beach

My Design File > All Articles > beach
Photos
My Weekends

Beach House Inspiration … with a touch of black and white 4606

Http://www.mydesignfile.com.au/images/beach%2015.jpg
With a view like this who needs colour … white highlights the natural tones and nature itself.
http://www.mydesignfile.com.au/images/beches 40.jpg
I love black walls with vivid white trim anywhere but particularly in a beach house.  It works brilliantly with earthy timber tones.
http://www.mydesignfile.com.au/images/beaches 24.jpg
You can so easily bring in a smart pattern when you have a colour palette of predominantly white.
http://www.mydesignfile.com.au/images/beach 6.jpg
It is all in the detail … black of course !!
http://www.mydesignfile.com.au/images/beach 5.jpg
Or the floor … where rugs will become your focal point.
http://www.mydesignfile.com.au/images/beaches 29.jpg
And just to set the scene ….
images:pinterest
MORE POSTS IN 2016 THAN 2015 I PROMISE !!! BUT IN THE MEANTIME
FOLLOW DEIRDRE_BRENNAN ON INSTAGRAM
My Design Travels

Beach houses .. currumbin .. my edit 2014/15 2982

/images/currumbin_beach_house_4.jpg
I love the simplicity of this architectural style .. timeless. Pandanus perfect !!
/images/currumbin_beach_house_1.jpg
Always love a skillion roof .. not to mention the frangipani.
/images/currumbin_beach_house_3.jpg
Set high on the hill .. the ocean view from this original cottage is breathtaking. The perfect location if you don’t have beach frontage.
/images/currumbin_beach_house_6.jpg
This had always been my all time favourite beach house, however sadly the original windows with lattice shutters have been replaced with french doors .. for obvious reasons.  Still fabulous however not quite as charming. It does have an exotic coastal garden and beach frontage !!
My Design World

Hotel guest rooms … the latest in layout 5032

/images/9_Mykonos_Luxury_Accommodation.jpg
Many hours have been spent by designers thinking about how to improve .. or even just vary, the layout of a hotel guest room.  Let’s face it .. they are all pretty much the same in layout, everywhere.  There is definitely rationale for the way they are .. and it works.  The only problem is that it is rather boring to walk into a hotel guest room, no matter where in the world and find the same layout .. entry hall, bathroom to the left or right, bed, desk etc
/images/bill_coo_3.jpg
The only variation on the theme appears to be where the constraints of existing architecture (in a building not purpose built for a hotel) dictate a change !!! And how refreshing it is to find a bathroom built where a dressing room may have been.  
/images/12_Luxury_Accommodation.jpg
In defence of the tried and true layout, there has been considerable success with the opening up of the fully enclosed bathroom to capture natural light and possible views. The introduction of a glass panel/sliding glass panels or even shutters to the guest room and view beyond has been fought for by designers, however not always embraced by hotel operators.  
/images/20_Luxury_Hotel_in_Mykonos.jpg
The layout above makes a lot of sense in this environment. It reflects the casual beach holiday lifestyle. The shower cubicle with frosted glass panelling, separate to a freestanding bath and basin .. what better way to capture the amazing light and beautiful view.
Lets hope designers keep thinking of ways to reinvent hotel guest rooms or at least try for a little creativity .. particularly where the geography is conducive.
images: bill & coo hotel, mykonos
FOLLOW MYDESIGNFILE ON INSTAGRAM
 
My Week in Sydney

Balmoral boatshed … casual sydney cafe style at its best 2550

/images/balmoral_boatshed_2.jpg

As they suggest, pop in with sand between your toes or slip into your Gucci loafers, it doesn’t get much more chilled than this.  The setting … divine, and the venue … oh so stylish.  This is Sydney living at its best.

/images/balmoral_boatshed_3.jpg

Not sure how one would describe the design concept … nautical … beach club with a touch of the luscious tropics … it just works !!

For a similar treat a little further afield visit The Boathouse Palm Beach … same cute concept, same clever operators.
My Design Travels

The holiday in queensland … my secret 1709

/images/Currumbin_1.jpg

I must say I am having trouble clicking back to reality and the madness that is December, after my recent escape to the beach.  For those of you who have followed my blog … you will know exactly where my beach escape is … and those that know the queensland beach scene will pick it, however I would prefer not to divulge the location … too good to share. My mind keeps drifting back to the simplicity of the beach holiday … so thought I would share my idea of ‘essential beach holiday living’.

/images/currumbin_1a.jpg

It is worth getting up early before the heat takes hold, for a stroll along the beach. So many shells, jelly fish and even coconuts believe it or not, that have washed in over night with the high tide.

 Having worked up an apetite it is back for breakfast … a bowl filled with all the tropical fruit you can get your hands on … so ripe and full of flavour … probably grown not far away.  Even the local yoghurt tastes better than the one at home.

/images/inspiration/currumbin

Must get to the beach early to beat the sun.  I am always shocked at the heat in the queensland sun and wonder how I survived growing up in it.

Very few people on the beach mid week but bracing ourselves for the weekend crowd … actually I think we will be ready for a bit more action by then.

/images/currumbin_3.jpg

One last dip in the 24 degree water before heading for the best coffee you can find … and we had that sorted very early in the week. Preferably somewhere with a cooling breeze !!!

/images/currumbin_4.jpg

Home for a bite of lunch … size depending on what was consumed with coffee. By now I am ready for a browse through the copious numbers of magazines I brought with me … not to mention the book I can’t put down (My Week With Marilyn by Colin Clark).  Have to say the sea air is soporific !!! Not much reading gets done at all.

