Wooden trellis, chrome railings and a host of vintage pieces transform an Australian beach house.
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Project details:
Location: Byron Bay, Australia
Architect: YSG-Studio / @ysg.studio
Footprint: 3,700 square feet
Builder: Webber construction
Style: Felicity Ng
Photographer: Prue Ruscoe / @prueruscoe
From the architect: “Rescuing a brick house that was full of heavy timber in Byron Bay, inspiration from the 1970s blossomed to create a laid-back utopia for a family of four in a tropical setting that backs onto the surf. The house now represents a confident, new Byron, a home without generic white walls and lots of glass that emphasise the views from outside. The gaze is firmly turned inwards to create sensory journeys that are enhanced by the eccentric beats of nostalgia. Playing on our clients’ love of deep browns plus vintage pieces, we’ve jazzed up the furnishings with an assertive kind of whimsy, adding injections of retro chrome.
“Within the expansive living space, we drew the eye down from the sloping ceiling, concentrating the timber accents on the ground floor. Providing a private passageway to the newly extended children’s bedrooms, we enclosed the internal balcony of the upper floor and also removed the timber fanlights. A circular window now provides a glimpse of the semi-enclosed foliage balcony along the master suite, in sync with the new hopper-style window of the lower floor that replaces sliding doors. In response to requests for breakout spaces plus generous entertaining zones on the ground floor, we built a sloping wall next to the window (avoiding a ceiling mount) to cosy up a neglected rectangular space. It also hides the view of access points to a bedroom and bathroom from the dining and lounge areas.
“We gutted the kitchen and doubled its size by adding an L-shaped ‘front-of-house’ countertop configuration to our partially concealed galley. Striped veneer wood extends the layout, enclosing a circular island also clad in mother-of-pearl marble, while simultaneously extending the entryway. Chrome balustrades (inspired by ‘old school’ skate parks) tie the kitchen cabinets to a solid wood column, creating a casual leaning post for drinks around the island (which also frames the new 1970s-inspired sunken lounge). The metal detail extends to articulating, custom chrome cabinet pulls woven into soft brown leather with accents of pink stitching, while generic brass door pulls are wrapped in lighter leather options. Opposite, a galvanized steel post replaces a thick wooden support column, reflecting light.
“Innovative timber framing and louvred privacy features have become YSG signature elements. A fixed screen conceals the utility room and maintains connections to the sand island in the work area. Upstairs, we added alternating timber slats to an existing beam, lightening the heavy brown mass. Above, a timber lattice screen filters light into our enclosed hallway, adding visual interest from below. Replacing solid timber iterations, lighter white interior doors are aligned via vertical timber ‘seams’ for tonal contrast (inspired by the parallel stripes that appeared on streetwear in the 1970s). To create more hanging space, we added vertical timber slats to a louvred ceiling on the upper balcony, eliminating the exposure of curious neighbours by framing the room (and shielding the lounge area from intense sunlight). A touch of terracotta red enlivens our custom powder-coated balcony railing with ribbon balusters, which offset orthogonal geometries. Outdoor wall lights match the stone and connect both levels of the exterior home.
“Spaces swell and expand through pattern integration. Removing pale ceramic floor tiles, square grids of terracotta tiles are bounded by thick joints in the ground in the living areas. Connecting levels, their contours synchronize on a smaller scale via the checkered latte and wheat-colored porcelain tiles in the master bathroom, which flow out onto the balcony past the parents’ retreat. Transitioning to spongy cork underfoot in their bedroom (another nod to the Seventies), they encourage a sense of sanctuary. Miniature mosaics line the bath, while chunky checkered Kimberley sandstone adorns the downstairs guest bathroom. Replacing sliding doors, we added a high outdoor seating ledge with expressive checkered tiles beyond the study/bar for morning coffee and evening drinks with friends.”
Check out the full story on Dwell.com: Seventies nostalgia abounds in this lavish Byron Bay renovation
