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My Houzz: Caribbean Beachside Style in Australia
Ditching a dated color scheme, an old deck and more, a couple renovates a four-bedroom home as an investment and vacation property
Hello! I am a contributor for Houzz, writer and interior stylist based in the Netherlands. Always in search of beauty in all forms, I founded my lifestyle blog Avenue to satisfy my thirst for design and lifestyle inspiration. I am the loving mother of a beautiful little girl called Lola, and the adoring fiancé of a handsome Dutchman.
Hello! I am a contributor for Houzz, writer and interior stylist based... More »
The idea of renovating a four-bedroom house by day and working full-time at night would be daunting to most. But Patrick and Linda Meldrum juggled all of this with an 18-month-old in tow and a baby just weeks away.
The couple had recently moved from London to live the Australian dream: a laid-back lifestyle in a tropical climate in Noosa Sound, considered one of the world's best beaches. They bought their house as an investment property and rent it to travelers from all over the world throughout the year.
The house was designed by Stephen Kidd, known for his distinctive "Noosa style," a relaxed beach-meets-bush aesthetic. "We love our quiet street and the abundance of birdlife waking us each morning," Patrick says. "Being five minutes from one of the world's best beaches as well as the stunning Noosa National Park definitely has its perks."
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Patrick and Linda Meldrum, and their 18-month-old daughter, Roxy
Location: Noosa Sound, Australia
Size: About 160 square meters (1,722 square feet); 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
That's interesting: The front deck material was made from recycled plastic milk bottles.
The couple had recently moved from London to live the Australian dream: a laid-back lifestyle in a tropical climate in Noosa Sound, considered one of the world's best beaches. They bought their house as an investment property and rent it to travelers from all over the world throughout the year.
The house was designed by Stephen Kidd, known for his distinctive "Noosa style," a relaxed beach-meets-bush aesthetic. "We love our quiet street and the abundance of birdlife waking us each morning," Patrick says. "Being five minutes from one of the world's best beaches as well as the stunning Noosa National Park definitely has its perks."
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Patrick and Linda Meldrum, and their 18-month-old daughter, Roxy
Location: Noosa Sound, Australia
Size: About 160 square meters (1,722 square feet); 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
That's interesting: The front deck material was made from recycled plastic milk bottles.
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by Holly Marder
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| The natural aesthetic seen throughout the house pays tribute to the Meldrums' taste for the indoor-outdoor Caribbean lifestyle. “I love that Caribbean style of flowing from inside to outside,” Linda says. “We were going for a laid-back summer Caribbean feel, with a mix of old and new furniture and soft furnishings.” Window frames and sliding doors: untreated western cedar |
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| The couple purchased the property a week after they tied the knot in Noosa a decade ago. When furnishing the interior, two key factors were taken into consideration. This was going to be used primarily as a holiday rental, and the furniture needed to be practical and durable while still having a luxurious look and feel. Ten years later, the original furnishings have stood the test of time and still look current against a newly renovated backdrop. The cane lounge suite is upholstered in a charcoal-colored fabric called Caribbean Weave, a robust material that will last for several years. Natural rugs and mocha-colored carpeting were selected for the same purpose: to be dirtproof and durable. |
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| A major aspect of the renovation was repainting the exterior of the house. Patrick painted the exterior himself over several grueling weeks, bringing a dated color scheme of eggshell blue and mustard yellow with hot pink highlights in line with the look and feel of the home's interior. "The task we probably procrastinated longest over was the final color scheme of the exterior of the house," Patrick says. The couple hired a color consultant, who advised them to choose warm earth tones. "It was the best thing we did and money well spent. We didn't even muck about with sample pots." The decking at the front door was recently replaced with Modwood decking, an Australian-made, maintenance-free, composite timber product fabricated from recycled plastic milk bottles and wood fibers. An exposed wooden ceiling above the front entrance adds visual appeal. All paint: Lumbersider, Resene; exterior wall: Double Friar Grey; windows, doors and eaves: Albescent White; gutters and fascias: Bokara Grey; boundary wall: Triple Dune |
