The Beach Lounge | Brand
The Beach Lounge
Reviews
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25.01.2022 When deciding on furniture for my main living area I wanted to use different pieces of furniture so it didn’t look to matchy matchy. I placed two armchairs from IKEA facing another two armchairs from James Lane Design. I then bought a three seater lounge to place at the back. Anchoring the whole space was an oversized rug and two coffee tables placed hard up against each other to create a large area for books and drinks etc. of course all of the lounges are slip covered (this is how we roll around here)! I find this works for me better than a complete matching lounge setting. It creates a little bit of interesting casualness to the space.
25.01.2022 Outdoor Blinds. I have them around the place here and there. They are great to protect from the sun, rain and wind. Where to place them??? I always keep in mind a few things. Wind - its almost always from the South / South East and then secondly - usually the North. Sun - its always hottest from the West and most lovely in the morning from the East. Plan around this. Make sure you can choose where you want to sit - depending on the weather. And protect yourself from all the elements (although its an endless battle ).
23.01.2022 Creating that new/old beach house look is quite simple and cost effective with Linea Boards from Scyon Walls . The instant coastal vibe is unmistakeable. I used these boards around the whole exterior of the house. Painted them in Delta Grey by Resene Paints (Australia) Limited . But for me, to finish it off, I had to HAD TO have a custom made wooden door painted in aqua paint (and some black exterior lights). Oh, and I bought the bike on a side of the road stall as it just happened to match perfectly ! Of course!
23.01.2022 Do you have somewhere in your backyard thats like a little oasis? I didnt have much space to work with on our block as we have only just over 600m2. But I knew a wanted a small patch of grass, a wooden deck and a big pandanus tree. I just love sitting out here when I need some fresh air. You dont need a lot of space to create some peace and quiet
22.01.2022 Having your front door custom made is well worth the extra cost. I have quite a wide entry so I needed a beautiful custom door to match. These kind of doors add so much street appeal to your home. I have had many people stop out front and ask me where I got my door made. Also painting your door a totally random colour can also add fabulous curb appeal. There are no rules with this colour ! I chose an aqua colour but you can select any colour you fancy! Be brave with it! Door from #timberwarebrisbane Paint colour Fantasy Flight by #wattylpaint
21.01.2022 Bronzed dark tapware was my choice throughout the beach house. It just makes such a statement, especially against the white penny tiles. I was careful to add lots of warmth too using wood and wood like finishes. And it never surprises me what a difference a few fake plants make about the place!
19.01.2022 I get so many questions from my followers about what materials I used for our back deck. If I had a dollar for every time someone asked I could seriously buy alot of French champagne for myself!! Anyway. The timber I used is the same hardwood timber that commercial properties use for boardwalks or decks near the water. It is laid as is and ages in the weather. The sun bleaches it into a silvery grey. It doesnt take long for this to happen. Maybe 6-12 months (depending on how your deck sits in relation to the sun). We laid this deck over 18months ago and havent done anything to it since.
19.01.2022 Happy Easter everyone. May your door always be open for the Easter Bunny!
19.01.2022 Have you ever heard people talk about their dead side of the house. What?!? This is no cemetery right? Personally I dont like this term. Like it doesnt matter because its the dead side. For me every side of your house is important. Every angle. Every detail. So make it all count.
19.01.2022 Its no secret I love the traditional exterior look that only a beach house can give!! Linea boards, wooden fretwork and hard wood decking left to bleach in the sun. Add some contrasting outdoor lighting and some comfy chairs and your done!
18.01.2022 When I created my mood board for this house a few elements kept repeating themselves at the end. Wood, stone and cane. I had ripped pictures from magazines and those three things kept popping up (that’s why mood boards or scrapbooks are so important as a base to start). So of course I incorporated these elements throughout the house, but more so, in the kitchen. Oversized pendant lights, stone benchtops and wooden floorboards. The stone is quite structural and strong, the floorboards warm the room and the cane pendants soften it all. Just the right mix! I am so happy with the way it turned out.
18.01.2022 Its getting a bit chilly lately especially in the mid afternoons about 3:30pm onwards. Do you still love letting the outdoors in when its cold?? I am a shocker for putting up with a cold so I can still have everything open. I love my back deck and the outdoors. I spend alot of time out there. Thats why I designed this area with a long bench seat and loads of room for an outdoor lounge. I also returned one of the walls inwards to protect from the Southerly winds, and opened up the most to the Noth East. It is important to think about the elements when designing your outdoor area
18.01.2022 Ok I know its not officially Winter yet but I’m starting to feel the vibe again. This means grabbing a good throw or two and having a snuggle on the sofa. I am a sucker for pin stripes, soft furnishings and table lamps. They always create the most amazing mood. Nothing to bright or bold. Just soft colours that work together nicely
17.01.2022 My garden is starting to take shape and I couldnt be happier. I always wanted lots of greenery in the back yard. Even though its a small area, its doesnt mean I had to compromise on the plants I wanted. The pandanus tree was always going to be the focal point of the space. I got this plants from a local pandanus nursery. I surrounded it with a small patch of grass and some Nicolai Palms against the fence. Then all I added was some potted greenery around the place. Bamboo palms are my favourite for this. So go green and plant up!!
