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Gold Coast Houzz: A Modern Beach House With Resort-Like Vibes
See how a building designer resolved the challenges of a problematic sloping site to create a sophisticated coastal home
Situated in an elevated spot less than 10 minutes’ walk to the beach, the block where this Gold Coast home now stands had breathtaking water views and potential in spades. But it wasn’t without its challenges – chief among them, an awkward three-way slope that twisted like a crumpled piece of paper. The owners called upon building designer Reece Keil of Reece Keil Design to help them find a solution.
After exploring ways to rework the site and renovate the falling-apart 1960s beach shack that originally stood here, Keil and the owners decided it made more sense, both practically and financially, to tear it down and start again. The result is an innovative spin on the idea of a classic Australian beach house, with striking angles, textural details and soothing, neutral tones.
After exploring ways to rework the site and renovate the falling-apart 1960s beach shack that originally stood here, Keil and the owners decided it made more sense, both practically and financially, to tear it down and start again. The result is an innovative spin on the idea of a classic Australian beach house, with striking angles, textural details and soothing, neutral tones.
Faced with the site’s tricky topography and steep falls, Keil cleverly designed the new home to gently cascade down the hillside.
“The key to success here was designing cut-and-fill pad levels across the terrain,” he says. “We sculpted the terrain to achieve building pad levels that ensured vast ocean views from every room.”
An exterior palette of white brick, concrete and stone sets a serene and sophisticated, beachy tone. “My initial thinking was a somewhat brutalist form with hard edges balanced with soft finishes and simple landscaping,” he says.
The addition of screening on the upper level in powder-coated, perforated steel mesh gives the owners privacy while allowing air and dappled light to flow through to the interior.
“The key to success here was designing cut-and-fill pad levels across the terrain,” he says. “We sculpted the terrain to achieve building pad levels that ensured vast ocean views from every room.”
An exterior palette of white brick, concrete and stone sets a serene and sophisticated, beachy tone. “My initial thinking was a somewhat brutalist form with hard edges balanced with soft finishes and simple landscaping,” he says.
The addition of screening on the upper level in powder-coated, perforated steel mesh gives the owners privacy while allowing air and dappled light to flow through to the interior.
“My client wanted a unique home that maximised space and outlook on this unassuming and awkwardly sloped site,” says Keil. “The design needed to be refined and sympathetic [to the area], while at the same time making a statement within the streetscape. It also needed to function well for a family.”
Ready to redo your own home? Find a building designer near you on Houzz, read reviews from previous clients and see their projects
Ready to redo your own home? Find a building designer near you on Houzz, read reviews from previous clients and see their projects
Grigio Orsola marble kitchen island: Artedomus; Likewood 2D+ joinery in Genuine Oak: Tesrol; Elysian kitchen mixer in Brushed Copper: ABI Interiors.
As with most families, the kitchen tends to be where this family congregates, so it needed to be beautiful and perform efficiently.
“The kitchen is very much the hub of their day-to-day life so it was important to position it in the centre of the house, with unimpeded views through to the internal living areas as well as the alfresco area, pool and the coast,” says Keil.
As with most families, the kitchen tends to be where this family congregates, so it needed to be beautiful and perform efficiently.
“The kitchen is very much the hub of their day-to-day life so it was important to position it in the centre of the house, with unimpeded views through to the internal living areas as well as the alfresco area, pool and the coast,” says Keil.
A generous, marble island benchtop in the heart of the kitchen anchors the breezy, open-plan space.
Custom oak joinery and furniture pieces infuse the interior with the sense of warmth the owners wanted. “We wanted to introduce texture to the interiors, which the timber joinery achieves,” says Keil. “For added texture and interest, we then laid beige 100x100-millimetre tiles in a brick-lay pattern in the kitchen and V-groove panelling over the island.”
Custom oak joinery and furniture pieces infuse the interior with the sense of warmth the owners wanted. “We wanted to introduce texture to the interiors, which the timber joinery achieves,” says Keil. “For added texture and interest, we then laid beige 100x100-millimetre tiles in a brick-lay pattern in the kitchen and V-groove panelling over the island.”
The open-plan living area opens onto a swimming pool.
Keil set out to make the home feel relaxed and refined with a “structural coastal” feel. Specifying a minimalist palette of soothing whites, soft grey and natural timber both inside and out went a long way towards meeting this goal.
“We believe a refined palette creates a sense of sophistication,” he says. “We worked closely with the client and kept coming back to this design approach to express cohesion and a feeling of the familiar in all spaces.”
