This beach house in Australia breaks tradition with a more modern design approach

The Property

This stunning sea-side property in Australia boasts interiors that reflect its coastal location on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula – but without feeling too themed or obvious. With a soft colour palette of greys and beige, the property blends large open-plan spaces and modern materials such as concrete with sanded floorboards and wood accents.

More than a weekend retreat or seaside escape, this is the modern home (opens in new tab) of Lou De Mattia and Ross Nichols, owners of furniture brand Coastal Living (opens in new tab).

Their business champions the quintessential Australian lifestyle of sun, sand and relaxation, and now – thanks to Mim Design (opens in new tab) – so does their home.

The owners were seeking a new life where family and business coexist by the sea. They brought on Mim Design (opens in new tab) to create a highly personal interior for them and their family, which also champions the Australian outdoorsy lifestyle.

Entrance

Tasked with a complete reimagining of site, an original fibro-shack was demolished to make way for an authentic, timeless design that marries mid-century modern and coastal influences – an ideal showcase for the homeowners' own business of similarly inspired furniture and décor.

The architecture was conceived as a series of connected pavilions, orientated to optimise light and ocean views.

Zinc riffs off charred timber, while painted brick presents a textured alternative to concrete.

At the front of the house there's a small outdoor seating area, protected by a breeze block wall. 

The curve of a breeze block wall is counterbalanced by the punctuation of articulated lines.

Meanwhile a manicured garden path leads to a gate that opens onto a public footpath down to the beach.

The home's entrance is nestled in between the painted brick pavilion and the contrasting black painted wood structure.

The front door pivots open into a large, open-plan kitchen and living space, with soft, sanded wood floors.

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Kitchen

An open plan layout encourages spatial connection and uninterrupted flow. Sliding doors open to reveal a large patio (opens in new tab) and swimming pool area.

A neutral colour palette with lots of natural materials and rustic accents give the home a sense of warmth.

At the heart of the home is a large grey kitchen (opens in new tab). The balanced proportions of an oversized kitchen island pendant (opens in new tab) reigns over a stone island bench; the curve of the island and the radius of the pendant precisely matched.

The curved, modern kitchen island (opens in new tab) incorporates a breakfast bar (opens in new tab) area with sanded wood chairs. It's these wood accents that soften and warm up the grey scheme – including a light wood extractor hood above the stove.

Tongue and groove surfaces add further rustic charm.

The interiors draw on the beach setting whilst eschewing any sense of coastal cliché. There are no naff sea shells, sailing boats or seagull prints, the only nod to the sea are the carefully placed surfboards, such as the powder blue surfboard that beckons entry to the mid-level bedrooms.

Behind the kitchen is a useful utility / laundry room (opens in new tab) space and pantry (opens in new tab).

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Living room

Black painted bricks create a more dramatic backdrop in the modern living room (opens in new tab).

The black feature wall grounds the space and creates a focal point, while a more neutral scheme and natural materials help to keep the tone light.

A built-in window seat offers views into the garden.

A modern marble coffee table (opens in new tab) lends a more sculptural element to the space.

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Home office

The home office (opens in new tab) also features tongue and groove panelled walls, giving it a textured and more rustic vibe. The room overlooks the pool and garden – ideal for residents who work from home.

First floor

A powder blue surfboard at the top of the wood staircase leads to a corridor / hallway that connects the kids rooms (opens in new tab) and guest bedrooms (opens in new tab).

Kids room

The kids bedrooms (opens in new tab) feature tongue and groove panelling and floor-to-ceiling built in wardrobes (opens in new tab).

Next to the wardrobes is a built-in kids desk (opens in new tab) area for doing homework at.

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Guest bedroom

A smart guest bedroom (opens in new tab) continues the home's pale, muted colour scheme.

Guest bathroom

A small ensuite bathroom (opens in new tab) features a grey bathroom (opens in new tab) colour scheme and a striking marble bath surround.

Master bedroom

Up on the top floor is a private sanctuary for the parents, encompassing a generous master bedroom (opens in new tab) with a lounge area, dressing room (opens in new tab) and master bathroom (opens in new tab).

Surfboards and cacti continue the Australian outdoors theme.

Ligne Roset's Togo sofa creates an inviting space in which to collapse and unwind at the end of each day.

Dressing room

The master suite leads through to a dressing room (opens in new tab).

Open shelving and open rails make it easier to see and choose an outfit.

Master bathroom

The master bathroom (opens in new tab) is a spa-inspired space.

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Terrace and garden

When it’s time for a break, a refreshing drink under the pergola awaits.

The coastal home boasts a generous entertaining space at the rear, complete with patio (opens in new tab) and swimming pool.

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Interior design: Mim Design

Project architect: Stella Lien