Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: A New-Build Jewel in the Crown of the Sapphire Coast
Sensational views and kilometres of mountain bike trails make this home a private paradise for an active retired couple
Locals of the Sapphire Coast, 200 kilometres of stunning beaches and national park stretching along the far south coast of NSW, are fond of boasting that the ocean is bluer here than anywhere in the world. The small coastal town of Tathra, with its reputation as the premier mountain biking town in Australia, attracted a keen biking couple from the high-rises and crowds of Queensland’s Gold Coast to a more laid-back lifestyle.
“My clients were inspired by a modernist aesthetic,” says Wendy Bergsma of Dream Design Build, the firm responsible for the couple’s new-build three-storey home, which now overlooks this stunning stretch of coast. “Aesthetic requirements were to be combined with a highly energy-efficient approach.” The couple also wanted room for family and guests, open, airy living areas, two separate workstations, a media room, and a timeless fit-out incorporating timber and natural finishes. Bergsma more than delivered.
“My clients were inspired by a modernist aesthetic,” says Wendy Bergsma of Dream Design Build, the firm responsible for the couple’s new-build three-storey home, which now overlooks this stunning stretch of coast. “Aesthetic requirements were to be combined with a highly energy-efficient approach.” The couple also wanted room for family and guests, open, airy living areas, two separate workstations, a media room, and a timeless fit-out incorporating timber and natural finishes. Bergsma more than delivered.
The steep slope was both a challenge and a blessing. With the capture of the amazing views a major factor in the design, the steep incline enabled Bergsma to orientate all the living areas and bedrooms to the north, to embrace both the warm winter sunshine and the water views. The famous sapphire blues, golds and greens of the coastline are integrated into almost every room of the house, as glimpses of ocean or a wide panorama.
“I was very careful not to do a cut-and-fill type of build,” says Bergsma. The terraced formation minimised cut-and-fill on the site and allows the top-floor living areas to access level ground and the nature reserve to the rear of the home.
“I was very careful not to do a cut-and-fill type of build,” says Bergsma. The terraced formation minimised cut-and-fill on the site and allows the top-floor living areas to access level ground and the nature reserve to the rear of the home.
A steep and muddy building site, however, has potential for disasters, one of which was fortunately averted, recalls Bergsma. “A delivery truck loaded with all the floor tiles suddenly started to roll back down the hill to the street, sans driver – very scary at the time!” she says.
Blocks of insulating rendered polystyrene cladding in charcoal accent the glazed wall above the entrance and garage.
Blocks of insulating rendered polystyrene cladding in charcoal accent the glazed wall above the entrance and garage.
Oiled timber boards form a wall and small deck at the entrance of the house. A glass door with side glass viewing panel leads to the foyer, with large 600 x 600-centimetre ceramic tiles in a raw concrete texture. These tiles continue throughout the two top levels. Timber stairs and handrail, in solid ironbark with an oiled finish, lead to the first level.
Lucci Decor Florida wicker pendant: Beacon Lighting
Lucci Decor Florida wicker pendant: Beacon Lighting
Up the stairs, the first level contains two guest bedrooms, a family bathroom and a study station. A glass wall surrounding the top of the stairs keeps the look uncluttered.
“The couple were considerably budget conscious, however, expected quality and efficiency and were willing to extend their budget to meet these requirements,” says Bergsma. Their brief called for a minimalist and timeless internal fit-out. Walls, ceilings and stairwell are in Dulux ‘Lexicon Quarter’ and furnishings are low-key and unfussy.
“The couple were considerably budget conscious, however, expected quality and efficiency and were willing to extend their budget to meet these requirements,” says Bergsma. Their brief called for a minimalist and timeless internal fit-out. Walls, ceilings and stairwell are in Dulux ‘Lexicon Quarter’ and furnishings are low-key and unfussy.
The larger of the two bedrooms has a queen-size fold-down wall bed for when guests come to stay. It flips neatly away when not needed. LED downlights are incorporated into the cavity for night-time reading.
