As soon as I walked up the steps of our clients’ three-story oceanfront home in South Coogee, I knew it was going to be special. I wandered out to the balcony, where a cool breeze drifted by and — what an unexpected delight — Humpback whales surfaced just beyond the cliffs! Special, indeed.

While our clients, Louise and Stephen, greatly appreciated their home’s location and Art Deco influence, the interiors themselves were…less inspiring. In a moment of kismet, Louise just happened to be present during our design consultation with another client of ours (their previous home’s new owner, in fact!), and she couldn’t resist calling us to help them design and renovate their new South Coogee retreat.

Before we dive into the transformation, let’s look at how their spaces started…

Before: Uninspired, Dark & Dated Interiors

Their home’s original kitchen felt dark, was closed off from the nearby living and dining areas, and didn’t bring them joy. Instead, the couple dreamed of a spacious open kitchen filled with natural light, a place where they could savour cooking meals together and effortlessly entertain guests.

Airy, Open Kitchen with Natural Light & Storage

Ahhh, what a breath of fresh air! To meet the couple’s goals for their kitchen, we needed to remove walls and change the whole footprint of their space. The result? Natural light! It now floods this spacious kitchen, which opens up to their living and outdoor entertaining areas.

We also added plenty of clever custom joinery to give Stephen and Louise a place for everything they could need in their kitchen. Everything can be neatly tucked away, appliances included.

Step just outside the kitchen, and you’ll see how open it is! For ease of entertaining and everyday meals, we custom-designed this beautiful, sprawling benchtop. It cleverly hugs this L-shaped wall (that is holding up the house), creating plenty of prep and serving space.

Their attached dining area (right) is perfect for informal meals with an ocean view. Chatting with guests while preparing a meal is now easy and engaging.

Stylistically, the colour palette and materials we selected played a big role in bringing this space up to date and infusing it with a subtle sense of seaside delight. From the light wood tones, to the textured soft green Mallorca tile splashback and silvery blue chairs, to just the right amount of V-groove paneling — this kitchen now feels comforting, contemporary, and coastal. And let’s not overlook the geometric chandelier nodding to the home’s art deco architecture.

My personal favourite part of this kitchen, though?

Without a doubt, the custom breakfast bar! It has every early morning convenience in one place, all neatly concealed when not in use. Louise and Stephen love the ease that this ingeniously practical storage solution brings to their daily routines. We were sure to include electrical outlets for their microwave, toaster, and kettle, so that everything needed for a quick breakfast is right at their fingertips. (For more smart storage ideas, read here.)

Spacious, Well-Equipped Ensuite Bath

Alright, let’s leave the kitchen and head into their new ensuite bathroom…

Remember what it looked like before? Much better! In fact, this full space used to be a small ensuite and two walk-in wardrobes! It’s now a spacious and soothing space where Stephen and Louise can easily get ready for their day without bumping into each other. And with clean, modern lines and simple luxuries throughout, function now meets finesse in this calming escape.

Like the colour scheme in their kitchen, we selected materials in french blue, white, and cool wood tones to keep their space feeling clean, bright, and comfortable. The floating vanity and frameless shower door make their entire room feel larger and more open. And thanks to this bespoke storage cabinet, there is plenty of space for Louise and Stephen to keep towels, washcloths and toiletries to hand.

A Powder Room with Unexpected Personality

And now we reach the most spirited room of the home! We certainly had some fun with this powder room. The colourful, tropical print wallpaper stands up boldly to this stunning Art Deco mirror that was a favourite existing piece of Louise’s. Now, it gives this small space a big personality. With a few thoughtful decor touches and plenty of natural light from the window and the mirror’s reflection, stepping into this powder room feels like opening the door to an oasis…

…one full of creative functionality, of course! Take a look at their new and sensibly positioned cabinet, perfect for tucking necessities out of sight and for giving Stephen and Louise extra storage in this small space. Bonus — they love the reactions they get from guests who discover this delightful room!

A Functional & Innovative Laundry Room

You may recognize this laundry room…it was featured a couple months ago in my post about ingeniously practical spaces. And ingenious, it is!

Louise and Stephen said their original laundry room felt cramped, and let’s face it — laundry really isn’t a beloved task. Shouldn’t the space where we complete this chore work hard for us? We took that idea to heart when designing this room and solved the couple’s problem with a few nimble solutions:

Right by their shower, we installed pull-out sorting baskets under the bench. This layout is perfect for rinsing off après beach or pool, allowing them to tuck used garments out of sight. Odors are controlled behind the doors, and Louise and Stephen’s washer and dryer are just a few convenient steps away. Stacking these appliances also allowed for additional bench space for folding. Done and done.

A Beautifully Updated Exterior

I didn’t mention the exterior before, but Stephen and Louise did request that we freshen it up. We updated the front facade with new custom-designed window awnings and repainted the exterior a fresh, clean white. These simple changes brought this beautiful home back into alignment with its original Art Deco leanings. And it looks like new!

By the way, did you see their new porthole entry door? It’s not only better suited for the overall design, but it’s the perfect height for the couple’s beautiful Bullmastiff, Gidget, to peer out of and monitor comings and goings in their neighbourhood! After all, design should include the whole family.

Okay, I can’t resist sharing one last look at this home: the balcony. Although we didn’t design it, we styled it so that it fits beautifully with the interiors, creating a cohesive feel in every room. Can you imagine opening up the doors with a cup of tea from the breakfast bar and beginning your day right here with the sea breeze and the Humpbacks? I’m not sure it gets any better than that.

Intentionally Planned for Beautiful Living

Now that their renovation is complete, Stephen and Louise feel that their new home is finally the exceptional space they had always dreamed of. In addition to fitting their lifestyle, it has become a true reflection of their own personalities and spirits.

“The creativity, the vision & the discipline of Donna & all the tradespeople involved in our project was nothing short of exceptional. In fact, having watched many reality TV shows around Building & Renovating, the experience for us was nothing like what we see on these shows. No anguish, no agitation, commitments delivered on time & quality as well. In short, under-promised and OVER-delivered.”

— Stephen and Louise, South Coogee

Feeling inspired? If you’re considering a home renovation, I’d love to connect with you and help you discover the potential of your home together. Reach out to me here to book a discovery call.

If you’re not ready just yet, that’s okay! Renovating a big undertaking. To be prepared when the moment comes, sign up below to receive my Pre-Renovation Guidebook. Until next time…

Live, beyond ordinary.

Donna