SOUTH COAST BEACH HOUSE
3 hours from Sydney, and 2 hours from our
farm is a beautiful beach called Narrawallee
Beach. It is quieter than the nearby and
popular Mollymook Beach. Narrawallee
beach is what I can only describe as a 'cosy'
beach. This sheltered bay provides the
quintessential beach for family holidays.
Wide and level, it has lots of rock-pools for
the children and life-guard protection during
the holidays. There is a good walk down to
the other end of the beach with not a house
in sight.
During our first visit to this little town we
were lucky enough to discover an old
house, overlooking the beach, built in the
1950's and needing renovation. The solid
rectangular face-brick building, with ugly
windows and rotting timber-work was just
crying out for a make-over. The size and
structure was excellent. It called for new
windows and doors and a complete internal
refurbishment.
I still have very fond, perhaps sentimental
and old fashioned, memories of holidaying
in my Grand-Parent's beach house as
a small girl. This is the atmosphere I
envisioned for this house. A holiday house
full of nostalgia, filled with furniture and
objects which could provide memories for
my grand-children and their children one
day.
Here are photographs of the original house
and a couple of 'during' photos and the final
result. The house has six bedrooms and six
bathrooms... a great family beach house.
Having already had one family holiday, it
was voted a great success!
Most of these photos were taken very recently during our winter. I will re-post more in the summer! There are still many blank walls and empty shelves, but all of this will change over time.
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| The house before we started renovating |
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| The new entrance |
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| The original deck... |
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| The new deck |
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| The dilapidated side view |
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| The same elevation much improved |
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| The living room in the final stages of completion |
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| The living room completed - taken at Christmas |
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| The living room in the late afternoon light |
We bought mostly second-hand furniture which I had recovered.. and below a couple of examples.
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| The wing back chair looking very smart in the striped fabric. |
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| Two of these adorable tub chairs which swivel... much to the delight of the grandchildren! |
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| The two swivel chairs now in blue and white |
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| The Sunroom before |
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| and after |
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| The kitchen with butler's pantry behind. |
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| The Powder room |
The Six bedrooms are in different colours - red, blue, yellow, green, neutral and the floral above for the master suite.
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| The downstairs TV/playroom |
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| Bunny and Penny love the beach house and spending time with the babies! |
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| The pool area taken on a winter's day |
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| The outdoor oven |
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| A windy winter's day on the beach |
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| Evening light |
