Pic: Andy MacPherson
How do you represent the beach and the bushland in one home?
This was the challenge faced by Melissa Bonney, director at the Designory design studio, in creating a holiday-home-come-luxury-hotel.
Connecting to the local environment is key to Melissa’s personal approach for ‘designing from the inside out’ and is evident as you enter:
“I think the entryway is a great representation of the entire home. Every room has large expanses of glazing that create sight lines to the scenery, while allowing for cross ventilation.”
Automated Breezway Powerlouvres by Trend Windows & Doors run along the entire length of the space, flooding it with light and natural airflow. Throughout, glazing has been curated to create open spaces and private places:
“The home can sleep up to 14 people, so we needed a range of options that would suit guests’ varied needs. A good example of this is the use of the Quantum Cavity Stacking Doors between the dining area and garden, which can section off the interior when required, or ‘disappear’ to create one large space for gatherings and entertaining.”
Pic: Cat Gerke
The living area features powered Quantum awning windows that are set high into the wall and can be opened with the touch of a button to let heat escape. This window placement also stops the occupants from being overlooked by neighbouring properties. The strong black frames tie into those used throughout the house, including those of the architectural style Aneeta sashless windows used in the upstairs bedrooms.
The dark tone of the window and external door frames, is seen throughout the home, from cabinet handles and chairs, to the Venette Cinder finish of the Stegbar Galleria wardrobes in one of the bedrooms.
“Our dark wardrobes tie to the surrounding volcanic rock, but on a larger scale. The Natural Oak Ravine finish of some robes relates to our door choices, while a simple white in other robes and walk-ins ties to the homes palette. From there, we were able to mix and match handles and accessories from the three Galleria ranges to add more personality.”
“The robes also had to meet the needs of everyone from groups of friends, to families and couples. We worked with Stegbar to create bespoke configurations, with full length and shorter hanging rails, hampers, baskets, drawers, shoe racks and other options to provide individual experiences in every room,” adds Melissa.
Pic: Andy MacPherson
One accessory that is set to delight guests is the Bluetooth enabled The Galleria LED Lighting system, which is hidden within the joinery and illuminates clothing in smaller and darker spaces.
Additionally, Stegbar joinery in the laundry has added stylish functionality to washing, drying and storing towels and beachwear. Hampers on soft close extendable arms offer easy access, while metal baskets provide storage for larger linen items and maintain visual access.
While the strong lines and monochromatic hues of the wardrobes and doors fit with Melissa’s modern Australian Lux aesthetic, she realised the look needed softening with subtle curves, to reflect the breezy Byron experience. Working with Stegbar, Melissa created bespoke mirrors in arch and circular designs, which relaxed the style while adding functionality.
The quest for colour started with Corinthian Doors’ Moda White Oak and Moda Barn Door Collections, which offer solid constructed profiles based on the aesthetic principles of the Shakers.
“Consistent colour choices make a home feel cohesive and resolved. Our palette started when Corinthian Doors suggested their White American Oak veneer door designs.”
The doors have been used to suit different spaces and functions. Moda Barn Doors help transition between the downstairs bedrooms, en-suites and walk in robes.
Pic: Andy MacPherson
The celebration of wood tones can be seen throughout the home, from the vanities through to the bathroom cabinets. The latter is where the colour palette comes into full force with two almost identical ensuites. Both feature Moda Barn Doors, which slide back on matt black hardware to reveal a single sink encased in wood with an arch-shaped Stegbar mirror, however in one, these back onto floor-to-ceiling light green tiles, the other dusty pink tiles.
“My daughter pushed me into using such large expanses of colour in the bathrooms. I’m glad she did as it’s now one of my favourite aspects of the home. The rooms combine the material and palette choices of the home, from the coastal rock-like matt black of the barn door hardware that is mirrored in the window frames, to the oak that is seen from the moment you open the front door, and inspired the hues of the home.”
By combining elements of the two, seemingly incongruous, Byron Bay landscapes, Melissa has stretched her modern, Australian Coastal Lux style to create a property that offers everything to the discerning traveller, that couldn’t have been made anywhere else, or by anyone else.
