How to create a dream holiday home

Situated close to the pristine Byron Bay coastline in northern New South Wales, Samudra House is one of three stunning homes, collectively known as ‘The Vela Properties’, which is the latest project in the portfolio of multi-disciplinary design studio, The Designory.

Sitting proudly on a quarter-acre corner block of the Vela allotment, in the coveted ‘Golden Grid’ of Byron Bay’s CBD, Samudra House was created to be the ideal holiday home. Drawing inspiration from its natural surroundings and the laid-back culture of the area, the house has a strong focus on light and flow throughout each of its sizeable rooms, accented via its neutral earthy colour schemes.

“Samudra is a holiday house and is inspired by the pristine oceans of Byron’s coastline. With hints of the Mediterranean, the home welcomes visitors with its layers of white textured, rendered surfaces and the warmth of timber,” says Melissa Bonney, Director of The Designory. “This property sits on the corner of the allotment under a majestic gum tree – it’s absolute heaven. The oversized bespoke timber windows capture its beauty and draw in the northern sun and spectacular amber sunsets.”

With a focus on natural materials, the exterior of Samudra is wrapped in natural timber panelling and a brushwood fence blends well with the environment. Impressive gable glass windows create a contemporary coastal look, whilst the big Australian gum tree creates a focal point for the home.

A key feature of Samudra House is the beautiful curves throughout. Curves play a vital role in the biophilic design trend, which aims to integrate nature into our built environment, and as a design element provides a sense of drama by adding the illusion of depth and softness to a space. “CSR Gyprock Flexible helped us create some incredible key features throughout the home,” says Melissa. Versatile and easy to install, Gyprock Flexible boards are designed to bend for small radius curves enabling unique shapes for feature walls and ceilings.

A testament to the power of curves in design is the lower level of the home. Designed with the soft curl of the ocean waves in mind, the kitchen of Samudra house flows seamlessly from the open plan entrance, living and dining room.

Bathed in natural light and warm tones, the space is surrounded by the garden and entertaining deck. Above the dining room sits an incredible curved feature void that frames the space. Made with Gyprock Flexible, the gentle sweeping statement draws the eye to the natural light streaming in and view above. “This formed flow between spaces and allowed the formation of a gallery area which overlooks the breathtaking gum tree,” says Melissa.

At the entry of the home, a textured timber staircase leads upstairs, where visitors’ gazes are drawn to the custom round skylight above, one of Melissa’s favourite details, where the great gum tree leaves hanging overhead are visible. In the upper level of Samudra, Gyprock Flexible plasterboard was also used to create the curved walls and handrails. The curved walls work to guide you around the space whilst the soft curves of the void handrails create a small study area. “The best thing about CSR Gyprock, is the opportunity it offers us to further our creative output. It helps us create beautiful spaces that people muse over and enjoy,” adds Melissa.

Melissa's insights into how to create a dream holiday home

According to Melissa, the key to creating a getaway sanctuary is all in the styling and choice of materials required to get the look, while ensuring a harmonious flow. “As a designer, creating a feeling when you walk into a home is the epitome of success,” says Melissa. “Designing with every amenity and detail in mind is the key to success in creating the ultimate getaway.”

Blending with Nature

Taking cues from your surroundings and focusing on natural materials that work within the landscape, helps to create a harmonious vibe from the outset. Materials such as natural timber panelling and brushwood fencing can blend well in any environment.

“Samudra House, situated in Byron Bay, is inspired by the pristine oceans of the surrounding coastline, the perfect background for crafting a dream holiday home,” says Melissa. The home is instantly welcoming with layers of white, textured and rendered surfaces and the warmth of timber, captured beautifully through its oversized windows. “Large, well-designed windows can not only fill your spaces with natural light but can also enhance the overall experience of your holiday home,” Melissa says. “To gently diffuse the light when needed and to bring a relaxed mood to the room, dress with a sheer Luxaflex® S-Wave Curtain a practical and elegant finish that adds softness, movement and texture.”

Creating flow

When it comes to designing a holiday home, an important aspect to consider is flow. Samudra House features four bedrooms, four bathrooms, two living areas and a lushly landscaped outdoor entertaining area, it is the perfect space for larger groups to reconnect and unwind,” says Melissa. “In order to be successful however, considering how guests move around and interact with each other was a critical part of the design.”
The house has a strong focus on light and flow throughout each of its sizeable rooms, which are connected via neutral, earthy colour schemes and soft sheer Luxaflex® window treatments in the communal areas.

