Houzz Tours
My Houzz: Colourful Rental Brings Coastal-Style to Paradise Point
A rental home in southern Queensland is vibrantly transformed to suit the relaxed lifestyle of a beach-loving family
A mix of old and new finds and a few DIY touches have been combined to create a relaxed coastal home for interior designer Donna Guyler and her family. Although Donna, her husband, Mark, and son, Jaxson, only moved into this rental home a few months ago, the designer has decorated it so skilfully that a visitor could think the family has lived in the sunny abode for years. Everywhere one looks, an inspiring collection of colourful and creative belongings is on display, giving this cottage the appearance of an established home.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Donna Guyler, her husband, Mark, their 5-year-old son, Jaxson, and Doberman, Kahn
Location: Paradise Point, Gold Coast, Queensland
Size: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Donna Guyler, her husband, Mark, their 5-year-old son, Jaxson, and Doberman, Kahn
Location: Paradise Point, Gold Coast, Queensland
Size: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
The couple are pictured here with their dog, Kahn, at the front entrance to the home, which is undercover and securely gated from the street. This area provides a safe space for their son and dog to play together without worry.
Mark is a commodities trader and also works for himself from a small office space just a short bike ride from the family home.
Mark is a commodities trader and also works for himself from a small office space just a short bike ride from the family home.
Donna’s decorating style is strongly influenced by her fossicking and the family’s seaside lifestyle. “I love mixing old with new, and I particularly love finding pieces that have character and imperfection – things that need a touch of TLC,” says Donna.
The family’s home is filled with a collection of pieces acquired over many years. There are items from garage sales, roadside finds, secondhand stores, as well as newer and custom-made pieces sourced from local Gold Coast businesses and retailers.
The living room is the heart of the home and a favourite space in which the family relax together in the evenings in front of the TV. “Our lounge room is a little haven of cosiness and warmth, even though it’s quite bright and fun. It’s inviting and relaxing and the perfect size for the three of us,” says Donna.
She admits to being on the hunt for a slightly larger coffee table at the moment as the current one was a quick-fix find at a secondhand market.
Sofa: Ikea; white console: Shacked Up
The family’s home is filled with a collection of pieces acquired over many years. There are items from garage sales, roadside finds, secondhand stores, as well as newer and custom-made pieces sourced from local Gold Coast businesses and retailers.
The living room is the heart of the home and a favourite space in which the family relax together in the evenings in front of the TV. “Our lounge room is a little haven of cosiness and warmth, even though it’s quite bright and fun. It’s inviting and relaxing and the perfect size for the three of us,” says Donna.
She admits to being on the hunt for a slightly larger coffee table at the moment as the current one was a quick-fix find at a secondhand market.
Sofa: Ikea; white console: Shacked Up
Donna’s work requires her to adhere to very strict budgets to ensure her clients get maximum value for their dollar. At home, however, she says the budget goes out the window.
“I don’t spend exorbitant amounts on designer pieces – I do love a showstopper, but I also love an op-shop find that I can paint up at home, or a chair that I can reupholster to suit our style,” says Donna.
“I don’t spend exorbitant amounts on designer pieces – I do love a showstopper, but I also love an op-shop find that I can paint up at home, or a chair that I can reupholster to suit our style,” says Donna.
Tall console: Beach
These custom-made oars are from Oars Galore and work in really well with the coastal vibe of the home.
Donna will splurge from time to time on things that she knows will ‘just work’. She says she often changes the decor around so it never stays the same and prefers not to spend too much money on one purchase in case it won’t be around six months down the track.
“It might well be painted or shuffled around the house to another room – this does cause my husband to roll his eyes!” says Donna.
“It might well be painted or shuffled around the house to another room – this does cause my husband to roll his eyes!” says Donna.
She often uses her own home to trial a colour scheme she might be working on for a client.
The yellow rocker from Eureka Street Furniture was painted by Donna and provides another relaxing spot to kickback in while adding a sunny hit of colour to the lounge room.
