Inside Courtney Adamo's 'natural and earthy' beachfront holiday house in Minnie Water

• Who: Courtney and Michael Adamo and their five children Easton, 19, Quin, 17, Ivy, 15, Marlow, 11, and Wilkie, 7.
• What: A modern mid-century-inspired beachfront holiday home
• Where: Minnie Water, NSW

Writer and creator Courtney Adamo loves her home in Bangalow, NSW, but her family dreamed of a true beachside house, where they could gather for precious weekends away.

Their holiday house in Minnie Water is, in many ways, the complete opposite of their late-1890s Northern Rivers home.

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It was built just last year, frames views of the surrounding pine trees, and features generous open-plan spaces within. It’s also right on the water – perfect for a family of surfers.

“We live in Bangalow, which is only 15 minutes from the ocean, but it still feels like more of a hinterland home than a coastal one,” Adamo says.

“Personally, I was also excited to have a home which would bring our family together in a special way that we don’t always have when we are home in Bangalow.

“We now have three teenagers and a tween, and they have social lives and jobs and they are often busy getting around town.

“I love when we are all down at our beach house because we spend more time as a family and slow things way down.”

Adamo and her husband Michael worked with an architect to create a house that felt “entirely different” to their home, both in style and feeling.

“It’s much more minimal, which always feels so nice when we walk in the door,” Adamo says.

Inspiration was drawn from the site’s original green fisherman’s shack (demolished due to termite damage), and Adamo’s childhood mid-century family beach house on the San Juan Islands in the US state of Washington.

“The flat roof, the long lines, the big windows, and even the green colour of the exterior is a nod to my family’s beach house,” she says.

“I think it’s a modern version of a mid-century home. We used a lot of natural materials throughout, to make it feel natural and earthy and – hopefully – quite calm and grounded.”

Being newly built, it’s also a highly functional house that stays warm in winter, and cool in summer – a design element that’s often overlooked in Australian homes.

“Of course I love the charm of an old house but, gosh, it’s so nice to be in a new home that gets the sunlight and is properly insulated,” Adamo says.

She likens a visit to Minnie as a return to her childhood, when there’s not much to do but swim, relax, and be entertained by one another.

“When you’re there, you’re always connected to nature,” she says. “We watch the sun come up. We are aware of the tides and the winds and the weather.

“We can see whales and dolphins playing in the ocean and watch sea birds overhead.

“When it’s windy, we fly kites. When it’s rainy we play card games. When the winds are right, we go surfing.”

When the Adamos aren’t visiting or hosting friends in this beautiful home, their property is available to rent via Airbnb.

How to build within your budget

Building or renovating a home is the most expensive thing you’re ever like to do, and budget blowouts are all too common. Consider these tips to avoid unexpected costs.

• Choose a registered architect to design your house or renovation. Check out findanarchitect.com.au – a comprehensive resource from the Australian Institute of Architects.
• Be clear and up front with your architect about your budget from the beginning.
• The easiest and simplest way to save costs is to design a home that is no bigger than you need. Size equals expense, so don’t get carried away.
• Once you’ve settled on your design, use a quantity surveyor to determine how much the build cost should be. This provides a really good guide to the quotes you can expect from builders.
• Seek a builder’s quote before submitting your plans for council approval. You don’t want to make cost-cutting changes to your design after it’s been approved.