The former site of the Byron Bay whaling station from 1954 to 1962, Shelley wanted to move away from the grizzly history of the location and instead honour the town’s industrial roots.
“The materials and the interior style we chose have more of an industrial flavour,” explains Shelley. “It’s not your average beach house! We wanted to create a family home that was cool to look, comfortable to live in and creative in its use of products, all while being sympathetic to the natural environment.”
Like a modern work of art, the home’s exterior is a stunning mix of rough sawn timber cladding, exposed steel framework, brick, stone, copper and glass. Echoing the exterior, timber features heavily throughout the interior, creating a seamless flow from the inside to the outside. “When we build or renovate, air circulation and natural light are so important to us,” says Shelley.
True to her word, the interior includes raked ceilings, plenty of louvred windows, skylights and sliding glass doors allowing sunlight and the cool sea breeze to flow inside – it is the ultimate indoor-outdoor design they planned and were able to achieve. In order to have such magnificent high ceilings Shelley chose Gyprock Supaceil plasterboard, a superior lightweight, thick board perfect for this room. “I think our ceilings are impressive and command attention as you enter the home,” says Shelley.
The juxtaposition of the timber built-ins, kitchen and ceiling beams against the white PGH Montauk textured brick walls, adds a softness to the open-plan design, while black and graphite accents found in the kitchen concrete benchtops, ceiling fans, louvres and glass door frames brings in the industrial element of the design. “We love opening the house up and having such an expansive area to entertain and enjoy,” says Shelley. “I am really looking forward to the cooler months when we can entertain inside and have the beautiful courtyard, pool area and tropical plants as a backdrop.”
As Shelley’s favourite area of the home, the main living pavilion is packed with detail and hidden features such as the underfloor heating, insulation by Bradford and Gyprock Superchek plasterboard for many of the interior walls. The ideal lining for high traffic areas, Superchek delivers exceptional impact resistance and noise control.
