Houzz interview: Simones' beach vintage home

When I first came across a photo of Simone's deck, I was stunned. I knew right away that I had to get in touch with the lucky person who lives in this magical place. Simone, the fortunate and proud owner of this little piece of heaven, lives in Brisbane, Australia. She started blogging about her house a few months ago and named her blog beach vintage, reflecting her passion for this style.
Furnishing her home with what she describes as "next to nothing"- second hand items from a local refuse centre, garage sales and Ebay- Simone has created a beautiful and warm nest for her family.
In her blog, she shares what inspires her and shows different pieces she had recycled, both for her own home and for others.
I'm very happy to introduce you to Simone and her beach vintage home


Please tell us about your "first meeting" with your house to be

At the time our house was up for auction and we walked into the first open house inspection. I remember walking in looking at the view and my legs froze up. I just couldnt walk. It was so beautiful. I just made it out to the deck and sat down. I didn't even look through the house. I just sat on the deck and wanted to cry. I knew I wanted this house.

The first step of your remodeling process

We have not really remodelled our house too much. We renovated the kitchen and the bathrooms are getting down next year. But we want to keep the "beachy" character of the place.

The biggest renovation challenge you faced

Was our kitchen. We had a modest budget and didn't wish to spend too much. So we couldn't knock down cupboards or walls. We had to work with what we had.

Your favorite style and colors

My favourite style is coastal shabby chic. I get a lot of my inspiration from magazines and of course Anna Spiros blog Absolutely Beautiful Things.

A spot in your house that makes you very happy/proud

My main living area. I just love the feeling when I come home and sit down in there. It instantly relaxes me.

Your precious accessory/furniture/art

My big old kitchen hutch display cabinet. I have all my little precious trinkets and ornaments in there.

5 things that houzz readers need to know about you and your blog

1. Every Friday I post "Project Day" which are little DIY projects anyone can do.
2. I read every single comment and try to reply to every single comment.
3. I have only been blogging 6 months but am enjoying more than I thought I ever would.
4. It's ad free.
5. I started my blog because of a comment from another blogger stating I should give it a go.

Best tip for the remodeling beginner

Start with only the things you love in your home and work around them. Be brave and make your own style as you go.


Last but not least: as a houzz friend, Simone had chosen a Pottery Barn gift card as a giveaway to one of the lucky readers who will share their thoughts about her house and interview in the comments below..

Thank you for sharing your beautiful home Simone!.

For your chance to win a $50 Pottery Barn gift card, comment on this interview by Sunday, October 25, at 5pm EST..