By late afternoon I am ready for another dip if the weather hasn’t changed … otherwise a browse at the shops is fun.  I do always manage to find the perfect sundress or the like.  These purchases never seem to look quite as good when I get home.  Particularly as the holiday ‘glow’ fades.

/images/Currumbin_5.jpg

Nothing left to do now … apart from an aperitif on the balcony watching the twinkling lights and listening to the rolling surf.  It doesn’t get much better than this.

 
My Weekends

Dreaming of warmer weather and summer holidays …. corsica would be nice 1918

/images/garance_dore_aurelie.jpg

Nothing like reading Garance Dore’s latest blog about her holiday in Corsica to pick you up. Especially  when the wind is howling and temperatures freezing in the Southern Highlands. It is about now that I start to get itchy feet.  Longing for the warmth, the sun, the summer clothes …  for a start.

I just love this interview with Aurelie … hearing all about her summer essentials.  It does get you in the mood … her Liberty print shorts for summer on the Mediterranean (made for her in Paris of course), her Gap cargo pants and white T shirt but best of all, her divine vintage white peasant blouse above.  Have noted the white Acne skinny jeans and Ray-Ban Wayfarer sunnies as essentials and are on the list already.

Have also done my research on Corsica … only 1.5 hours by plane from Paris or by ferry from Tuscany 2.5 hours.  All very achievable once over there … there being Europe, the centre of the universe.  Well it is for me, sitting here at the extremity !!

/images/garance_dore_corsica.jpg

The photo above, is one of my favourites. It captures a moment !! I can feel the heat coming off the sand as I lie under the shade of the cabana. Oh yes and the water would be the perfect temperature as well.

Meanwhile back in the Highlands ……
My Design Travels

The simplicity of a beach holiday 1999

/images/currumbin_surfclub.JPG

We are just lapping up every minute of this !!!!  particularly knowing that it must be one of the few parts of either NSW or Qld with sunshine.

Lazy days starting and ending with a swim, breakfast or lunch out on the deck of this gorgeous Club…..or possibly a gin and tonic watching the sun go down.

One of the highlights has been the early evening storm….so Queensland.

We did notice that the outline of the highrise to the north at Surfers Paradise was no longer visible as we wandered up to the Surf Club one evening.  We had no sooner settled on the balcony….thankfully with cover, when the heavens opened.

Having been caught many an afternoon on my way home from school…. memories of my schooldays in Brisbane….. I was familiar with the occurrence of the tropical storm and downpour….. but this was spectacular.

Even more spectacular given the landing pattern of aircraft on their way to Coolangatta Airport.  Aircraft head up the coast to about Surfers before turning sharply south to start their descent heading for Coolangatta Airport….. at times, over Currumbin!!!

We were treated to the storm and the plane watching…..as the lights of the planes were the only thing visible a lot of the time…..seemingly headed strait for us.

/images/currumbin_surfclub_rocks.jpg
My Design Travels

More new queensland beachhouses and one old 2332

Apologies to those who didn’t receive the photo yesterday…..struggling with the technology at the beach…..partly rushing to get in the early morning swim…..making the most of it all here !!!  This is the gorgeous Happy Haus I talked about yesterday.

Love the juxtaposition of old and new here !!

Hibiscus bush just down from us with flowers the size of dinner plates.

Saving the best till last…..these gorgeous lattice screens push out to capture the breeze !!!
My Design Travels

The new queensland beachhouse by happy haus 2296

We watched this being put together……a prefabricated architect designed beach house by Happy Haus.  Fabulous to see it finished!!!!! The architecture is brilliant and so suited to the beach lifestyle.

The website does show rural locations looking equally as appealing but with a dark timber exterior.  The interior fitout is very smart !!! Love the windows.

The concept is modular so size starts with a studio and extends to whatever your requirements may be.

This gorgeous beachhouse has a number of pavilions all working beautifully on a very narrow block…..albeit overlooking the stunning Currumbin beach.

The best bit for me….they got the garden right……built around the Frangipani tree and hibiscus under the front window !!!
My Design Travels

The original queensland beachhouse 1979

/images/original_beachhouse_1.JPG

We have our beach holiday at Currumbin in southern Queensland……not far over the border from New South Wales.  It is at the southern most tip of the Gold Coast and could be a million miles away from it.

It is……exactly as I remember it as a child……with the exception of the one or two medium rise apartment blocks!!! more importantly there are still the original beachhouses that we all dream of renting for our holiday.

I fall in love with these same cute beachhouses every year……and take photos.  It is as much about the vegetation as anything….always the Frangipani tree….the hibiscus!!!

Their location on the beachfront with only the narrow esplanade between them and the ocean plays a big part in the dream.  In the case of Currumbin you have the lush tropical vegetation rising steeply behind.

What more could you want on a beach holiday……the general store…..the surf shop…..a couple of cute dress shops for the afternoon browse between swims and ……even better Elephant Rock Cafe and The Beach Shack …..yes a choice of two….. for really good coffee!!!!

The surf club (with bar/restaurant)…..is an icon…..perched out over the ocean on a rocky outcrop.  One of the very first surf clubs on the coast it’s location is unique….the perfect spot to chill out at the end of a hard day at the beach !!!!!

PS.  don’t tell anyone about our gorgeous holiday hideaway.

Most Popular Topics

Editor Picks