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This eclectic home is boho-meets beachside and filled with love and treasures; it’s a masterclass on coastal interior decorating. This is how it works.
Sally and Scott found this house on the Indian Ocean three hours away from Perth. Sally, a skilled stylist passionate about coastal interior decorating and pre-loved treasures, completed the remodel.
Although it presented a problem initially, Sally was able to see the potential for a solution. Sally, Scott, and their daughters Phoebe (18 and Ginger (14) were happy living in their home’s evocative Turkish, Moroccan and Moroccan textiles when this property, a classic, stilt holiday home on a hill, became available for sale in the seaside resort.
Sally says that although I didn’t want to move, seeing the main house and the gardens and the little cottage out back made me feel that I wanted to stay. It had no cupboards, was too poky, and had navy carpet. We couldn’t live there! Sally began work on the interiors after the house was renovated. These are some lessons you can learn from Sally’s transformation of the home into a dream coastal interior decorating project.
REFLECT THE FLOOR PLAN
The upper floor has been reconfigured with an open-plan living space and Sally and Scott’s suite that enjoys the Indian Ocean views. The back of the house also has a deck.
WASH A PALETTE OF DRIFTWOOD WHITE, AND NATURAL TEXTURES
Sally chose a soft, tactile palette of tribal colours, worn surfaces, and treasured items. She says, “I have been a great traveller all my life.” “I’m fascinated by different cultures, tribes, and religions. I love the fabrics from different cultures. That is why my home has layers. I always collect the things that I love, no matter where I am.
PLACE COMFORT FIRST
This space is a great place for family gatherings. It features a variety of well-loved pieces and sofas from Busselton’s Hatch Home + Style. Sally loves ethnic-inspired items and encourages relaxation with the original Beni Ourain rug by Temple Fine Rugs. A pendant from Bisque Interiors, an Indian chest from Empire Homewares, and a Chinese stool are also displayed.
MAKE A FEATURE OUT OF COLLECTED PIECES
Sally loves “old things”, which is evident throughout her home. “I don’t do new!” She laughs. She says that the Tunisian archway is her favorite piece. “Every time I move, it gets taken to another place.” She found the ornate frame while staying with a friend in Tunisia and incorporated it into her coastal interior decorating plan. It is now the entrance to Scott and Sally’s bedroom. It is irreplaceable, so it will always be with me!”
“If I could find a place with new pieces, I would learn how to roughen it up.”
LAYERTEXTURE THRUOUT THE SPACES
Sally loves texture and distressing timbers. A calm background of Dulux Vivid white allows colour to come from collections, timber, ceramics, and objects like a champagne bucket filled with native leaves and an antique Berber container.
ALLOW A LOT OF SPACE IN YOUR COMMUNAL DINING ROOF
The original dining area was a verandah that overlooked the living and kitchen areas. It is now connected to these spaces. Sally purchased a pair of country Italian chairs many years ago from Bisque Interiors and a distressed French-inspired table. This gives the home a casual, elegant feel.
EXTEND TEXTURE TO LIGHTING
The dining room’s rattan pendants and Empire Homewares sideboard add another layer of textural interest. Vintage appeal is added by the portrait, which was a lucky find in Claremont’s second-hand shop. The stairwell is decorated with an antique Egyptian pendant and a gorgeous textile piece by Empire Homes in Dunsborough.
“We love that our beach shack has been transformed into a family home.”
BRING TEXTURE TO KITCHEN SURFACES
Mike, the builder, and Sally created the kitchen design. To achieve the desired look, the homeowner collaborated closely with tradespeople. Sally explains that the benchtops were made from old Oregon timber. She sandblasted it in deep grooves to make them, then painted them. Once it had set, she sanded it again and finished it with a 2-pac coating. This was done under my supervision by a cabinetmaker. It is possible to reproduce the original timber panelling in other house rooms using grooved MDF cabinetry. Afez Of The Heart sourced Indian ceramic door handles. Sally’s great grandmother’s silver spoon collection from Egypt, Mexico and Italy adds a personal touch.
BUILD A DECK
The couple’s new rear deck is a big drawcard for their daughters Phoebe and Ginger. Sally says that the deck is a great spot to watch the sunset in summer. She covered the ceiling with House Of Bamboo cladding and then added a hanging chair (check out Byron Bay Hanging Chairs) and lanterns by Archipelago Outdoor Living.
LAYER FABRICS & DETAIL IN BATHROOM
Sally and Scott have beautiful textiles throughout their home. The entrance to their daughter’s bathroom is no exception. This 1920s-era embroidered wrap, which once belonged to Sally’s great grandmother, makes a bold statement. The interior features an exotic mix of Moroccan-look tiles (try Jatana Interiors), a basin by Reece, and a Temple & Webster mirror.
THINK OUTSIDE OF THE SQUARE – FURNISHING
Phoebe’s bed is floating in the middle of her bedroom. A tall bedhead, made from repurposed House Of Bamboo cladding leftover from the rear deck roof ceiling installation, extends out from the wardrobe. The beach view is the main focus, and Phoebe is a state-ranked surfer champion. To blend in, a desk was added to the new window and painted white.
BREAK UP ALL-WHITE SPACES WITH TEXTURE
Scott and Sally have a small and minimalistic bedroom with maximum light and lusciousness. Sally initially wanted a four-poster bed, but she decided to go with a wall-mounted frame above a Bedshed bed. A whimsical curtain tops the custom wall-mounted frame. The minimalist look is maintained by using pliant bedside tables that look like pillars. There are also a few textural elements, such as Indian marble candle holders from Bisque Interiors or a vase with olive branches from the property wrapped in rattan. Sally says that a vintage suzani cushion and Moroccan wedding blanket add a touch of ethnicity to the room. Moroccan wedding blanket: “It still had food from the wedding celebration, but only a little!”
PATTERN – HARD SURFACES
The couple’s ensuite is on the second floor. It features a freestanding cabinet that acts as a vanity and a stone basin. Sally also picked up a beautiful pendant in Bali. Scurr’s has a statement mirror that fits perfectly in the space. Jatana Interiors tiles by Busselton Interiors add an exotic touch. Asbury Park’s sumptuous Cool Galah towels provide a luxurious, textural look.
If possible, include guest rooms.
To create an independent ‘apartment’, the couple added a front entrance with a skyscraper and steep staircase to the first floor that houses the girls’ bedrooms. Sally happily adopted her Moroccan Style to decorate a white-washed blank wall to create her brand of coastal chic. She says, “I didn’t think I could live without white.” “But every step I take up the stairs, there’s a peace about it. I love the lighter colours.”
