Shelley Craft is one of Australia’s most accomplished lifestyle tv presenters and also a veteran home renovator. She is also a long-standing co-host of TV ratings smash, The Block.
We completed the build of this new home just before Christmas 2020 and when I say finished…
nothing is ever finished really, is it? I love this about building and renovating. It doesn’t matter
how magnificent a place is, we (as in those with the bug) will always find a corner to tinker with, or a shelf to restyle.
Having said that, I am madly in love with our new family home. My husband and I had a hand in every detail and our team of extraordinary trades worked with us, not for us, to make sure that the result was perfect. Everything functions the way we want it to, and the layout works perfectly for us! I stress ‘us’, as a home should be an extension of your family, not a show home.
THE IMPORTANCE OF FUNCTIONALITY
We have two children, two dogs, two parents – all who love the outdoors, the beach and all the sand that comes with that. We are a family who loves a relaxed vibe and comfy living, movie nights, each other’s company and the company of friends. These were the top things we kept Front-of-mind when we were designing this home.
THE IMPORTANCE OF CLIMATE AND CONTEXT
our home is on the site of the old whaling station in Byron Bay – yes, a grizzly past, but a fabric of the community and history, nonetheless. So in place of a crisp white beach house, we opted for a scheme that was more in keeping with the area; more in touch with the colours of nature that surround us and more industrial in finish than the norm.
EXTERNAL FINISHES
Rough sawn Blackbutt timbers clad the exterior of the home teamed with a pale pink-white recycled rice brick, giving an earthy texture and feel.
With regards to landscaping, we installed Carpet Court’s LuxTurf in all our lawn/yard areas. I had the confidence to do this, having used this artificial turf in a few of our other renovations and projects. I wholeheartedly recommend LuxTurf to everyone. I know you will ask if it is hot underfoot – yes, in the middle of the day in the heat of summer it is hotter than grass underfoot, but no hotter than pavers or concrete.
In winter, the heat is warm and cosy and encourages us to sit outside and warm our toes. The pros FAR outweigh the cons. No mowing, weeding, edging, or watering. No ants or bugs, no bindies, or prickles – Carpet Court LuxTurf is 365-days-a-year comfort for your outdoor area that will increase the usability of any yard, big or small. Get your weekends back and sing hallelujah every morning when you wake up and look at your always gorgeous healthy and green lawn. It’s the best!
INTERNAL FINISHES
To complement the exterior cladding, the interior has sandstone cathedral floor pavers, walnut cabinetry, concrete benchtops, and bathroom vanities in cloudy black, grey and white, gunmetal tapware and most importantly, Carpet Court’s Defined Charm Australian made wool carpet in Light Clay in all the bedrooms.
The heather blend and chunky loop carpet complement the rough edges and textural elements of the home. The warmth of the Light Clay colour ties in perfectly next to the sandstone, creating a seamless transition from living areas to bedrooms.
There was no other carpet that would have played this well in our overall scheme. It’s as timeless as the other finishes and helps give the house an overall cosiness and warmth. This carpet is a favourite for me and my family (dogs included!). The forgiving nature of the loop and Berber-look means it’s low maintenance and hides a multitude of sins between vacuums. The nature of the wool gives me the confidence that it will look amazing for years to come and perform exceptionally in our coastal climate.
