My Houzz: Bohemian Eclectic Flair for a 1960s Coastal Home
An interior designer with a passion for sustainability personalizes her Australian rental home with eco-friendly furniture, color and warmth
Tamara Armstrong
August 11, 2016
Houzz Australia Contributor. Lifestyle Photographer and Visual Artist based in the beautiful surrounds of the Gold Coast hinterland in sunny Queensland.
Houzz Australia Contributor. Lifestyle Photographer and Visual Artist based in the... More
Interior designer Cris Bucknall lives in the sunny coastal town of Tweed Heads in northern New South Wales, Australia, with her two young daughters and their rescue dog, Kona. The founder of Eco Chic, an eco-friendly online business offering sustainable and stylish furniture and housewares, transformed a 1960s three-bedroom rental with her love of art, upcycled furniture and environmentally friendly goods.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Cris Bucknall, founder of Eco Chic; her two daughters, Kira and Emery; and their dog, Kona
Location: Tweed Heads, New South Wales, Australia
Size: Three bedrooms
The worn kilim rug in the living room brings warmth and character to this central space in designer Cris Bucknall’s home. The decor is kid-friendly and not too precious to be used or touched, she notes. The leather club chair is from a thrift shop; Bucknall had it reupholstered in vintage leather. The coffee table is one of her designs.
The gallery wall features images of the family and its travels.
Silver Coptic cross and coral on coffee table: Eco Chic
Who lives here: Cris Bucknall, founder of Eco Chic; her two daughters, Kira and Emery; and their dog, Kona
Location: Tweed Heads, New South Wales, Australia
Size: Three bedrooms
The worn kilim rug in the living room brings warmth and character to this central space in designer Cris Bucknall’s home. The decor is kid-friendly and not too precious to be used or touched, she notes. The leather club chair is from a thrift shop; Bucknall had it reupholstered in vintage leather. The coffee table is one of her designs.
The gallery wall features images of the family and its travels.
Silver Coptic cross and coral on coffee table: Eco Chic
Bucknall is a fan of tribal and Moroccan motifs. She’s found that black metals, bronze and a contemporary “south of Spain meets northern Morocco” look are popular with her clients. “Every single client I’ve had for the last three years has said they want eclectic and they want some color. Nobody wants all neutrals anymore, even though that seems to be what’s in most of the shops,” Bucknall says.
Capiz shell and leather tray: Eco Chic
Capiz shell and leather tray: Eco Chic
The living room has large windows with views of the beautiful landscape.
The family calls this desk made from recycled walnut “the homework desk.”
A collection of diverse pieces is artfully arranged on a cane stand.
The bar stools are roadside finds that got a fresh coat of paint and new cushions. Artwork on the wall provides a splash of color.
A piece by artist Linda Keough hangs in the dining room, providing an elegant focal point.
This TV stand was another roadside find. Bucknall gave it new life by painting it a vibrant blue.
Bucknall studied visual art and film in Santa Barbara, California. She began her career as a set designer in Hollywood, working for director Ridley Scott. She founded Eco Chic as an offshoot of her interior design company Mannigan Edwards Interiors. Later she designed hotels and resorts in Fiji and Australia. Bucknall has grown to love Australian artwork and likes to support local artists.
Bucknall, pictured, fell in love with the home’s beat-up wood floors and wood-burning brick fireplace. It also has high ceilings with decorative cornices and amazing views of Terranora Inlet, Boyds Bay and Cook Island.
“The day [the home] was listed for rent, the kids and I snuck down to look in the window. I loved how old it was, and the location was incredible. So I called the agent at 8:01 the next morning and told them they had to give it to me, and they would be making a terrible mistake if they gave it to anyone else,” Bucknall says.
The real estate agent was quick to point out that the home was “really old.” This made Bucknall laugh, as an old house in California is well over 100 years old. “Plus, as an interior designer I would make it look better than it ever had and would treat it as my own. I then stalked them for two days until they gave it to me,” she says.
“The day [the home] was listed for rent, the kids and I snuck down to look in the window. I loved how old it was, and the location was incredible. So I called the agent at 8:01 the next morning and told them they had to give it to me, and they would be making a terrible mistake if they gave it to anyone else,” Bucknall says.
The real estate agent was quick to point out that the home was “really old.” This made Bucknall laugh, as an old house in California is well over 100 years old. “Plus, as an interior designer I would make it look better than it ever had and would treat it as my own. I then stalked them for two days until they gave it to me,” she says.
Bucknall made her bed and headboard. “My blood, sweat and tears went into it. I bought the plywood and the foam, made the frame out of picture frame molding, stretched the rustic linen and then hand-tapped in every single silver stud,” she says.
Most nights the family hangs out here watching a movie or just chatting. “My bedroom is right off the living room, which is terrible for privacy, but it is nice because it’s like the indoor lounge area of the house.”
Most nights the family hangs out here watching a movie or just chatting. “My bedroom is right off the living room, which is terrible for privacy, but it is nice because it’s like the indoor lounge area of the house.”
Bucknall describes her style as bohemian eclectic. “Every single thing in my house is either secondhand or is made from secondhand materials. My antique kilim rugs are old and worn, and nothing really matches, but somehow it all works. I love color and pattern,” she says.
Salvaged Australian camphor side table: Eco Chic
Salvaged Australian camphor side table: Eco Chic
With the whole family gathering in the main bedroom, comfort is essential. Bucknall swears by her Egyptian cotton sheets from Target.
The bedroom of Bucknall’s older daughter, Kira, is full of character and fun design touches. She bought the wallpaper on Etsy, and the bold turquoise dresser provides great storage.
A mixture of pattern, color and handmade pieces packs lots of personality and brightness into Kira’s room.
Eight-year-old Emery’s bedroom is also injected with color and playful touches. A rug design by Bucknall is seen here.
The veranda is Bucknall’s favorite spot in the home. “I curl up on my generously sized daybed with both kids and the dog in the morning sun, and it is beautifully shaded for the rest of the day,” she says. “It’s a great spot for eating, reading, sleeping and having friends stop by for a cuppa. Every year for my birthday we light a little fire in a [barbecue] out there and toast marshmallows.”
Bucknall’s love of color and pattern are at play throughout the warm and welcoming home. This outdoor coffee table is made from recycled wood and sits on one of her rug designs. Pictured here is an African Binga basket and shells sold on Eco Chic.
The southeast-facing balcony is almost as big as the whole interior of the home. The space gets a cool breeze and is protected from the hot western sun as it dips down behind Mount Warning. Bucknall inherited the cane chairs and had the cushions covered in fabric by Fab Outdoor Fabrics.
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style:
Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style:
Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
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love the house and wow the dog
I love your house Cris - the decor and views provide a joyful feeling - stylish and most importantly a functional family home.