Stickybeak: An '80s Home Gets a Beachy Upgrade
Take a tour of this once-dated Gold Coast home, now transformed into a coastal retreat for its owners
When the owners showed their 1980s Gold Coast waterfront home to interior designer Donna Guyler, it was in desperate need of renovation. The home was brimming with high-gloss joinery and the original flooring was dated. What’s more, the old window furnishings looked out of place and the paintwork was tired.
The couple was after a space that had a relaxed and comfortable vibe. They wanted all of the flooring replaced (except in the bathrooms) as well as new furniture, furnishings and comfortable guest bedrooms. A new custom entertainment unit and playroom joinery were also a priority, and Guyler’s selections had to account for the needs of a close-knit family of three, with the child only just learning to walk.
The couple was after a space that had a relaxed and comfortable vibe. They wanted all of the flooring replaced (except in the bathrooms) as well as new furniture, furnishings and comfortable guest bedrooms. A new custom entertainment unit and playroom joinery were also a priority, and Guyler’s selections had to account for the needs of a close-knit family of three, with the child only just learning to walk.
Guyler modified the floor plan of the living and dining areas slightly, adding a partition wall framed to mount the television and entertainment joinery, as well create a more defined living area. On the other side of this wall, fixed joinery was mounted to create a small playroom for the couple’s daughter. The living room joinery is a custom-designed entertainment unit in white two-pack polyurethane and Tasmanian oak.
Guyler selected new porcelain floor tiles and used berber knot carpets for the flooring design of the living area. All the existing joinery dividing the living and hallways areas, including mirror panelling, was removed. Guyler also squared off the existing rounded pillars using gyprock and paint. This helped open up the space, facilitating a seamless transition between the dining, kitchen and living areas, and down the hall to the fourth bedroom.
Guyler selected new porcelain floor tiles and used berber knot carpets for the flooring design of the living area. All the existing joinery dividing the living and hallways areas, including mirror panelling, was removed. Guyler also squared off the existing rounded pillars using gyprock and paint. This helped open up the space, facilitating a seamless transition between the dining, kitchen and living areas, and down the hall to the fourth bedroom.
The living room revmap also involved a reconfiguration of the upper mezzanine slab. Guyler squared off the existing hallway wall, installing a linen cupboard into the wall, made accessible from the hallway. She also did away with the existing railing, replacing it with a new glass balustrade with a polished stainless-steel trim. The mezzanine connects the hallway to the three bedrooms on the upper level.
The renovated home pays tribute to the owner’s South African heritage. In the entryway, Guyler cut a new niche into an existing gyprock wall to house the feature Coco Mosaic wall. “We created this using a coconut fibre tile, a local favourite from South Africa,” she says.
The living area boasts a cosy, sink-in sofa from King Living. In the background a couple of beach-style pendant lights reinforce the coastal theme, in combination with an ensemble of wooden coffee tables and side tables from Uniqwa Furniture, and occasional chairs from The Beach Furniture.
But the standout in this entire renovation is the authentic mud-bead chandelier in the dining room, custom-made and freighted in from South Africa. With a 1.1 metre diameter and a weight of over 50 kilograms, this statement accent piece is an unquestionable nod to the owner’s heritage.
In keeping with the beach-side vibe, the dining table is a solid oak structure, with all dining chairs sporting custom-made cotton slipcovers.
In keeping with the beach-side vibe, the dining table is a solid oak structure, with all dining chairs sporting custom-made cotton slipcovers.
The toddler’s bedroom pre- renovation
All four bedrooms have been revamped with brand-new paintwork, carpets, custom-curtains and furniture. The playroom features a custom-designed bench seat and upholstered seat-pad, along with scatter cushions and a new pendant light framing the window area.
The master bedroom
The master bedroom, which looked dull and dreary, is now a luxurious cocoon with a sumptuous bed from King Living, cushions from Bandhini Homeware Design and brand new wallpaper.
This bright and cheery guest bedroom features bedheads custom upholstered in material from Warwick Fabrics. Guyler designed both guest bedrooms, keeping in mind the comforts of family members visiting for longer periods of time.
The fourth bedroom on the lower level spells beach-chic to a T. Both the bed and wall mirrors were sourced from Uniqwa Furniture.
The renovated home is today a classic beach-style retreat complete with contemporary and coastal vibes. It’s a soft and welcoming haven for its owners to step into at the end of a busy day.
So, was it challenging? “It sure was, especially installing the mud-bead chandelier into a pitched ceiling in the dining room. The electricians had to go in through the roof above to fix a beam to the existing trusses to bear the weight of the chandelier, and hold the fitting flush on the ceiling,” says Guyler.
Tell us
What do you love about this home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to like the story, save your favourite images and join the conversation.
More
Take a look at last week’s Stickybeak of the Week: The Life and Soul of the Apartment
So, was it challenging? “It sure was, especially installing the mud-bead chandelier into a pitched ceiling in the dining room. The electricians had to go in through the roof above to fix a beam to the existing trusses to bear the weight of the chandelier, and hold the fitting flush on the ceiling,” says Guyler.
Tell us
What do you love about this home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to like the story, save your favourite images and join the conversation.
More
Take a look at last week’s Stickybeak of the Week: The Life and Soul of the Apartment
Who lives here: A couple and their toddler daughter
Location: Gold Coast, Queensland
Size: About 300 square metres; four bedrooms, three bathrooms
Interior Designer: Donna Guyler, Donna Guyler Design
Speaking about her design choices, Guyler says, “[The owner], who is South African, has real love for natural materials, luxurious fabrics and crisp whites. So I instantly knew I had to work with a neutral and earthy colour palette. And while the couple also wanted to create a relaxed, light and airy home, I wanted to give them a sense of understated luxury, as it was evident in our first meeting that they had great taste.” The proximity to the water also helped inform Guyler’s choice of interiors.