17.01.2022 Relaxed coastal living. It’s what I’m all about! Every sofa in my home is slip covered for easy removal and washing if need be. I have never understood why you wouldn’t want it any other way! White walls and wooden floorboards. Add a guitar and a few throws and your almost there (with some cool artwork and a walk up bar)
16.01.2022 I took open plan to the extreme when I designed this house. We have the kitchen, living, dining, bar, study and breakfast nook all in the one room. This also opens out completely to the outdoors. So when it’s all opened up it really feels like all one space. I think that if your going to do something, don’t do it halfway. And don’t be scared to make it BIG (perhaps even over the top).
15.01.2022 The Kitchen. They say the heart of any home. I designed mine to work best around my family and how we like to live. Most importantly was a long island bench as most times this is where we all eat (we don’t really use the dining room table). Now don’t get mad at me, but I don’t really like walk in pantries or butlers kitchens. I like it plain and simple - just like it was when I was growing up in the 70’s and 80’s when that sort of thing just didn’t exist. For me it’s about simplicity, open plan living and indoor outdoor living.
14.01.2022 It’s all about the indoors blending with the outdoors. No fly screens. No nothing! I have had so many people ask me about bugs coming into the house (because we have lots of open glass doors with no screens). To be honest we don’t have a problem and hardly get any nasty bugs inside. I love embracing the outdoors and don’t shut my big glass doors until I go to bed. There maybe a few harmless buzzers left inside but I don’t mind. They are usually still alive by morning and they fly back out when I reopen everything up.
14.01.2022 Mix it up! I love a space that uses different lounges and sofas but still flows well. I have never been a matchy matchy type person. So when choosing furniture for my main living space I made sure I kept within the same coastal colour hues but purchased 3 different types of lounges. Also I found it near impossible to find a big coffee table to suit so I purchased two the same from #freedomau and just pushed them together to make one large one. Outdoor rugs are great for indoors as they are so hardy! This one from #templeandwebster works perfectly for us.
14.01.2022 When I was designing my home I wanted a massive slider door that wrapped around the living room (with no supporting post) that would let the outdoors in. So many people ask me how I go with no fly screens and the answer is fine! Of course I get the occasional fly if I am cooking in the kitchen. Maybe a mozzie or two in summer. But honestly it doesnt bother me at all. I have a wonderful open space ! I am so happy I decided to include this in the design.
13.01.2022 Open plan, lots of natural light ! That was a big YES and a must have for me when I designed this house along with my builders #evermoredesignedhomes And details!!! It’s the little details that make a big statement - like fretwork, cathedral ceilings and traditional fencing. All these things are so important if you want to build a home that will stand out from the rest and stop people as they walk by. Details details details!!
13.01.2022 When I designed this guest bathroom I wanted to create a relaxed industrial vibe. I used a lot of subway tiles, all the way to the ceiling (to my tilers discontent), along with bronzed tapware and fob mirrors. To keep it warm I used wooden floorboards and wooden panels under the vanity. It was important for me to create a balance of textures, otherwise the room would have been to white & bright.
12.01.2022 I think I maybe addicted to greenery and plants! Why? Well I’ve been doing a lot of gardening and landscaping lately. I love how plants can change the whole look and feel of a space. Even a few potted plants around the place can make a positive difference. This bamboo palm goes well in the concrete pot and keeps with my outdoor vibe flowing along. It’s all about relaxed spaces where you can grab a book or a drink and relax a bit. Plants help with this. Enjoy your surrounds!
09.01.2022 Did you know Linea Boards can be painted any colour you like? I often get asked what colour boards I used. The answer is, all the boards were installed the standard white composite colour and then they were painted in Delta Grey by Resene Colour Australia. In contrast, I painted all the ceilings and trims in Lexicon Quarter by Dulux Australia. Even though the louvers are aluminium, I added wooden frame surrounds to make it seem like the whole lot is wooden and therefore more traditional looking.
09.01.2022 Our little arbour over the garage was a last minute addition to our home. I felt we needed some extra street appeal PUNCH out there to finish it all off. Its such an inexpensive addition that really adds so much more to your curb appeal. I want to eventually plant a climber of some sorts but my husband is worried about moisture and wood rot we will see what eventuates
09.01.2022 When I built my fireplace I wanted to use vintage reclaimed bricks from an old building. I could have used normal bricks and coated them in a white wash. I could have even used brick look cladding. But I wanted the real thing. So I found some old bricks online from a demolition of an old house from 1960. I purchased per brick for $3 (from memory). I had to pick them up myself. I remember my car was on an angle when I left with them in the boot!! Anyway. My bricklayer did an amazing job of creating the layout of the fireplace with these bricks, following a traditional pattern. Very happy and a good story to tell (which is very important around a fire)!!