Keil set out to make the home feel relaxed and refined with a “structural coastal” feel. Specifying a minimalist palette of soothing whites, soft grey and natural timber both inside and out went a long way towards meeting this goal.
“We believe a refined palette creates a sense of sophistication,” he says. “We worked closely with the client and kept coming back to this design approach to express cohesion and a feeling of the familiar in all spaces.”
A striking triangular window beside the stairway provides a view to the outdoor entertaining area, and allows you to appreciate that the entire ground-floor interior is floating above the outdoors.
Drinks trough: ABI Interiors.
Small but considered touches, such as neatly integrating a drinks trough into the bench of the outdoor kitchen beside the pool, gives the house a calm and considered feel. “We knew this product had to go into this project. It’s such a stylish way to keep your bubbly ice cold and suits Queensland’s entertaining lifestyle perfectly,” says Keil.
Small but considered touches, such as neatly integrating a drinks trough into the bench of the outdoor kitchen beside the pool, gives the house a calm and considered feel. “We knew this product had to go into this project. It’s such a stylish way to keep your bubbly ice cold and suits Queensland’s entertaining lifestyle perfectly,” says Keil.
The laundry. Elysian Sensor Pull-Out Mixer in Brushed Copper: ABI Interiors.
The warm, coastal palette of oak joinery white benchtops and brushed-copper tapware was carried through from the kitchen to the laundry, elevating this practical space beyond the norm.
Browse more images of beautiful beach-style Australian laundries on Houzz
The warm, coastal palette of oak joinery white benchtops and brushed-copper tapware was carried through from the kitchen to the laundry, elevating this practical space beyond the norm.
Browse more images of beautiful beach-style Australian laundries on Houzz
The main bedroom.
The couple’s bedroom is east-facing so it can enjoy the best of the morning light. A custom headboard in white cork tiles adds character and depth to the space and creates a soft spot for the owners to sit up and read in bed. “It also helps with acoustics and adds to the quiet feel of the room,” says Keil.
The couple’s bedroom is east-facing so it can enjoy the best of the morning light. A custom headboard in white cork tiles adds character and depth to the space and creates a soft spot for the owners to sit up and read in bed. “It also helps with acoustics and adds to the quiet feel of the room,” says Keil.
Stone wall tiles: Surface Society; Floor-Mounted Bath Filler in Brushed Copper, Elysian Minimal Mixer and Spout Set in Brushed Copper, and Scala Acrylic Freestanding Bath: all ABI Interiors.
Rather than a traditional separate ensuite, Keil positioned a freestanding bath in the corner of the main bedroom, adding to its resort-like atmosphere.
Rather than a traditional separate ensuite, Keil positioned a freestanding bath in the corner of the main bedroom, adding to its resort-like atmosphere.
The children’s bedrooms, one of which is pictured here, were kept light and bright, with simple furniture shapes in neutral tones and sheers at the window to capture light and views.
Main family bathroom. Likewood 2D+ joinery in Genuine Oak: Tesrol; Essastone White Concrete vanitytop: Laminex.
In the generously sized family bathroom, the vanity and double basins sit at one end, while the wet zone is at the other in a cubicle-like layout.
In the generously sized family bathroom, the vanity and double basins sit at one end, while the wet zone is at the other in a cubicle-like layout.
A central wall divides the main guest bathroom, with a wall-hung oak vanity on one side and a shower tucked away for privacy on the other.
“The design language for this house is very rectangular, so we decided to change it up in this bathroom and add something to add a point of difference, with a curved shower screen in reeded glass,” says Keil.
Guest powder room.
Your turn
What’s your favourite feature in this coastal home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images for your own renovation inspiration, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Keen to tour another Australian coastal home? Don’t miss this story: From Tired 100-Year-Old Beach Cottage to Lush, Private Oasis
Your turn
What’s your favourite feature in this coastal home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images for your own renovation inspiration, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Keen to tour another Australian coastal home? Don’t miss this story: From Tired 100-Year-Old Beach Cottage to Lush, Private Oasis
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two young children and a dog
Location: Tugun, Queensland
Number of bedrooms and bathrooms: Four bedrooms plus a home office that can double as a fifth bedroom, and 3.5 bathrooms
Budget: Around AU$1.75 million
Size of the house: 296 square metres
Building design: Reece Keil, building designer and director at Reece Keil Design
Interior design: Studio Yugen
Builder: H&H Constructions
Joinery: East Coast Kitchens