DESIGN RENOVATE
A Designer Meryl Hare B The loungeroom takes in beach views C+D Two sets of the bi-folds reveal the panorama E A Travertine benchtop and timber tones in the kitchen
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FACT FILE THE BRIEF To create a laidback holiday home that offers an instant feeling of relaxation THE DESIGNER Hare + Klein THE RESULT Winner of the 2008 Residential Interior Decoration Award
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ALL DECKED OUT S
ometimes simple is best and as far as beach houses go, the owners of this Northern Beaches bungalow have hit the jackpot. Set into a hillside with Pacific Ocean views as far as the eye can see, their three-bedroom weatherboard cottage provides a weekend getaway many of us can only dream about. Two years ago the family bought the alreadyrenovated house from a building designer. They approached another designer, Meryl Hare, to help create a home away from home that reflected their lifestyle. With its serene lines and connection with nature, it’s no wonder the house won the 2008 Residential Interior Decoration Award. “The brief was to make it feel like you’re on holiday the minute you walk through the door,” says Meryl. “They wanted something that was easy to maintain. They wanted to be able to kick their shoes off at the front door and immediately feel relaxed.” Meryl says the previous owners created a makeover highlighting the features of the house rather than changing them.
“They kept the old red roof tiles, limed the inside floor and added driftwood decking around the outside of the house,” she says. “The grey of the deck is the colour of the sea and the trunks of the palm trees are grey.” The connection between the house and nature is seamless. Bi-fold doors open out at both rear entrances on to the deck, making the small house feel twice its size. Using the stunning views and the existing combination of baltic pine floors, white walls and Travertine stone benches, Meryl set to work. “The owners said they wanted the dining table to be special, for it to be the signature piece of the house,” she says. “However, I proposed a simple table but with beautiful chairs. It’s about the comfort. These chairs are so comfortable, you can sit here for hours.” The owners loved the idea so much there’s a matching Hans Wegner chair in the adjoining sitting room. And the sitting room can be shut off from the rest of the house using sliding doors. A sofa bed was chosen as the seating option should guests
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come to stay. The children’s bedrooms are on the same side of the house. “We used soft linens and added a floor-to-ceiling cupboard in the third bedroom,” says Meryl. “The second and third bedrooms are quite small so we looked for clever storage options.” A deck is located off the children’s bedroom wing. Meryl chose to furnish it with outdoor chairs from Anibou, with custom-made sea green cushions that can be removed in bad weather. “There’s a sense of enclosure on this side of the house,” says Meryl. “We chose deep, comfortable furniture for that spot.” The view from the seating takes in the ocean but carefully hidden in the foreground is a tree-house for the children. The main bedroom arguably has the best view in the house, with the main feature being the rolling ocean which can be seen through the glass and timber sliding doors. Meryl stuck to a very simple and calm palette, a white coverlet on the bed, neutral throws and white occasional chair are >
PHOTOS JOHN FOTIADIS
With spectacular views out to the Pacific Ocean, this home away from home offers an ideal getaway for friends and family, summer or winter
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26/05/2008 2:01:44 PM