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Architecture Travel

A new luxury coastal getaway for design lovers just three hours from Sydney

Just three hours north of Sydney with direct access to Boomerang Beach, 88SOUTH is a new idyllic coastal retreat where modern minimalism meets luxury and comfort. A paradise for design enthusiasts, surfers, and those wishing to reconnect with nature, it’s a dream house for a group getaway accommodating up to 10 guests. 

Owned by Kersti and Stuart Faulkner of the Peppertree Hill Accommodation Group, as long-time holidaymakers to the area, they’ve designed the house to fully epitomise “the carefree Australian summer” experience.

“Over the years my husband, Stuart and I have had the pleasure of bringing our own children to holiday in this tranquil part of the world,” said Kersti. “We treasure our holiday memories spent surfing, laying on the beach, enjoying local oysters or catching a sunrise.”

The beachfront property with five large bedrooms, boasts panoramic views of the Pacific Palms coastline thanks to careful planning by Collins and Turner architectural firm. Although it may seem ideal for the summer months, there’s also a firepit to snuggle around when it’s colder! 

This architectural beauty with its multiple living spaces uses a striking blend of Carrara marble, American oak, formed and polished concrete. The minimal furnishings and oversized glass windows showcase the incredible ocean views while still providing spacious privacy. Outside, there’s a 13-metre lap pool, private garden and decks overlooking the ocean. 

Booti Booti and Myall Lake National Parks are just a short drive away and the remoteness of the location will give you a chance to breathe away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

“While Boomerang Beach is a sentimental place, it’s also healing,” said  Kersti. “It doesn’t matter how long or short the stay, we always come back to reality feeling re-energised, re-inspired and reset. We love that we now get to share our own special space with others.”

For more Information

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House Tours Interviews

Award-winning holiday retreat, just an hour from Melbourne

Located just an hour out of Melbourne, Clifftop at Hepburn is a one-of-a-kind country escape that blends industrial and minimalist style with all the creature comforts of home, plus so much more.

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Stunning views from the lounge

“We wanted the retreats to have everything that people don’t have at home and nothing that they do,” says the owner David Penman who engaged the architect Robin Larsen of TreeARC to design the gorgeous properties that were recently bestowed the Stayz 2016 Holiday Rental Award for ‘Best Interior Design Property.’

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Kitchen

“We put all of the power in Robin’s hands and he was able to to overrule any decisions my wife and I made. For example, I had to present 300 lounges before I found one that met his approval!” says David which goes to explain the level of attention to detail to be found in this property.

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“We wanted that wow factory and for people to want to touch everything,” says David of the industrial, minimalist properties that feature towering windows that take in full-height panoramic views across the native bushland below. “I would describe it as industrial and minimalist with a rustic twist – open wooden beams, steel, entry rampart walkways and a rusted corten steel façade make it feel really earthy. We wanted the feel to be very raw. For example, there is raw metal that features factory markings and the builder wanted to sand them off – I was adamant the marks stayed. It makes for a very dramatic feel,” says David.

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Bedroom

The soft furnishings were introduced by the stylist Belle Hemming, and they soften the industrial vibe and add to the property’s luxe feel too. “We want the properties to feel super luxurious but we also want people to feel at home too. We want people to sleep on the lounge, lay on the daybed and put their feet up on the coffee table,” says David.

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The dreamy daybed

The three properties also feature two-person spa baths, Oblica Ove fireplaces imported from France and one even boasts a $10,000 massage chair. “One of them has a fully functioning Lord of The Rings pinball machine, while another has a retro arcade game featuring 1400 games including Pacman and Space Invaders. That’s a great one for families,” says David who also confirms that the property welcomes children – unusual for luxury properties in the region.

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Lounge room

Based in Hepburn Springs which is alongside Daylsford, there is plenty to do should you want to venture out. And with prices from $349 per night, it’s a surprisingly affordable option also, given the size and standard of the accommodation. “Obviously the business needs to be viable and is about making money but we genuinely love the region and want people to be able to afford to visit,” says David.

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Book your stay online at Stayz.

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Bedrooms RENO ADDICT

Pretty Beach House: New South Wales’ most luxurious accommodation?

Wouldn’t this have been a divine place to be cooped up during our recent storms? Truly the pinnacle of luxury accommodation and hospitality, the Pretty Beach House is back with a new look after a two and a half year hiatus.

