Setting THE SCENE

Inspired by soulful movie interiors, a couple prepped their coastal home for its close-ups

- Text & styling Heather Nette King

Describing her home in cinematic terms is hardly surprising for someone who has worked in the film and TV industry for more than a decade. “As soon as I saw the house, I could imagine Meryl Streep in the garden discussing renovation plans with Steve Martin, so I had an immediate vision of creating that cosy, relaxed Nancy Meyers movie style,” says Laura Restein, who, with husband Andy, knew that some clever tweaks could make her home (and 1.2-hectare garden) worthy of a Cameron Diaz or Jude Law cameo.

During the pandemic lockdowns, the couple moved into the five-bedroom home, which had been built in the 1970s and partially updated in 2015. “The time spent in lockdown was the perfect opportunity to work out exactly how we used the space and what changes we wanted to make. We loved the bones and energy of the existing house, but wanted to update it a little and give the outside landscaping an entire makeover,” says Laura.