Curves have been used as a stunning design element and to assist in uniting the interiors further, elevating the holiday home's aesthetic with drama and softness. “Curves add depth and contrast to a home,” explains Melissa. “In designing the organic shaped ceiling in the main living rooms, we’ve created a very modern feeling, but at the same time its warm, welcoming and visually appealing. To create flow through the home, we’ve continued with curves in the kitchen, with furnishings and light fittings.

A peaceful getaway

Privacy and a good night's sleep are paramount in a holiday home, and a key contributor towards achieving this is by selecting the right window treatment. Blockout blinds and curtains are often a perfect solution and can transcend a design, framing a window while adding warmth and softness, depending on the desired aesthetic. If curtains are the better option aesthetically, look for one that delivers both style and substance, such as a Luxaflex® Blockout Curtain which adds a visual element of textural depth and dimension as well as all important light control.

Room temperature is also an important consideration for a blissful night’s sleep, and Luxaflex® Duette® Shades can not only block out the light but, due to the unique honeycomb design features, help to regulate a room’s temperature. “In each of the guest bedrooms, Duette® Shades e from the Bamboo range in blockout were incorporated. The Bamboo range is all about finding perfection in the imperfections of this bold, raw texture, which we love and the block out fabric lends itself to the most epic of sleep ins,” says Melissa. “The additional functionality of light and noise control, insulation and privacy needs has helped to create a more peaceful and comfortable atmosphere.”

Invest with Motorisation for effortless living

Luxury and convenience are another critical touch towards creating an ideal holiday home vibe. The convenience and sophistication of motorised window treatments elevate the luxury of your holiday home, providing effortless control over light and privacy with style. “The largest advantage of smart window coverings is how much easier they make your day-to-day life,” says Melissa. “We were beyond impressed with the smooth install and features of the motorised curtains in the living area. Streamlined and high performance, the motorised curtains help to retain easy visual access to the exteriors timber accents while adding a certain je ne sais quoi of their own, I adore them!”

Colourful Ambience and Material Harmony

Throughout the home, soft terracotta hues and walnut details create a layer of warmth to the otherwise harsh white interior. This is notably visible in the living room where a mix of materials such as rattan, timber, leather couch and a textured rug form an inviting and comfortable area for family and friends to gather.

Paying attention to colour schemes and materials is key to making your holiday home a welcoming haven for family and friends. With this in mind, I chose materials that had a natural and understated finish, you’ll notice there is a mix of timbers, and concrete with a neutral palette. I wanted the home to have a feeling of space and a sense of calm. My styling is a fusion of organic, minimalist, classical style.”

What I love about this dream holiday home

I have been writing a lot in the past few years about using a natural palette for a coastal style. I love fresh whites and blues, but sometimes when you want to relax, particularly in cooler months, it is great to have a warmer neutral colour palette. This is what I love about this dream holiday home. You can read my post about a Natural Coastal Style here.

Don't think of beige as boring. In fact it is a staple neutral tone that can be contrasted with fresh white, natural timber, tan leather and soft linens. Samudra demonstrates this perfectly.

The curves in the design are gorgeous. Rather than traditional squared edges, curves create a beautiful flow throughout the house. The thing about stairwells is that they are often very boring. You may have a window or skylight and you can add some artwork or a pendant, but often they can be dark and closed in spaces. By adding the curves here, the look is transformed to another level making the stairwell and landing a feature of the home.

I love the natural timber windows. How good do they look with the off white curtains and blinds?

Did you notice that the curved range hood extended to the edge of the wall? I like this asymmetry as it keeps the look simple rather than having shelving either side.

The feature wallpaper is perfect in the master bedroom. It adds colour, interest and works really well with the natural timber.

I love the red Persian rug in the rumpus room. It makes it such a comfortable and welcoming space. It really pulls the rumpus room together well. In fact, I don't think there is anything that I don't like about this dream holiday home.

More information can be found at gyprock.com.au and luxaflex.com.au

I hope you enjoyed the tour of Samudra in Byron Bay and the tips on how to create a dream holiday home. I would love to hear your comments in the section below.

Did you know that I have a Free Resource Library? Whether you are building a new dream home or just undertaking a weekend redecorating project, there will be something there to help and inspire you. Included in my library is a guide on how to put together a mood board. You can download the free checklists and e-books here.

House Tours, Interiors, Window Dressings