Houzz Tours
My Houzz: A Fun-Filled Family Abode With a Holiday Vibe
Cheery colours, robust finishes and a smooth connection to nature make this family home feel like a year-round retreat
Kate and Ben Hardy are no strangers to renovating. They flipped three houses in inner-city Melbourne in three years, before relocating to the coastal suburb of Mount Eliza with their two daughters in 2014. Fortunately, their new abode had only recently been renovated, leaving them to focus on cosmetic upgrades and improving the property’s flow and functionality. The couple brightened up the interior with new paint and furnishings, and redesigned the backyard and deck to make them work better for play and entertaining – all fairly quick and painless jobs that allowed them to enjoy their new home almost straight away.
The result is a warm, laid-back retreat they’ve spent the last four years filling with good memories. “It was our dream to have lots of space and a more relaxed lifestyle, and we feel we’ve found it here,” says Kate.
The result is a warm, laid-back retreat they’ve spent the last four years filling with good memories. “It was our dream to have lots of space and a more relaxed lifestyle, and we feel we’ve found it here,” says Kate.
Having lived in the inner-city Melbourne suburb of Surrey Hills when the girls were young, Kate and Ben were after more space and a slower pace of life when they moved to Mount Eliza. “We both grew up in quiet areas with plenty of space to explore,” says Kate. “We wanted our girls to be able to ride their bikes to school, play at the beach and have room to play.
“I didn’t even know where Mount Eliza was when Ben first mentioned it,” she says. “But I soon discovered the area had so much to offer – a beautiful beach, a warm community, great schools, farmers’ markets and a relaxed, family-friendly lifestyle.”
“I didn’t even know where Mount Eliza was when Ben first mentioned it,” she says. “But I soon discovered the area had so much to offer – a beautiful beach, a warm community, great schools, farmers’ markets and a relaxed, family-friendly lifestyle.”
For this fun, outdoor-loving family, the laid-back vibe and lush greenery at the Mount Eliza abode were instant attractions. “The house backs onto a nature reserve and is just four minutes’ drive from the beach,” says Kate. “The sound of wildlife, the swimming pool, and the fact it was walking distance to school sealed the deal.”
“Living here feels like we’re on holiday every day,” she adds. “The house has an easy-to-maintain, tropical-inspired garden with palm trees and succulents, plus there is a pond and a water feature out front. Add in the swimming pool and spa, and it’s also a fantastic space for entertaining.”
“Living here feels like we’re on holiday every day,” she adds. “The house has an easy-to-maintain, tropical-inspired garden with palm trees and succulents, plus there is a pond and a water feature out front. Add in the swimming pool and spa, and it’s also a fantastic space for entertaining.”
When it came to furniture, the couple decided to start fresh when they moved and chose pieces that perfectly fitted their new home: “The only things we brought from the old house were the dining table and the master bed,” says Kate.
Kate sought out practical, cheery styles and low-maintenance finishes: “I love colour, bold prints, big, comfy couches, easy-to-clean tiles and clear benches. I’m not a bitsy person”.
The brightly coloured Green Cathedral bar stools make for an eye-catching feature in the open-plan kitchen-living-dining space, and are one of Kate’s favourite new additions. “The area under the benchtop is dark, so I really wanted a pop of colour in this spot,” she says. “I also have a colourful sign in the living room that I needed the chair colours to tie in with.”
Kate sought out practical, cheery styles and low-maintenance finishes: “I love colour, bold prints, big, comfy couches, easy-to-clean tiles and clear benches. I’m not a bitsy person”.
The brightly coloured Green Cathedral bar stools make for an eye-catching feature in the open-plan kitchen-living-dining space, and are one of Kate’s favourite new additions. “The area under the benchtop is dark, so I really wanted a pop of colour in this spot,” she says. “I also have a colourful sign in the living room that I needed the chair colours to tie in with.”
With its generous benchtops, the kitchen allows plenty of space for cooking and homework to be done simultaneously. “I love getting dinner ready here while the girls do their homework,” says Kate. “The kitchen works well and I only have a few issues with it – the depth of the utensil and plastics drawers, the lack of power points on the island and the fact the fridge space is a bit small.”
A pale timber dining setting, which was one of the few things Kate and Ben brought from their previous home, ties in beautifully with the natural setting outside. Black accents in the kitchen island and pendants above it add punch.
The open-plan kitchen-living-dining space is where the family spends most of their time together. “It’s the hub of our home and for this reason I didn’t mind spending money renovating it,” says Kate. “Besides, if a home has a good heart, it makes for an easy renovation.” Fortunately, the area only required fairly minor touch-ups – the original red tiles behind the stovetop, for example, were painted black to tie in with the kitchen island.
After renovating four homes, Kate has learned a few tricks about scoring a bargain: “Research, shop around and don’t be afraid to ask for discounts”, are her top tips for would-be bargain hunters. “I found a King Living Jasper sofa on eBay for a quarter of the price it was in-store, and it was practically new.”
