Categories
Designers House Tours

Nineties holiday apartment gets a fresh makeover

A tired looking 90s holiday apartment with spectacular ocean views has been given a much-needed renovation. The entire Gold Coast apartment was gutted and started afresh with a bright, coastal style makeover. And we bet the owners are secretly pleased they get to use it themselves while leisure travel is off the cards due to Covid-19!

AFTER kitchen

BEFORE kitchen

“The brief was to design a space which instantly felt relaxing, took advantage of the views and considered the holidaymakers who will enjoy the apartment and its beach lifestyle,” says interior designer Mel Hoekstra. “The neutral tones and greens create a feeling of serenity the minute you walk through the door and have been layered with subtle texture and pattern to evoke a sense of letting go and enjoying your getaway.”

The amazing view is the only thing that hasn’t changed!

The original apartment was shades of apricot and pink with cream walls, had a wall dividing the living room and kitchen, tired carpet and was lacking suitable functionality. “There was an ugly old mirrored wall next to the kitchen which we replaced with new mirrored panels and makes a huge difference to the feeling of space whilst reflecting the views. On the plus side, the ocean and mountain views were spectacular, the perfect recipe for a renovation.”

AFTER bathroom
BEFORE bathroom

The walls were painted Dulux Lexicon Quarter to look clean and fresh, and new timber-look tiles give the illusion of space and are super easy to clean with all those sandy feet. The bathrooms were given custom timber cabinetry and beautiful bronze-edged white feature tiles to lighten the once-dark spaces. Then the laundry was given a splash of colour with a bronze-edged aqua tile on the splashback.

AFTER laundry
BEFORE laundry

The furniture and accessories were selected with the owners and potential holiday makers in mind. The custom lounges have been made in a versatile fabric which was treated to keep it looking great for longer. A king single bunkbed was added alongside the queen bed in the second bedroom to expand the type of guests who might book the apartment. It can now accommodate families as well as couples, yielding a higher return for the owners.

AFTER bedroom
BEFORE bedroom

“I love the transformation in every room in this two-bedroom apartment and particularly the instant feeling of relaxation you feel when entering,” Mel says.

“My favourite feature would have to be the island bench (painted in Resene’s Emerge); where once there was a wall you now see a beautiful island which mirrors the green and blue tones in the ocean. This year, the ecstatic owners will be enjoying their beachside apartment and holidaymakers will be able to enjoy the location in 2021.”

Categories
House Tours Styling

Photos: The finished Palm Beach Apartment!

We put the finishing touches to the Interiors Addict/Nest Designs apartment project we’ve been working on last Thursday night to host opening drinks and reveal the transformation. Here are the photos you’ve been waiting for! We know many of you have been following its progress and the reality behind the scenes of a reno, but what everyone really wants to see are the after shots, let’s face it!

The living area

Emma Blomfield from Nest Designs did a fantastic job furnishing and styling the apartment and I think this living area shows how she nailed a coastal holiday apartment vibe without falling into dodgy, overly-beachy territory (I think we’ve all seen that on a weekend away)!

Palm beach nest designs - low res-4

While there it was great to reference the stunning Palm Beach location here and there, she definitely got the balance just right. Do you agree?

Categories
Expert Tips Renting

What to consider when furnishing and decorating a holiday rental

As we prepare for the unveiling of our Palm Beach apartment project at the end of the month, I asked Emma Blomfield of Nest Designs what special considerations need to be made when furnishing a holiday rental.

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Durability and being easy to clean are 2 of the top, and less pretty and creative priorities when embarking on your holiday rental. “You never know who will be renting the apartment and when you might have families with children there for summer holidays, you can’t be sure how it will withstand a visit from sticky fingers or what will happen during a game of hide and seek,” says Emma. “Materials that should be avoided are things like glass top tables that aren’t secured, veneers — they are soft, dent easily and don’t withstand heavy duty cleaning agents that the cleaning company might use – and high gloss MDF as it scratches easily and ages faster.”

When it comes to flooring, hardwearing is key. Tiles, sisal carpet and timber floors are best. “There are loads of wool carpet options too that are commercial grade and come in a huge range of colours to suit your decor.”

flooring apartment

Emma also had to think about easy and regular cleaning between guests. “I’ve chosen bench tops that have flecks of taupe and brown so any scratches or spills won’t be obvious. The sofa is scotch guarded to prevent spills staining and the rug is a jute material, making it easy to shake out to clean. Sisal carpet is good for disguising sandy footprints.”

Categories
Interiors Addict

Interiors Addict teams up with Nest Designs to bring you the Palm Beach apartment project

I have an exciting new project to share with you today and I’ll be sharing it with you from start to finish over the next few weeks! A few months ago, I was approached by Judith Webster, who had just bought an investment property on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, to help her style and decorate it and share the process with my readers.

I loved the idea of course, but with a wedding to organise and not actually being a stylist or interior designer, I thought I decided to pass this project on to my friend Emma Blomfield at Nest Designs, knowing what a great job she’d do. One of you will get the chance to win a weekend away at the apartment once it’s finished! Sound good? Yes, I thought so!

Work has just begun, with a a thorough clearout and paint job and plans for a new kitchen and flooring. Today I’m sharing Emma’s moodboards for each room with you.

Palm Beach Apartment Project - Lounge

Judith, who first met me when she came to my blogging course at the Australian Writers Centre in Sydney, said: “Earlier this year I bought a two-bedroom apartment at Palm Beach. It is in a small, resort style complex that was developed about 10 years ago for holiday stays. It’s right in the heart of Palm Beach with the beach, restaurants, boutiques and ferry all within walking distance.