The idea of renovating a four-bedroom house by day and functioning fulltime at night would be daunting for many. But Patrick and Linda Meldrum juggled all the with an 18-month-old in tow along with a baby just weeks away.
The couple had recently moved from London to reside the Australian dream: a laidback lifestyle in a tropical climate in Noosa Sound, considered among the world’s best beaches. They bought their house as an investment property and let it from all over the globe throughout the entire year.
The house has been created by Stephen Kidd, known for his distinctive “Noosa design,” a relaxed beach-meets-bush cosmetic. “We love our quiet road and also the abundance of birdlife waking us each morning,” Patrick says. “Being five minutes from among the world’s best beaches as well as the magnificent Noosa National Park definitely has its perks.”
at a Glance
Who lives here: Patrick and Linda Meldrum, as well as their 18-month-old daughter, Roxy
Location: Noosa Sound, Australia
Size: Around 160 square meters (1,722 square feet); 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
That is interesting: front deck material has been created from recycled plastic milk bottles.
Holly Marder
The natural aesthetic seen during the house pays tribute to the Meldrums’ preference for the indoor-outdoor Caribbean lifestyle. “I love that Caribbean manner of flowing from inside to outside,” Linda says. “We were going to get a laid-back summer Caribbean feel, with a mixture of new and old furniture and soft furnishings.”
Window frames and sliding doors: unntreated western cedar
Holly Marder
The couple purchased the property per week after they tied the knot at Noosa a decade past. When furnishing the interior, two key factors were taken under consideration. This was likely to be used primarily as a vacation rental, as well as the furniture needed to be practical and lasting while still using a lavish look and feel. Ten decades later, the first furnishings have stood the test of time and look current against a recently renovated backdrop.
The cane lounge suite is upholstered in a charcoal-colored fabric called Caribbean Weave, a strong material that will endure for many decades. Natural rugs and mocha-colored carpeting were chosen to the exact same function: to be dirtproof and durable.
Holly Marder
A major facet of the renovation was repainting the outside of the house. Patrick painted the outside himself over several grueling weeks, bringing a dated color scheme of eggshell blue and mustard yellow with sexy pink highlights in accord with the look and feel of the property’s interior.
“The task we likely procrastinated longest over was that the final colour scheme of the outside of the house,” Patrick says. The couple hired a colour consultant, who advised them to select warm earth tones. “It had been the best thing we did and money well spent. We did not even muck about with sample pots.”
The decking at the front door has been recently replaced with Modwood decking, an Australian-made, maintenance-free, composite timber product made from recycled plastic milk bottles and wood fibers. An exposed wood ceiling above the front entrance adds visual appeal.
All paint: Lumbersider, Resene; outside wall: Double Friar Grey; windows, windows and eaves: Albescent White; gutters and fascias: Bokara Grey; border wall: Triple Dune
Holly Marder
Besides the house’s lavish address, an integral selling point was that the timber cathedral ceiling. Along with the windows on each side of the living room, it gives the house a spacious and airy texture. “Our color consultant mentioned that it reminded her of this style of the Hamptons with all the walls and window panels,” Linda says.
Four bright hued frangipani canvases line the entrance hall. Sourced from the regional markets, they add a dash of colour to the neutral area.
Holly Marder
Three months after the couple were married, Linda sourced and purchased all of the furnishings to their new investment property. “I needed to keep in mind that we had existing bookings on the house from the prior owner, so I needed to be quick about acquiring furniture in,” Linda says. She had to select, buy and have the items delivered in a few days. 1 World Interiors has been her one-stop store for many important purchases and accessories.
Holly Marder
This breakfast nook provides a connection between the living and kitchen space, enabling light from the terrace to sweep through to the recently refurbished kitchen.
Holly Marder
The kitchen has been recently remodeled to create this fuss-free, practical space. “The kitchen has been handmade by precisely the exact same cypress pine boards as the flooring with a dim blue laminate bench shirt,” Patrick says. The kitchen faces south and does not get much natural lighting, so the few had it custom fitted with off-white stone bench tops and white glass backsplashes. In the corner behind the simple floral arrangement, is a hidden storage compartment.
Kitchen: G&M Craftsman Cabinets
Holly Marder
This roll-down wall makes for practical and convenient storage of frequently used breakfast appliances, such as the kettle and toaster.
Holly Marder
The guest area is a tranquil escape for visiting guests. Crisp whites and natural textures against a background of hot timber give it a dreamy Mediterranean texture. Plantation shutters lead into the terrace, which connects with the back porch and the pool.
Holly Marder
The newly renovated guest toilet has a compact, contemporary aesthetic. Before renovation, the bathroom was very dated and dim, complete with plastic tap fittings, apricot and navy blue tiling and wall tiles comprising seaside creatures.
“Our newest second toilet is our favourite room in the house, just because it’s all shiny and new yet melds perfectly with the older timber-dominated rooms at the house,” Patrick says.
The bathroom now has a contemporary bench-mounted bowl, a rock bench shirt, off-white tiling among the walls along with a metallic snakeskin-style tile onto the back wall of the shower recess.
Avalon Bench Mount Basin, vanity, rock shirt, fixtures and fittings: Highgrove Bathrooms
Holly Marder
The adjoining bedroom is where the baby sleeps while the family is there. When the home is booked, they just package up the crib, changing station and decorations, and put precisely the same single bed in its place. The vibrant bunting flags were handmade by Linda and her mother, and a string of colored lights injects color and fun into the room. Both can be removed easily when the room needs to used as a guest room.
Holly Marder
The upstairs master bedroom is a relaxing and personal oasis. It features the property’s signature timber cathedral ceilings, and crisp white linens infuse light into the area. The cane headboard and side tables give the room a plantation-style aesthetic, while accessories bring in a touch of the Caribbean. Plantation shutters lead to a tiny balcony, which can be understood from the front of the house.
Holly Marder
The en suite bathroom includes slate tiling throughout. Given the high timber ceilings and plenty of natural lighting, a dip in this spa tub feels almost like being outdoors.
Holly Marder
As enthusiastic cooks and natural entertainers, the Meldrums have plenty of use out of the back deck. “The outdoor timber deck sitting over the 14-meter pool just demands that you amuse and grill, and it is no chore for us,” says Patrick.
Holly Marder
New stone pavers surrounding the swimming pool along with solar panels on the north-facing cathedral roof were a major portion of the renovation. The couple plan to revive the garden by planting a few feature tropical plants and repaving the garden pathways. In the meantime, they’ll continue to enjoy the results of the own renovation and soak up the easygoing lifestyle of Noosa.