings.
Set across 6000 square metres, the property is home to Poppy Teagan Buntz, her partner Joel Van Den Eynden and their daughter, as well as two guest stays: Ida’s Studio and The Lodge.
The latest addition is Ida’s Studio, an open-plan, one-bedroom guesthouse that has just undergone a careful renovation.
‘It was really the setting that drew us in. It felt like a pretty special place to live, and we could see the potential in it even though it needed a lot of work,’ Poppy explains.
Named in memory of Joel’s Oma, Ida’s Studio is a simple, peaceful space designed to feel connected to its surroundings.
The original building was made up of two side-by-side studio spaces, which presented a challenge for Poppy and Joel. Rather than starting again, they worked with the existing structure to create one light-filled, open-plan space for two to three guests.
‘A lot of it was really about making the most of what was already there, rather than starting completely from scratch,’ explains Poppy.
She and Joel removed the wall between the studios to open up the space before renovating the existing bathroom, adding a cosy fireplace, and replacing the studio’s small windows in favour of larger ones to offer views of the nearby sand dunes.
The kitchen was also given a simple update, designed to be both practical and inviting.
‘It still feels like somewhere you can actually cook and settle into for a few days. We were drawn to really simple, honest materials like plywood and light terrazzo with the blue adding a little bit of colour,’ Poppy says.
Outside, an outdoor bath, shower and spa offer another way to take in the landscape. Set behind Rye Back Beach, the property is close enough to the ocean that its sound carries through the property, adding to the sense of escape.
‘I love how a small space can feel really special when it’s in a beautiful landscape. There’s something about having everything you need in a compact space that makes you slow down a little,’ Poppy says.
‘No matter what time of year there’s something really inviting about being here. Ideally they leave feeling a little more refreshed than when they arrived and hopefully wanting to return.’