The sofa now makes for a comfy spot in the living room, where the grown-ups can relax and keep an eye on the children as they play on the deck outside. A new Mark Tuckey timber Oxo coffee table completes the look.
The sofa now makes for a comfy spot in the living room, where the grown-ups can relax and keep an eye on the children as they play on the deck outside. A new Mark Tuckey timber Oxo coffee table completes the look.
The LED backlit sign in the living room is one Kate’s most treasured possessions. “My husband had it custom made and installed in our Camberwell home as a surprise when I was in hospital after having our first daughter Ava.” Cleverly, each box is covered with a sticker so that it’s easy to change the colours down the track for a new look.
“I like to think I’ve styled our home based on family,” says Kate. “Nothing is too precious – I don’t want to worry if the kids walk inside with wet or sandy feet from the beach.”
“The master bedroom at the back of the house overlooking the park is my favourite room,” says Kate. “I love waking up to the sound of kookaburras and the sunsets you see from here are incredible.”
Kate has cleverly updated the couple’s bed without spending a fortune when they moved in. “Ben and I bought this bed years ago when brown suede was all the rage. We couldn’t find another style we liked enough to buy, so I had it reupholstered in Warwick Fabrics’ Beachcomber polyester,” she says.
“This room is still a work in progress. I’d like to re-carpet it with a grey, textured wool carpet and find new bedside lights and a print for above the bed.”
Kate has cleverly updated the couple’s bed without spending a fortune when they moved in. “Ben and I bought this bed years ago when brown suede was all the rage. We couldn’t find another style we liked enough to buy, so I had it reupholstered in Warwick Fabrics’ Beachcomber polyester,” she says.
“This room is still a work in progress. I’d like to re-carpet it with a grey, textured wool carpet and find new bedside lights and a print for above the bed.”
Kate also updated the main bathroom with new tapware and shower fittings that she picked up for a song on eBay. “When it comes to bathrooms, I’ll never buy a whole suite from one shop – I like to mix and match for a one-of-a-kind look.”
“Both girls designed their own bedrooms,” says Kate. “I think it’s important they have a space they can be proud of and that represents their personality.”
Ava’s bedroom walls are painted and decorated with stickers from Jimmy Cricket. “She’s a strong, bright personality, hence the pops of bold colour in her room.”
“My favourite thing here is the custom Rachel Castle print above her bed that reads ‘Always Believe in Miracles.’ Rachel very kindly made it for me eight years ago when I finally fell pregnant after two years of IVF. Rachel’s work is throughout our home. I’m a massive fan!”
“My favourite thing here is the custom Rachel Castle print above her bed that reads ‘Always Believe in Miracles.’ Rachel very kindly made it for me eight years ago when I finally fell pregnant after two years of IVF. Rachel’s work is throughout our home. I’m a massive fan!”
“Olivia wanted to feel like a princess going to bed every night,” says Kate. And we imagine that’s exactly how she feels when she closes her eyes in this dreamy spot.
“When we bought this house, the deck was largely covered by a massive swim spa. This was in addition to a swimming pool in the backyard,” says Kate. “So we sold the swim spa on Gumtree, and used the money to fill in the deck and create more entertaining space.”
An unused space outside the laundry has been converted into a games area for the kids.
Kate and Ben have painted one wall on the back deck with blackboard paint so the kids can get creative.
“This was a dead spot outdoors, so we decided to turn it into another play area for the girls,” says Kate. “Luckily my brother-in-law used to lay turf, so he spent a weekend helping Ben set up this little putting green.”
“We love being surrounded by friends and family, and most weekends you’ll hear the sounds of laugher, water fights and people jumping into the pool coming from our house,” says Kate. “The whole space is designed around entertaining, with a large deck area, spa, swimming pool and a California bungalow-style cubby. All reasons we love it. ”
The cubby house in the garden provides hours of fun for the girls and their friends.
The property backs onto a nature reserve, which provides a handy extra playground for special occasions. “It’s been used for pony rides for the girls’ birthdays and slip-and-slide sessions in summer,” says Kate.
Next on Kate and Ben’s to-do list for the house is to refresh the facade. “I want to paint the outside black – I’m so in love with black homes at the moment,” Kate says.
Down the track, Kate and Ben plan to take the house up a storey, adding three bedrooms, a children’s retreat and a new main bathroom.
Tell us
What do you love best about this home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to like or share this story, or save the photos. Join the conversation.
More
Want more? Check out last week’s My Houzz: Olivia Munn Lifts Her Mum’s Spirits With a New Kitchen
Down the track, Kate and Ben plan to take the house up a storey, adding three bedrooms, a children’s retreat and a new main bathroom.
Tell us
What do you love best about this home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to like or share this story, or save the photos. Join the conversation.
More
Want more? Check out last week’s My Houzz: Olivia Munn Lifts Her Mum’s Spirits With a New Kitchen
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Kate and Ben Hardy (Ben not shown), their two daughters Ava, 7, and Olivia, 5, and their dogs Chipper and Gracie
Where: Mount Eliza, Victoria
Size: 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms