EAST COAST GLOW

INTERIOR DESIGNER MELINDA HARTWRIGHT GAVE THIS BEACH HOME THE ULTIMATE GLOW UP, TAKING IT FROM BROWN-BRICK BLAH TO COASTAL CLASSIC

- SHELLEY TUSTIN

FRONT FACADE Melinda opted for an ageless colour scheme. "It's a classic white beach house with brass accents and touches of blue - it's simple, but timeless," she says. The cladding is in Dulux Snowy Mountains Half, with the bonny front door in Dulux Duck Egg Blue. SAND ROOM "Here, you can come in off the beach, chuck your towel and bag, before going into the house," says Melinda. The Hygge & West wallpaper inspired the 'Annalise' tiles from Jatana Interiors, the blue cabinetry in Dulux Blowout, and details like the St Barts rattan pendant and brass bamboo pulls from Pineapple Traders.

KITCHEN It's the finer details that make this classic coastal kitchen into something special, like the white-painted rattan panels inset into the upper cabinets. "They make it look fabulous and beachy, and break up the wall of plain white cabinetry," says Melinda. The pale celadon green (Dulux Pale Green Tea) on the island matches the mint Teranova subway tiles. "It could be quite a formal kitchen, but things like the coloured subway tiles and the rattan panels make it much more beach house-y and more appropriate to the location," she explains.

With glittering turquoise W water on one side and rolling green fields on the other, the location of this beach property on the NSW South Coast is heavenly - but the house itself was far from sublime. Then, interior designer Melinda Hartwright blew through the property like a refreshing sea breeze, lifting it from modern mediocrity to a personality-packed stunner that's utterly worthy of its divine location.