PLAYA House

Putting a warm and whimsical spin on a contemporary concrete and glass structure in Sydney’s Palm Beach fell squarely within our purview and we introduced a bespoke, layered and spirited aesthetic, lending personality and warmth.

This three-storey holiday home occupies an enviable block directly across from the beach so natural light and mesmerising views were a given. To counter the robust nature of the structure and the linearity of the open-plan living space, we opted for a soft focus with vintage pieces and organic shapes in natural materials such as rattan, limestone and wicker. Playful accessories, including a vintage rattan palm tree and a custom handwoven lightfitting by New York artisan Doug Johnston lend a curated feel to the expressive scenarios, while bold pieces such as Gaetano Pesce’s ‘Up’ chair in perky red and white stripes further enliven the scheme.

We opted for a colour palette that eschews the expected coastal bright whites and cool blues for a sophisticated pairing of sun-kissed terracotta ­­and earthy khaki with judicious accents of soft blues and greens. Natural tones and textures in stone flooring, vintage Moroccan rugs, lamps and accessories serve to highlight the occasional shots of high-octane brights, such as the neon blue artwork in a bedroom, a window seat in Pierre Frey ‘Ingo Modern’ geometric fabric, and the turquoise lacquered drawers on a Maison Sarah Lavoine timber and rattan cabinet.

Art is always an important element in a Hugh-Jones Mackintosh-designed home and here existing pieces were complemented by eye-catching punchy works by such artists as Nicola Moss and Jo Bertini.

Fun, youthful and relaxed, the home sparks joy for its inhabitants and visitors, but above all it is a practical family home where function is paramount.