Megan and Jarrod Rose, Killcare Heights

COAST MEGAN AND JARROD ROSE’S HOME IN KILLCARE HEIGHTS INSTANTLY SAYS ‘TASTE’ AND ‘STYLE’, BUT IT ALSO SAYS ‘FAMILY’ FIRST. STYLISH THOUGH IT MAY BE, THIS IS NO SHOWHOME NEVER TO SHOW SIGNS OF BEING LIVED IN.

© LISA HAYMES

With three young children: Fin (11), Louis (9) and Isla (7), this is a home that takes advantage of coastal living. There are mountain bikes and beach towels out the front, and the house is built to take advantage of the sweeping ocean views and distant headlands towards Palm Beach.

Megan grew up in Ettalong Beach and, after a stint living in Sydney, like so many of us who loved the lifestyle and freedom here, she and Jarrod moved back, ‘for the lifestyle and to be near — though not too near — my parents,’ says Megan.

They were still a family of three then, with Fin just six months old, when they bought a 3-bedroom holiday cottage up the road from where they now live. It cried out for renovation and the first thing they undertook was to renovate the bathroom and, importantly, put in a bath. As Fin learnt to move at catch-me-if

you-can speeds, it was quickly followed by a glass balustrade to protect him from becoming a human projectile down the stairs. Then along came baby Louis, forcing them to expand the little cottage outwards over the deck and add on another storey. Meanwhile, Megan was running a successful PR company with major clients in Sydney, including David Campbell, Andre Rieu and DreamWorks, and Jarrod was a busy project manager, commuting to Sydney every day.

‘Jarrod made the perfectly understandable suggestion that he join my PR company to save the hours of commuting.’ Megan pauses with an ‘I probably shouldn’t say this’ aside. ‘He’s really good with people and of course good at managing projects so he had very transferable skills, but I said “no”. He loves surfing and I thought the temptation would be too much — so close to the beach — and that he wouldn’t share the dedication I have for my business.

‘It wasn’t until I was three months pregnant with our third baby, Isla, that Jarrod finally came on board. He’d had another couple of years of commuting and now had the added responsibility of a family that was about to expand to five of us. He was ready. And it was the right time.’

‘When Isla was about three, we felt we were busting at the seams of the house and needed more space,’ says Jarrod. ‘We absolutely loved our home, our street and neighbours and with impeccable timing, a house just up the road came onto the market. And we bought it immediately ... but we had to sell our current home to pay for it. All this with three kids under seven, and a busy agency.’

The new house was another holiday cottage but on a bigger block of land and with lots more potential to build a home fit for a family of five. HOME STYLE • Megan and Jarrod Rose

‘We lived in the back of the house while we renovated and added on to the front,’ says Megan. ‘And then we all moved downstairs while the upstairs was rebuilt. We lived on top of each other for all that time, but now that we can spread out through the whole house, it’s been well worth it.’

You can’t help but be conscious of the light and the air-flow in the new and very contemporary Rose house. Downstairs, there’s a family room opening onto a veranda that overlooks the pool; two bedrooms, a bathroom as well as an about-to-be-installed kitchenette so that when visitors stay, they can make themselves a cup of tea when they feel like it.

Upstairs, there are three more bedrooms, as well as an airy kitchen and large island bench, a dining area, and living room, all of which flow seamlessly out to a deck designed to take in the spectacular views. A large sandstone-blocked chimney with »

its gas fireplace, the timber floors, and timber-lined ceiling add a cosy ambience.

In the main bedroom, there’s a simple (but thoughtfullyplanned) inset shelf, and the rear wall of shiplap timber pays homage to the house’s timber cottage origins.

The sofas are made for relaxing, and there’s a beautiful unity of style in the timber work: as you step through the large and solid front door, to the round dining table with ample seating for six, through to the cabinetry in the bathrooms. It’s thanks to Loughlin Furniture who crafted all the timberwork — from the round, conversational style American Oak dining table in a natural finish; to the bathroom’s customised Angourie vanity cabinet that sits easily with their Elanora shaving cabinet.

The house looks finished but Jarrod insists there’s always more to do. ‘We’re putting barn doors in to close in the family room downstairs, and this weekend we’re buying a whole lot of plants to finish off the front garden ...’

‘Honestly it’s a dream living here, and a day doesn’t go by where we don’t appreciate it,’ says Megan. ‘It’s still not that far to head to Sydney for client meetings, visit friends, etc. But you have the tranquillity, the views, and of course the community for the children – the kids in our street ride their bikes together, go to the beach together … It’s the sense of freedom I remember having as a kid. I really think it’s hard to match.’

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