Sun-drenched DREAM

LAYERED WITH GENTLE CURVES AND AN EARTHY, TEXTURAL PALETTE, THIS BEAUTIFUL NEW BUILD SHOWCASES ITS OWNERS’ FLAIR FOR DESIGN

- KYLIE JACKES

Asking Kellie to choose the spot she most loves in her home is like asking which of her five children is ‘the favourite’, she says with a laugh. “They’re all pretty great, it’s impossible to pick,” she reflects, surveying the sun-drenched spaces of her home on Queensland’s Gold Coast, which she shares with partner Scott and her two youngest children Bella and Noah. “It’s our morning ritual to have coffee on the front verandah, afternoons are often spent in the alfresco area out the back and in summer it feels very special to have a swim at night as music plays through the outdoor speakers. We love it all.”

For Kellie, an interior-design student, and Scott, who’s completing a building-design diploma, creating their home was the perfect proving ground to hone their new skills after both changed career direction. “When we started house hunting, it was all about the site as our intention was always to knock down and build a home where we could personalise every element,” explains Kellie. Towards the end of 2019 they found a great location near the beach, with views to the local national park, which they could capitalise on with a two-storey build. Spending three months in the original 1970s home gave them a chance to get a feel for the block, while they mulled over concepts for the new house, which was drafted by a local building designer.