My Houzz: Unpretentious Update for Sydney Beach House
A relaxing collage of bright colors and eclectic furnishings, couple's 1950s home doesn't take itself too seriously
Donna and Chris Allen's home in a beachside pocket of Sydney is a lesson in compromise. "We had architect-designed plans approved to knock down the existing house and rebuild a new, ecofriendly home from scratch, but the economy put our plans on the back burner," Donna says. Using Donna's interior decorating background, they decided to take on budget-friendly renovations to their outdated spaces and bring in their playful, relaxed coastal style.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Donna and Chris Allen with their dogs José and Nacho
Location: Clontarf, Northern Beaches, Sydney, Australia
Size: Approximately 2,000 square feet; 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
That's interesting: Native possums, lorikeets, cockatoos and water dragons frequently visit their doorstep.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Donna and Chris Allen with their dogs José and Nacho
Location: Clontarf, Northern Beaches, Sydney, Australia
Size: Approximately 2,000 square feet; 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
That's interesting: Native possums, lorikeets, cockatoos and water dragons frequently visit their doorstep.
Donna, an interior decorator for The Space Within, put bright red and blue furnishings against the home's existing timber framework and whitewashed the original timber floorboards throughout the living space.
Vintage bus scroll: Doug Up on Bourke; lamp: Coco Republic
Vintage bus scroll: Doug Up on Bourke; lamp: Coco Republic
The pair is now in the middle of installing a new fireplace. The house had a chimney, but they couldn't find the fireplace until they removed a bit of shelving and paneling.
A gallery of family travel photos hangs on a yellow accent wall.
Armoire: Dock One (now closed)
A gallery of family travel photos hangs on a yellow accent wall.
Armoire: Dock One (now closed)
A subtle beach theme, evoking sandy getaways, flows throughout the home. "I love salvage and antique stores where I can find original industrial pieces — furniture, signs, paraphernalia," Donna says.
Console: Complete Pad
Console: Complete Pad
Donna's office is a mix of industrial style and eclecticism. "I tend to mix and layer styles without being a slave to any one in particular," she says. "I do love things with a history and a patina developed through age and use though, hence the industrial bent. Currently, I can't seem to get enough of Abigail Ahern's approach to dark spaces and layering of unexpected details; I love Jonathan Adler's use of bold color and his philosophy that decorating should be fun and not taken too seriously. Finally, I think Sarah Richardson is a genius with mixing fabrics."
Stainless steel countertop: Ikea; mirror: Meizai
Stainless steel countertop: Ikea; mirror: Meizai
A view of Sydney Harbour, one of Australia's most prized natural features, is the highlight of Donna's office space.
The guest room was originally Donna's study. She swapped the rooms so that she can enjoy the harbor views while working. The room has now been adopted by their dog José.
The master bedroom on the second level has a private deck and leads into Donna's dressing room.
Donna's dressing room, also with views of the water, is large enough to be a spare bedroom.
Shelf: Expedit, Ikea
Shelf: Expedit, Ikea
When the Allens moved here, the kitchen cabinetry was an unpleasant, faded pink. "We couldn't work out why anyone would install a pink kitchen when everything else in the room — tiles, light fixtures, blinds — was burnt orange and avocado green," she says. "I pulled the door handles off to paint the cabinetry, and it turns out the cabinets were originally burnt orange, faded to pink over the years!"
During a monthlong remodel, the couple refreshed the kitchen with navy blues and crisp whites, designing it with an open layout and plentiful eat-in space.
Kitchen island: The Country Trader; weights: David Met Nicole; industrial vinyl flooring by Polyflor
During a monthlong remodel, the couple refreshed the kitchen with navy blues and crisp whites, designing it with an open layout and plentiful eat-in space.
Kitchen island: The Country Trader; weights: David Met Nicole; industrial vinyl flooring by Polyflor
"I love having the Harbour at our doorstep, the ocean next door and the abundance of native wildlife," Donna says. "We have possums, lorikeets and cockatoos that visit every day and, in summer, the water dragons come out and sit by the pool. Recently we've been joined by two brushturkeys who like to roam up and down the street."
Donna hangs out in the backyard with José and Nacho. "There are more design plans in the works," she says. "The list is long, but after the fireplace we hope to tackle the main bathroom and to repaint the exterior."
Houzz call: Do you have a creative beach house? Share it with us!
Houzz call: Do you have a creative beach house? Share it with us!
Donna gave the home a chic do-over in a beachy style with bold contrasts and vibrant color schemes. "Nothing here is serious," she laughs.