Comments

victoria_d Oh wow- it is a magical place! You are very lucky. Gorgeous!
4 years ago ·
karen1974 What a gorgeous place. Thank you so much for sharing your heaven, I love it!
4 years ago ·
tamitan I can't even imagine how great it must be living in this place. I like the way you have organized your living area. Beautiful.
4 years ago ·
eclecticgirl I like all your treasures. I also buy from thrift stores and garage sales. I LOVE your style. Great interview and thanks for sharing your amazing place.
4 years ago ·
Becky Harris LOVE those vintage bathing suits in frames! Brilliant!
4 years ago ·
kharris The deck is lovely, but the windows and interior colors (the use of whites overall and the light palette in furniture & accessories) take advantage of the wonderful light as well.
4 years ago ·
sara1972 I love it! Now I have so many new photos to add to my vintage inspiration ideabook...
Thanks for sharing your BEAUTIFUL home Simone!
4 years ago ·
donajohns What a great place you have. I LOVE your child's vintage bedroom. Where did you get her that beautiful little playhouse?
4 years ago ·
dana29 Ditto. I'm a big fan of vintage furniture and accessories and I really like you house.
Gorgeous.
4 years ago ·
oldcharm I also like the vintage bathing suits frames. Great decor. Well done.
4 years ago ·
lindad OMG- what a gorgeous view you have!
Lovely home.
4 years ago ·
smstock great place!
4 years ago ·
wendysue Obviously a fellow polka dot lover! My fav is the polka dot wall combined with bigger dots on the ceiling. Genius!
4 years ago ·
labirdsell I adore your home. I have to agree...that deck is heaven on earth. I also love the polka dots on the wall/ceiling. I will add you to my favs.
4 years ago ·
cutlerclan totally beautiful!
4 years ago ·
lindaoh I understand why you fell in love with the view. It is wonderful. You have great style. I will have to visit your blog.
4 years ago ·
shellyvb Love it...especially being the mother of two boys myself, the girl's room makes me wistful! Beautiful.
4 years ago ·
linda2240 wow, i love it.
4 years ago ·
jaymieinmn Wow! Amazing! I'll be spending a lot time time perusing Simone's blog, for sure.
4 years ago ·
natalekku You are right about the view - it's beautiful. I love all the vintage knick-nacks you've decorated with!
4 years ago ·
callie grayson The view would know me off my feet too! Amazing view!!
and the interiors, PERFECTION! Love the cosy and fresh interior!
4 years ago ·
rachel21mac It's so beautiful that it breaks my heart. We just sold our house by the ocean (on Prince Edward Island) in April and every time I think about it I just want to cry. I love this house! I got a laugh out of the framed bathing suits in the dining room. I'm heaing over to Simone's blog to check it out.
4 years ago ·
Jan J The view is absolutely mesmerizing! I can see how you just knew right away! Such happy colors and personalized accents...you have a lovely home.
4 years ago ·
E. Pınar I love your childs' room... Especially, walls with dots.
I have an obsession about children rooms and nurseries, I guess :))
4 years ago ·
jillian1996 I love repurposing found treasures also. You do a great job. My friends are sometimes surprised when I share that I found a piece they comment on at a "garage sale". Can't beat it!
4 years ago ·
kathylivingsimply I love, love, love the bathing suits you have framed! Such a graphic and cool way to make art. I also love the polka dot walls. Very beautiful home and a stunning location. Thanks for sharing this.
4 years ago ·
redden608 What a happy place!
4 years ago ·
kozakr I love the colors in your home, and I love the dollhouse pool!
4 years ago ·
Dawn What a wonderful place to live! I love the grey/green beams, the swimsuits in frames, and the kitchen china cabinet. I also love the card cupboard. Gorgeous. Your collections about the house give it colour and style. You have given me some ideas for sure...
4 years ago ·
lyndymb3 What a beautiful house and a gorgeous view! I also love the framed vintage bathing suits.
4 years ago ·
jam0811 Very tasteful home, with a lot of character. I adore the incorporation of the old with the new- absolutely beautiful, as are the family photos in the living area.
4 years ago ·
Karen Evans I adore this home. The polka dot walls are amazing.
4 years ago ·
jacque WOW..I can certainly see why Simone fell in love INSTANTLY with her home! I like her sense of style and would say that she has developed it into one that she can call her very own! I LOVE the framed swimsuits--TOO CUTE and so beachy!
4 years ago ·
Tracey Johnson I love so many things about this home. Polka dots, whimsy, creativity galore. Thanks for sharing.
4 years ago ·
leslie5088 So cheerful and whimsical. It looks like a happy home!
4 years ago ·
mammy Very pretty. Love the colors!
4 years ago ·
courtney Your home is a dream palace, Simone! I can't get over your cute kitchen, or your amazing water views.
4 years ago ·
theshopbug i imagine hearty lunches in your porch, what a breathtaking view of nature.
i really love your daughter's room, it's everything what a girl's room should be, sweet, fun and relaxing.
4 years ago ·
alliebean That beautiful white bench and that gorgeous view are enough to make me jealous!
4 years ago ·
hayley Your house is beautiful, the view is incredible, and I especially love the children's areas - the little table and chairs and cute cupcake artwork is wonderful! Thanks for sharing your home!
4 years ago ·
bjtn What a beautiful place to call home! It is absolutely wonderful. Such a calming place
4 years ago ·
capecottage Just my style! Will add you to my favorites! Love Vintage,family pieces and antiques!
4 years ago ·
PillowThrowDecor What a beautiful setting. I can understand how this house said "buy me buy me" because of the lake view. Your furnishings are delightful. My favourites are the three bathing suits as wall art in the dining room. And also, the little girls beds. Who wouldn't fall in love with those pillows.
4 years ago ·
lisadeanne I love your style! I love your beautiful view as well!!
4 years ago ·
junkitjunction The photos are gorgeous, in particular one taken from the deck of the view.I also love the colour used through your home, using white as the base.
Just lovely, straight from a magazine!
4 years ago ·
Mandie Segura So much to say:

1)The outside of the house is beautiful! Just love it!
2)Love the built in shelves- I'm so jealous!
3)Those sweet polka dot lanterns are just precious! Oh my goodness, I love them!
4 years ago ·
janelea I have been following Simone for a couple of months, now, and am always inspired by her. She takes the simple things in life...and the discarded, unloved, and abandoned...and brings them to life in her beautiful home.

