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Architect Kat Prowse and interior designer Claire Richardson from Revel Design know nothing beats swapping everyday life for salty ocean air.
They channelled ‘beachside energy, sunshine and sandy feet’ in their renovation of this Mollymook holiday home on the New South Wales coast.
For the past 15 years, the owners have loved holidaying there with their families and renting it out in the shoulder seasons.
However, its early ’00s build was finally giving way; the external decking was weathered, and failed waterproofing left the rooms smelling musty.
While fixing these issues, the family took the opportunity to rework the layout, refresh the exterior and turn the house into their dream holiday home.
Richly glazed tiles run through the home, giving each room its own personality and a pop of colour.
‘Because it’s a holiday home rather than someone’s everyday residence, we could be a bit more playful with the material palette than many clients might feel comfortable with at home,’ Claire explains.
‘We were very conscious of value for money and chose materials that were fit for purpose, easy to maintain and would wear well with kids, pets, sandy feet and plenty of people coming and going.’
The laid-back coastal aesthetic continues downstairs with cork flooring, which is perfect for post-beach activities.
‘It also brings a lovely warmth underfoot and a slightly retro coastal feel that sits really naturally with the rest of the palette,’ says Claire.
Because it’s a holiday home, Claire and Kat weren’t pressured to include the ample storage a forever home requires.
‘The bedrooms really only needed a bench for weekend bags and a small amount of hanging space, while in the bathrooms we could use slimline tiled vanities, open shelving and decorative mirrors rather than lots of cabinetry,’ says Claire.
The layout centres around beach life, allowing multiple families to stay in the house with ease. The bedrooms were rearranged downstairs alongside a rumpus and games room. Upstairs, there’s space to cook, eat and relax, with kitchen (and bathroom) skylights bringing natural light into the home.
The oversized walk-in pantry wasn’t much use in a holiday home, so they replaced it with a roller-door pantry and added a breakfast nook as a casual dining spot, coffee perch, or laptop station.
They also opened up the previously closed-off kitchen and dining room into a spacious living area.
Two new bathrooms mean no one will argue over who gets to the shower first, and underfloor heating and heated towel racks ensure towels are dry and ready for the next trip to the beach.
Kat and Claire ambitiously completed this colourfully tiled holiday home in under six months for the family to enjoy long summer days.