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| Aside from the house's luxurious address, a key selling point was the timber cathedral ceiling. Along with the windows on both sides of the living room, it gives the home an open and airy feel. "Our color consultant mentioned that it reminded her of the style of the Hamptons with the wooden decks and window panels," Linda says. Four brightly hued frangipani canvases line the entry hall. Sourced from the local markets, they add a dash of color to the neutral space. |
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| Three weeks after the couple were married, Linda sourced and purchased all the furnishings for their new investment property. “I had to keep in mind that we had existing bookings on the house from the previous owner, so I had to be quick about getting furniture in,” Linda says. She had to choose, purchase and have the items delivered in a matter of days. One World Interiors was her one-stop shop for most major purchases and accessories. |
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| This breakfast nook provides a link between the kitchen and living space, enabling light from the patio to sweep through to the newly refurbished kitchen. |
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| The kitchen was recently remodeled to create this fuss-free, practical space. “The original kitchen was handmade from the same cypress pine boards as the floors with a dark blue laminate bench top,” Patrick says. The kitchen faces south and doesn't get much natural light, so the couple had it custom fitted with off-white stone bench tops and white glass backsplashes. In the corner, behind the simple floral arrangement, is a hidden storage compartment. Kitchen: G&M Craftsman Cabinets |
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| This roll-down wall makes for practical and convenient storage of frequently used breakfast appliances, such as the kettle and toaster. |
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| The guest room is a tranquil escape for visiting guests. Crisp whites and organic textures against a backdrop of warm wood give it a dreamy Mediterranean feel. Plantation shutters lead to the patio, which connects with the back porch and the swimming pool. |
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| The recently renovated guest bathroom has a streamlined, contemporary aesthetic. Prior to renovation, the bathroom was very dated and dark, complete with plastic tap fittings, apricot and navy blue tiling and wall tiles featuring seaside animals. "Our new second bathroom is our favorite room in the house, just because it’s all shiny and new yet melds perfectly with the older timber-dominated rooms in the house," Patrick says. The bathroom now has a contemporary bench-mounted basin, a stone bench top, off-white tiling on two of the walls and a metallic snakeskin-style tile on the rear wall of the shower recess. Avalon Bench Mount Basin, vanity, stone top, fixtures and fittings: Highgrove Bathrooms |
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| The adjacent bedroom is where the baby sleeps while the family is there. When the home is booked, they simply pack up the crib, changing station and decorations, and put an identical single bed in its place. The colorful bunting flags were handmade by Linda and her mother, and a string of colored lights injects fun and color into the room. Both can be taken down easily when the room needs to used as a guest room. |
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| The upstairs master bedroom is a soothing and private oasis. It features the home's signature timber cathedral ceilings, and crisp white linens infuse light into the space. The cane headboard and side tables give the room a plantation-style aesthetic, while accessories bring in a touch of the Caribbean. Plantation shutters lead to a little balcony, which can be seen from the front of the house. |
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The en suite bathroom features slate tiling throughout. Given the high timber ceilings and plenty of natural light, a soak in this spa bath feels almost like being outdoors.
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| As avid cooks and natural entertainers, the Meldrums get plenty of use out of their back deck. "The outdoor timber deck sitting over the 14-meter pool just demands that you entertain and barbeque, which is no chore for us," says Patrick. |
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| New stone pavers surrounding the swimming pool and solar panels on the north-facing cathedral roof were a major part of the renovation. The couple plan to rejuvenate the garden by planting a few feature tropical plants and repaving the garden pathways. In the meantime, they will continue to enjoy the results of their renovation and soak up the easygoing lifestyle of Noosa. |
Ideabook published on April 28, 2012.
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The outside space was such a suprise.............love it!