08.01.2022 Coastal plants. I truly believe if you live in a coastal area, the best way to add authentic personality to your home is with plants that are native and natural to your environment. Pandanus trees are one of the most wonderful coastal plants I can think of ! That’s why I planted two of them in my yard!
06.01.2022 Its so nice to be able to walk from your bedroom straight outside. I love our glass door in the master. I almost didnt include it in the plans. It was a last minute decision. So glad I did. I often use this door early in the morning to let the dogs out or to just watch the sunrise from bed.
06.01.2022 The front door. One of the most important things! First impressions count. Your front door is the first thing most people see when driving past or entering your home. So make it worth the while and spend a bit more money here. My door was custom made and cost about $2000. Considering you can buy a standard door for a few hundred dollars this was a bit of a splurge. But totally worth it and I get so many comments about it. Also I’m a fan of painting your front door a different colour than the rest of the house to make it pop. In this case I used a beautiful light aqua blue.
05.01.2022 Yes it’s that time of year again and YES I love a good Christmas wreath! I think it’s really important before you go out and buy ANY decorations you stop and think about a theme (or look) you want to achieve. A lot of people just head to the store and start throwing all sorts of decorations into their trolley with no real thought. This is where you can get confused before you start! I wanted a Beach Christmas theme this year (our first Christmas in the house). I found this... wreath at #tkmaxx and the reason I bought it was because of the colour tones. I find tones of green mixed with gold really give that relaxed understated look I was after. The gold works well with the bronzed door handle and my aqua door works with the green tones in the wreath. I am also continuing this same colour/theme inside and on the Christmas tree. It just helps bring it all together if you keep it going guys! Stick to a colour or theme and go for it! See more
04.01.2022 Good pool design? For me it’s being able to see the pool from all the living areas inside your home. As my daughter spends a lot of time in the pool, it’s great to be able to watch her whilst preparing food, entertaining outdoors or reading / watching TV. Also I love a huge wide step! Great for little kids or adults wishing to just sit in the shallows. So I incorporated all of these aspects into my pool placement and design. Now, let’s dive in and enjoy !
04.01.2022 Can you tell I’m a fan of blue? My twin guest room was completed with custom made round bedheads in fabric from #spotlightstores . Even though the fabrics are different, I kept everything in the same hue so that it would all work together. Don’t be afraid to try mixing patterns in this way. This is actually my favourite bedroom in the whole house (and I don’t sleep here)!! Putting VJ panelling on the wall really suits the coastal vibe I was trying to create. I was unsure whether to leave it white, but I’m glad I ended up painting it #blueoar by #duluxau . It’s really finished off the whole room nicely !
04.01.2022 Every house needs a name right? Recently I got this house plaque created by a wonderful local lady who makes mosaic art. Along with the white picket fence and the green grass I really do feel like this is home.! And now the holidays have begun it’s time to switch to FULL beach mode! Yahoo!
03.01.2022 I think my tiler thought I was bonkers when I told him that I wanted tiles all the way to the ceiling in all our bathrooms. Especially this one, as the tiles are patterned, and I was told it may look too much. But I stuck with my decision to do it and I am so glad I did. Everyone that walks in is amazed by the impact the tiles make. It’s so grand! So don’t let tradesmen change your mind on the little things. If you have a clear picture of what you want then stick to it.
03.01.2022 When I designed my living room I wanted built in cabinets around the fireplace. When we moved in I was so excited and filled them FULL with books and trinkets. But then I realised it was much too busy. So I took a tip from an interior designer friend of mine. She told me less is more. So I took everything away and just put a quarter of it back. At first I thought it looked bare. After a few days I realised it actually looked much better than before. And so now......it stays!!! Leas is more. Don’t overcomplicate.
02.01.2022 I get asked from so many people on Instagram what interior whites I used for the house. What colour are your walls What colour did you choose for trims, ceilings etc . I actually used one colour for the whole entire interior. Walls, trims, ceilings the lot. I learnt this from a friend of mine who is an interior designer (famous too)! She always told me to paint everything in the same white inside. She said the painters would try and tell me different (they did). But I stuck to my game and what it creates is a wonderful all over tone that reflects light amazingly ! And also creates a blank canvas to inject colour and furnishings of your liking. By the way, the colour I went with was Lexicon Quarter from Dulux Australia.
02.01.2022 When decorating a house I find sticking to a colour palette creates an overall seamless look and mood. I generally choose 2-3 colours maximum within the same hue. Here I have used grey tones along with black and white. Personally I don’t care what patterns are used in cushions etc, as long as you stick within your colours. As you can see from this photo, I have mixed stripes with palm print and herringbone (in the throw) but they all work together because they are all in the same hues.
