Pops of colour punctuate this 'unbeachy' west coast beach house

In lush gardens of indigenous flora, with views spanning giant coastal pines and the Indian Ocean beyond, Coastal Home is a decidedly “unbeachy” family home that takes its cues from its native Western Australian surrounds.

“We were inspired by the landscape, as well as the family’s significant collection of Australian art,” says Alexandra Donohoe Church, managing director of Decus Interiors, who worked on the project with Tim Wright Architect. “Both helped form the backdrop for our overall design concept, from colour palette and materials, right through to our finishes”.

Tasked with retaining the heritage-listed home and infusing it with contemporary elements for a feeling of “barefoot luxury”, Church says it is an “atypical beachside home”. Designed for a growing family, everyday life and entertaining, it beautifully integrates the old and new, as well as the inside and out.

The original layout was remodelled and a three-storey extension was added.

The home is entered through a vast, intricately worked vintage bronze door. Inside, traditional cornices and mouldings have been carefully preserved in the original home, and installed throughout the new addition, subtly connecting the two.

The dining room is richly timber panelled, with floor-to-ceiling windows that allow the garden to become an integral part of the experience of being in the home. In the living room, large glass-paned doors provide access to an outdoor living space that encompasses a cabana, swimming pool, integrated barbecue and fireplace.

“The heritage section of the home required a traditional approach, while the new extension necessitated a more contemporary feel,” says Church, who consciously avoided using any colours or materials that might be interpreted as “coastal”.

“Selections were based on quality, longevity, comfort and luxury,” she says. Depth was built through layering, using darkened timber, ornate crisp white walls and ceilings, and different palettes to distinguish formal areas from family zones.

“The living spaces are dark, moody and dramatic, and the family areas are lighter and tonal with playful pops of colour,” Church says.

The children’s spaces feature optimistic pastel palettes with clean, unfussy, robust detailing, and the main suite is executed in a muted, sophisticated palette, with luxurious fabrics and finishes, including a stunning stone-clad fireplace and ornate vintage mirror.

Striking a balance between the dramatic and playful, both colour schemes are punctuated by flashes of gold and bronze, richly toned textiles, sumptuous furnishings, and impactful pieces of Australian art.

Above, contemporary chandeliers, glass pendants and statement lighting, and underfoot, dark floorboards scattered with rugs.

The home is a generous composition of colour, texture and rich materiality, which Church says embodies the idea of “expression through design”.

“There is a space here for everyone,” she adds. “It is a celebration of the individuality of our clients, a home for all ages and a truly original outcome.”

Style notes

Armchair

Defined by sculptural and ergonomic lines, the Diz armchair by Brazilian designer Sergio Rodrigues is crafted in walnut-like imbuia wood.

Throw

Woven in a chevron design in a kaleidoscope of jewel and muted hues, the Missoni throw is like jewellery for a room.

Floor lamp

Both industrial and organic, the Branching Bubble Floor Light by Lindsey Adelman has hand-blown glass globes.