The Design Files: The beach house built inside an old pig feeding shed

Who: Kimberly and Stephen Eakin, owners of the Atlantic Byron Bay, and their sons Noa, Hunter and Arlo

What: A relaxed beach house

Where: Brunswick Heads, NSW

Located on the river leading to the coastal town of Brunswick Heads, this expansive property is home to Kimberly and Stephen Eakin, the owners of boutique hotel the Atlantic Byron Bay.

The couple, along with their children Noa, Hunter and Arlo moved into the home in 2015 after discovering the site while bushwalking.

The property previously belonged to family friends who used it for camping, and the Eakins say they “immediately felt the calm and isolation, while still being only 15 minutes from Byron Bay”.

Incredibly, they built their home inside an old pig feeding shed that had existed on the property for over 20 years.

“As we discovered views of the bay and the lighthouse, we created loft rooms for the boys to overlook the ocean,” Kimberly says.

The home is designed with a big rustic kitchen at its heart, and the exterior is painted a deep charcoal to cover the patchwork of corrugated iron and give a unified aesthetic.

The interiors are influenced by the many winters the family has spent in mountains towns throughout the US. Eakin says the family’s love of barns and cabins has helped inform the design, describing the aesthetic as “rustic Colorado ranch house”.

The cosy quality is enhanced by the introduction of a huge industrial Canadian fireplace that channels warmth up to the loft areas. Meanwhile, black internal walls provide the perfect backdrop for bold geometric artwork by talented HSC student Hunter.

Reclaimed timber and vintage finds also feature prominently and old bridge timbers from nearby Bangalow were introduced to support the mezzanine.

While beachside living doesn’t often conjure up an idea of a mountain cabin, this home shows that Brunswick Heads can be both cosy and beachy.

How to use dark colours

Consider the existing light conditions when choosing your palette – a room that takes in the warm afternoon sun will benefit from a blue-based grey, while rooms with cooler ambient light suit a brown or grey with warmer undertones.

• Deep colours are particularly useful in bedrooms, bathrooms, the rooms you start and end you day in. A dark colour in these rooms can actually act as a cue to change our mood, and help us feel more relaxed before we sleep.
• The TV room is another great space to consider a darker palette, and can even make a large TV appear to disappear.
• A charcoal grey, deep blue or black wall treatment is a brilliantly effective backdrop for framed artwork and other decorative wall-mounted elements, ensuring accent colours really pop.