A typical day for the Guylers starts early with the whole family taking the dog for a walk. Then they head back home for a quick breakfast around the kitchen island, followed by packing Jaxson’s school lunch, showering, getting his uniform on and heading back out the door.
“It’s the typical, fast-tracked, planned-to-a-tee, run-by-the-clock morning routine for any family with school kids, I guess!” says Donna.
“It’s the typical, fast-tracked, planned-to-a-tee, run-by-the-clock morning routine for any family with school kids, I guess!” says Donna.
The family also love the separate dining setting just off to the side of the kitchen where they always eat dinner together.
Dining table and chairs: Reinvented Treasures; fabric on chairs Warwick
On the weekends, the family like to have a big breakfast cook-up and sit out the back next to the pool to soak up the Gold Coast sun.
This outdoor table and bench setting was custom-made by a local builder-turned-furniture-maker by the name of Tome Furniture. Donna happened to discover it at a weekend market in Paradise Point. Made from recycled timber rescued from the renovation of an old Queenslander home and white washed, the table design was a result of input from both the builder and herself. “The builder actually went on to name this design ‘The Guyla’ after us,” she says.
The backyard also features an outdoor shower connected to a rainwater tank, which the family looks forward to using in the warmer months after beach strolls and swims.
Since moving to the new house, Donna has started her own interior design business, which she runs from her humble home-based studio set up in a third bedroom that was previously a garage. The space needed to be slightly separate from the main living areas to ensure peace and quiet.
It is currently a shared space and has a guest bed, which is regularly used by Donna’s parents who love to visit from Brisbane to spend time with their grandson.
With the expansion of Donna’s business, this entire room will shortly be converted to a full studio, with the addition of more desktop space, ample storage and an area to meet with clients. Donna has plans to hang removable wallpaper, new drapes and install loose-lay vinyl planks on the floor.
“Living in a rental home doesn’t mean that you are entirely restricted by the existing decor – these days there are a multitude of temporary options available to enhance your home that can provide instant impact. These can be easily removed, packed up and taken with you when you go,” explains Donna.
With the expansion of Donna’s business, this entire room will shortly be converted to a full studio, with the addition of more desktop space, ample storage and an area to meet with clients. Donna has plans to hang removable wallpaper, new drapes and install loose-lay vinyl planks on the floor.
“Living in a rental home doesn’t mean that you are entirely restricted by the existing decor – these days there are a multitude of temporary options available to enhance your home that can provide instant impact. These can be easily removed, packed up and taken with you when you go,” explains Donna.
The home is neatly organised and has ample storage space, ensuring everything has a place, which Donna says is particularly helpful on rushed mornings.
The main bedroom is located at the front of the home, is west-facing and receives plenty of natural light in the afternoon.
Donna loves the cosy feel of the home and the warm colours of the cedar plantation shutters, which she says smell beautiful.
Donna loves the cosy feel of the home and the warm colours of the cedar plantation shutters, which she says smell beautiful.
The bedrooms in the home are around twice the size of the bedrooms in their previous home, so the family feel spoilt for space. There is also an ensuite located off the main bedroom. “There is so much more space in the main bedroom compared to our last home, so for now, we are a little short on furniture to fill the space, which can only be a good thing!” explains Donna. “This will change, of course, as I get stuck into the decorating. I have big plans for the bedrooms!”
Jaxson’s bedroom is also located at the front of the home and is decorated in the colourful coastal style Donna loves.
Bedlinen: Cotton On Kids; artwork: Etsy
Bedlinen: Cotton On Kids; artwork: Etsy
Jaxson, pictured, feeding his pet goldfish, Anzac.
His room is big enough to house all of his toys and even swing a golf club!
Bedside table: Reinvented Treasures; bunk bed frame: eBay
My Houzz is an ongoing series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes in Australia and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more inspiring projects.
“We love backyard barbecues and afternoon drinks with friends at home, so this place allows us the best of both worlds,” explains Donna.