Walls painted in ‘Dieskau’: Dulux; NeXt Bed: Wall Beds Australia
Walls painted in ‘Dieskau’: Dulux; NeXt Bed: Wall Beds Australia
When the bed is stowed away, the room becomes a spacious media room for everyday use. With the owners’ love of mid-century modern furniture, they have chosen comfortable and stylish pieces reminiscent of the era, like the curvaceous pale grey sofa and ottoman, and neat side table with copper accents.
Neo lounge and ottoman, Luxe fabric in ‘Otter’: King Living Furniture
Neo lounge and ottoman, Luxe fabric in ‘Otter’: King Living Furniture
In line with the couple’s desire for an energy-efficient home, the need for air-conditioning has been effectively bypassed. Functionally sited glazing and openings for cross breezes and ceiling fans keep the house temperatures down in summer. Both bedrooms are carpeted in pure wool. While the guest bedroom-cum-media room contains only a small robe, this guest bedroom has an entire wall of floor-to-ceiling hanging and storage space.
Between the two bedrooms is a bathroom that services the first level. Minimalist in style, it has white cabinetry, a solid blackwood vanity top and sleek basin and tapware.
ADP Pride vanity, matt finish: True Justice
ADP Pride vanity, matt finish: True Justice
A second oiled ironbark staircase leads to the top level containing the master suite, kitchen and the lounge/dining area opening to wide decks.
Here, the full effect of the views that drew the owners to the site like a magnet comes into focus. The open living spaces flow between dining, sitting and kitchen areas, with cool tiled floors and simple furniture that allows the views to take the stage. The dining table is solid Western Australian Marri timber.
Lounges covered in Warwick fabric: Arthur G Design
Lounges covered in Warwick fabric: Arthur G Design
Wide sliding doors with unobtrusive metal framing run the length of this level on the ocean side. The seating area opens to a tiled deck with a glass balustrade, looking across the roofs of buildings below and over the treetops.
The owners requested extensive use of natural timbers. Throughout the living level, timber in both solid and veneer blackwood, as in this wall-hung pod, warms the muted colour palette. Open shelving holds a collection of mini-succulents and the owners’ love of minimalist mid-century style shows in the furniture and the few decorative pieces scattered around the space. On the display cabinet, there’s even a nod to a lava lamp, that paragon of grooviness from the ’60s.
Boston Cemento white porcelain subway tile feature wall: Rivoland Tiles
Boston Cemento white porcelain subway tile feature wall: Rivoland Tiles
Winters on the far south coast can be cold, windy and stormy. Bergsma says; “The home is naturally warm with very high R-values in the external cladding and high R-values in the internal insulation and double-glazing. The sun from the northern aspect takes care of the rest.”
R-value is a measure of thermal resistance used in the building industry to rate materials. It refers to heat retention and rate of heat-loss properties.
“The couple were very involved when it came to energy-efficient specification and inclusions, and researched a lot of these details,” says Bergsma. The home has water tanks, solar power and hot water, LED lighting throughout, double glazing to all windows and doors, and a Thorma Andorra certified low-emission, solid-fuel heater. On occasional very cold days, a free-standing wood-burning stove is called into service.
R-value is a measure of thermal resistance used in the building industry to rate materials. It refers to heat retention and rate of heat-loss properties.
“The couple were very involved when it came to energy-efficient specification and inclusions, and researched a lot of these details,” says Bergsma. The home has water tanks, solar power and hot water, LED lighting throughout, double glazing to all windows and doors, and a Thorma Andorra certified low-emission, solid-fuel heater. On occasional very cold days, a free-standing wood-burning stove is called into service.
The kitchen is in the dress-circle for the stunning views and has uninterrupted contact with the dining and lounge area. Tapware is Brita WD3020 filtered water system and the double stainless steel sink with drainer tray is by Blanco.
