Wonder Wharf
Belle Magazine Australia|November 2020
After a boatload of challenges, walls of glass welcome in a treehouse vibe to a relaxing crash pad wreathed in bush.
Wonder Wharf

Accessed by boat, this private idyll on Pittwater, NSW, is the perfect place for cooking, reading and communing with nature, sundowner in hand. Interior designer Louella Boîtel-Gill played up the treehouse vibe with loose, linen furnishings and splashes of jade set against the romantic Australian landscape.

What was the brief? I was in a meeting with the client about something entirely different and he asked me out of the blue if I’d be interested in working on a house he’d bought on Pittwater. I knew the house, which was in my favourite bay, so it was an immediate yes. It was at a time when the idea of site visits by boat appealed even more than usual. The brief was essentially to create a crash pad, somewhere the owner could stay when he was working in the area instead of having to head back into town, somewhere that felt a little bit akin to a treehouse.

The boatshed was a big part of the brief and is set up so they can cook and sleep there, and just hang by the water. It had to be simple and airy, but homely. It needed to feel comfortable but not cluttered, and he didn’t want storage!

What were the challenges of the site and how did you resolve them? The fact the house is offshore means logistically it’s a bit of a puzzle. The wharf is only accessible to the bigger barges that carry building materials at the highest tides, so there was this tight window of a few hours every couple of weeks when we could make deliveries happen.

This story is from the November 2020 edition of Belle Magazine Australia.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the November 2020 edition of Belle Magazine Australia.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM BELLE MAGAZINE AUSTRALIAView All
The wow factory
Belle Magazine Australia

The wow factory

The sisters steering Zuster furniture brand put a creative spin on their own industrial zone.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2023/January 2024
OPEN INVITE
Belle Magazine Australia

OPEN INVITE

This handsome home in the NSW Southern Highlands welcomes within its walls both generous rural views and a steady flow of guests.

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2023/January 2024
DUAL ACCENTS
Belle Magazine Australia

DUAL ACCENTS

American heritage style meets Spanish mission design in this harbourside Sydney home.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2023/January 2024
Grand vision
Belle Magazine Australia

Grand vision

It can be easy being green or it is for this house -that cleverly combines lavish spaces and timeless style, while also being kind to the planet.

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2023/January 2024
POWER AND GLORY
Belle Magazine Australia

POWER AND GLORY

An angular concrete structure packs a punch in a new build on an elevated site in Sydney while its interior design offers a softly layered and textured counterpoint.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2023/January 2024
COLOUR BURST
Belle Magazine Australia

COLOUR BURST

A joyful exuberance permeates this heritage home reinvented by interior designer Andrew Parr with zesty hues, lively contemporary art and iconic furniture.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2023/January 2024
LA VIE EN ROSE
Belle Magazine Australia

LA VIE EN ROSE

Poised above Pittwater in Sydney's north, this weekender is alluringly relaxed - and offers holiday fun for family and friends.

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2023/January 2024
COOL, CALM COLLECTIVE
Belle Magazine Australia

COOL, CALM COLLECTIVE

An ever-changing array of covetable antiques, objets d'art and unique pieces ensure the interiors of this beautiful store has a collected feel and sense of permanence.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2023/January 2024
BOLD CHOICE
Belle Magazine Australia

BOLD CHOICE

Architect and trailblazer Piero Gesualdi's Melbourne emporium, Mondopiero, is a celebration of timeless design and craftmanship, with a sprinkling of decorative flair.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2023/January 2024
HIGHER CALLING
Belle Magazine Australia

HIGHER CALLING

In a world that is typically more about me, me, me, quietly luxurious day spa Venustus keeps thriving three decades on with a true commitment to inspired client service.

time-read
1 min  |
December 2023/January 2024