Her home is just that...not a house, but a warm and loving home. Through her writing and photographs, you can feel the love she has for this home, and more importantly, for her family. You can also see the "fun" side...just look at those giant cupcakes!!!

So glad you have found Simone and shared her with so many...
Jane (artfully graced)
4 years ago ·
Denise Posey Wow! This is a blog I am adding to my fav list! Love the colors, style and views!
Posey
4 years ago ·
Cozy Little House I love Simone's style. I try to see what she's up to every day or so. I have a blog myself, and she speaks to me with her simplicity, color, and use of vintage items. I just love her blog!
Brenda http://cozylittlehouse.com
4 years ago ·
cathinunn I read Simone's blog daily and absolutely adore her home and lifestyle....casual comfy living at it's best...these pictures are wonderful!
4 years ago ·
kehc Love it all!
Karen
4 years ago ·
reclaimingdinner I love the cupcake picture! So cute! And that view.....WOW! Amazing!
4 years ago ·
MFAMB aka Jenny yaaaaaay simone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! congrats!
4 years ago ·
The Impatient Gardener I love Simone's comment that she walked into her house for the first time and froze. I can so relate to that comment as, after more than a year of looking at cottages literally in shambles withe my rose-colored glasses (one had a 4-foot hole in the floor of the bedroom and I tried to convince myself and my future husband that it really wasn't a big deal), I walked into a house and knew before I left the first room that I had found home.
4 years ago ·
AnNicole Wow - what a beautiful home! I love that it has so much character and individuality.

Great job!
4 years ago ·
josephinetalepeddler I love Simon's Blog and style. I can't wait for the day she publishes her own Beach Vintage book! Sigh, that view!! And I love the way she has mixed her pretty vintage pieces with a coastal look. xx
4 years ago ·
marybeth I too love the look! She has incorporated vintage without being fussy or too busy and it looks great! Cant wait to look at her blog and learn !
4 years ago ·
Odette Bragg What a fun and happy place!
4 years ago ·
jlawless I adore the vintage look. It makes her home look so worn in and loved. It's a place you could see yourself relaxing in :)
4 years ago ·
kasmlc What a charming house. And the view is gorgeous. I see why she wanted that house.
4 years ago ·
lmeakes Fun use of colors throughout your house. Love the view!
4 years ago ·
Willman Interiors / Gina Willman, ASID Your view made me want to cry. What a little slice of heaven. You must love coming home.
4 years ago ·
catzson What I would give for a beach house in Australia. You lucky gal! Beautiful home with great personality!!
4 years ago ·
laurab1982 I love the prints and color - beautiful home!
4 years ago ·
Cara I absolutely love the vintage!!
4 years ago ·
tbliss What a beautiful pace to live, laugh and love in.
4 years ago ·
sgharris3 I love the plate stand with the assortment of mismatched plates--the beach should be like that. This is a beautiful retreat.
4 years ago ·
beachhouse Beautiful home - the location is out of this world amazing!
4 years ago ·
misty w such beauty and charm....love it!
4 years ago ·
donnaleahy You have a new fan! Really beautiful. I love the flower wing chair. OOOO but the view.. so jealous!
4 years ago ·
cobbityhouse Simone`s house is very liveable a great casual, relaxed feel. I like how she mixes up her pieces. I often read her blog and she seems a very down to earth woman, someone who you feel you could relate too, no pretence.
4 years ago ·
Adi Tatarko Thank you everyone.
The lucky winner of the $50 Pottery Barn certificate is natalekku!
Congratulations and thanks again Simone for letting us peek into your beautiful home.
3 years ago ·
Tristan Keeffe That is my family home, my parents (Architects) both designed it when I was about 1. We had a tiny cottage on the back of the block by the street which we lived in while we built this on the front of the block before tearing down the little cottage. So many great memories, I use to eat crepe's on that deck! If you are interested in different design my parents companies are Shane Keeffe Architects and Redplan both in the Redlands where this is.

LOVE Victoria Point!
2 years ago ·
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Ideabook updated on July 29, 2011.

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