The benchtops on the split-level kitchen island are Caesarstone ‘Raw Concrete’. The timber casual dining bench is solid blackwood. Feature timber over the induction cooktop and mirrored splashback is blackwood veneer.
AEG Pyroluxe wall oven; cabinetry painted in ‘Vivid White’: Dulux
AEG Pyroluxe wall oven; cabinetry painted in ‘Vivid White’: Dulux
Among the couple’s favourite features is the butler’s pantry off the main kitchen. A distinctly grained blackwood veneer wall with an exposed sliding track hides a nook for tea- and coffee-making and to store and use kitchen appliances. It has a white subway tile splashback, and the cabinetry and Caesarstone benchtop match those in the kitchen.
Part of Bergsma’s brief was to include a second separate study. She has located a small semi-enclosed office space adjacent to the kitchen, with a desktop in solid blackwood.
Right outside is a feature of the facade, a centrally located ironbark wall set off by an asymmetrically placed window, which provides the knockout view from the study space behind it. Here, the owners enjoy the full impact of the sunshine and seascape that attracted them to this part of the coast.
Bergsma says she particularly likes the effect of the wall of solid oiled ironbark battens separating the master bedroom from its ensuite bathroom, and says the owners love it too. The timber adds warmth to the predominantly neutral colour palette and allows a view from the bathroom that is almost as stunning as that from the bedroom.
The walk-in shower has the same Boston Cemento tiles as the feature wall in the living area, in ‘Gesso’. The vanity bench is solid blackwood.
Pride vanity with matt finish: True Justice; Raymor Lavas tapware: Reece Plumbing; Boston Lavagna splashback: Rivoland Tiles
Pride vanity with matt finish: True Justice; Raymor Lavas tapware: Reece Plumbing; Boston Lavagna splashback: Rivoland Tiles
This view shows the smooth semi-open transition and light flow between the sleeping and ensuite/dressing spaces created by the timber batten wall. An area of textured wool carpet is inlaid into the tiles beneath the bed, for cold winter mornings.
Down to the smallest detail, textures and materials have a casual and natural feel. Bed Linen is Home Republic Vintage Washed Linen in ‘Indigo’ from Adairs. Bedside pendants are Ando 1 from Beacon Lighting and the chair and ottoman are Eclipse from Oz Design in a custom fabric.
Much of the couple’s outdoor entertaining is done on a shady rear timber deck that leads to a small stone-enclosed lawn and garden. Even here, the ocean view is the hero, seen through the uncluttered open-plan living area.
A laundry sits to the right of this deck and an outdoor shower is convenient for when the owners return from walking and biking in the nature reserve.
A laundry sits to the right of this deck and an outdoor shower is convenient for when the owners return from walking and biking in the nature reserve.
Looking to the rear of the living area, the practicality of Bergsma’s terraced design for the biking enthusiasts becomes apparent. They can walk straight from the living space to a bike room and bike wash-down area at the rear of the house. From there, it’s just a short stroll to the 50 kilometres of mountain biking tracks just 200 metres from the house through bushland.
TELL US
Which features do you like best in this home? Share your thoughts with us in the Comments section.
TELL US
Which features do you like best in this home? Share your thoughts with us in the Comments section.
Who lives here: A retired couple with adult children who come and go
Location: Tathra, NSW
Size: 305 square metres; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms plus powder room
Project completed: 2016
Architectural designer: Dream Design Build
Awards: 2016 Winner New Residential Category 251-350 square metres under $2000 per square metre, Building Designers Association of Australia
After a prolonged search, the couple selected a block of land that enabled them to appreciate the coast’s natural beauty and the network of picturesque biking trails that thread the region, through the unspoilt bushland of Mimosa Rocks National Park, pockets of rainforest, and along beachside cycle paths. High above a canopy of trees, they look down on kilometres of golden beach towards the mouth of the Bega River, from what they call their forever home.
The house is designed as a series of clean blocks stepped up a steep slope. With no other residential buildings to the rear, the three-level home, like the neighbouring houses, didn’t impinge on views.