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Perched on a seven and a half acre promontory of the Bouddi National Park and Broken Bay (a 90-minute drive from Sydney), the four pavilion hideaway is under the direction of hoteliers Karina and Brian Barry, the masterminds behind the equally nice, Bells at Killcare.

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Designed by Sydney interior designer Michelle Leslie, she has created an extraordinary and unique property that both reflects and supports its local environment. With four private pavilions, three freestanding and one penthouse, Pretty Beach House can sleep eight people at any one time.

Each pavilion has a generous king bedroom, separate dressing room, deluxe bathroom, open-plan sitting area and a fully stocked bar. Colours and textures of the surrounding landscape inspire the interiors and furnishings, with three of the four pavilions opening out onto a private deck with a day bed and their own plunge pool.

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Also on site is The Main House, which includes a library, open plan kitchen, restaurant (with renowned restaurateurs Stefano Manfredi and Julie Manfredi Hughes at the helm), bar, pool and outdoor lounge with fire pit. The property also includes a beautiful purpose-built day spa for in-house guests, a perfect complement to a guided native bush walk or mountain bike ride through the many coastal walking and riding trails.

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As you can imagine this luxurious and quintessentially Australian experience doesn’t come cheap, with the all-inclusive stay starting from $1,000 per person per night! All bookings require a minimum stay of two nights.

For more information.

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Travel

Interiors Addict on tour: Bells at Killcare

A couple of months ago, as life started to get a bit sleepless and stressful in the lead-up to our wedding, Damian and I headed to Bells at Killcare for an overnight getaway.

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It wasn’t our first visit so we knew to expect something gorgeous but it had gone up a few notches since our last stay and has now reached the very rare level of faultless (I’m one of those people who will always find something to whinge about, especially when something is pricey, and I’m a Pom after all).

Bells is couples-only and as weekend retreats from Sydney go, you can’t beat it. It’s less than an hour and half drive north of the CBD on the NSW central coast, which makes it absolutely possible to be there in time for dinner on Friday night, which we were. Because on top of everything that’s amazing about the accommodation, service and location, there’s also Manfredi at Bells, the on-site restaurant, which has retained its One Hat status since opening in 2008.

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There are no rooms at Bells, there are suites, cottage and villas. They’re all decorated in the same comfortable, classic, Hamptons style. Everything is top notch and good quality. No corners are cut. Instant coffee sachets? You must be joking. Their own blend bath salts with essential oils? Of course! I’m a big bath fan and let me tell you, this was the best bath I’ve ever been in!

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Furniture

Online furniture store owner transforms bricks and mortar with luxury Daylesford guest house

Nestled in the heart of Hepburn Springs, Daylesford, a little over an hour’s drive from the Melbourne CBD, is the picturesque Amazing Grace. This luxury accommodation is a place city slickers can retreat to for some peace.

Amazing Grace second bedroom

Lisa Webb bought the 100-year-old cottage around two and a half years ago with fiancé Wayne Smith. “We saw the property sitting on this magnificent block of land in a beautiful setting. It was almost an instant purchase.”

Lisa describes the décor as an homage to the old colonial style the outside is reminiscent of, but with a modern twist. “From an interiors perspective, it’s a little bit quirky, a little eclectic.” The large gardens give the cottage a country feel, which is a drawcard to visitors from the city.

Amazing Grace living room

Planning the interior was a chance for Lisa, who also owns online furniture and homewares store Vavoom Emporium, to indulge her lifelong passion for interior design. She wanted to fill the house with calming colours and quality pieces, like the bookcase in the main bedroom, imported from Indonesia, and keep some of the natural features of the cottage, such as the stained glass windows. It makes “a really eclectic blend.”

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Interiors Addict

Rae finds bliss following her passion for interiors

After 20 years working for Victoria police, Rae Hewitt finally decided to follow her passion for “all things beautiful” and open luxury guest accommodation and an online homewares store.

Bright Bliss bedroom

Perched in the hills of Bright, North East Victoria, the architecturally designed and interiors-focussed guesthouses Bright Bliss and Next To Bliss, are the result of a “leap of faith” and a longterm love of interiors.

Bright Bliss

Rae and husband Jason opened Bright Bliss in December 2011. After an overwhelming amount of positive feedback they decided to design and build Next to Bliss next door. We never dreamed we would build two guesthouses when we started,” Rae says.