Home On The Bay Project: The Entryway

Fashion designer Kelli Wharton embarked on a transformative renovation of her blonde-brick suburban house in Byron Bay, converting it into a stunning beach-inspired home. Her clear vision was to create a cool, beachy abode that mirrored the laidback coastal lifestyle she and her family embraced, regularly spending time on the white sands south of Byron Bay. The design emphasized ease and functionality to suit a family with two young boys, incorporating natural elements like stone and wood throughout the interior to reflect the surrounding environment. Key changes included converting a bedroom into a family room, which was adorned with cushions from Talulah's homewares range. The living room features a striking coffee table from Ahoy Trader and a recently added Izzah Beni Ourain rug from Marr-Kett. The master bedroom was thoughtfully built in the space previously occupied by the garage, featuring whitewashed floorboards from Choices Flooring, contributing to the beachy aesthetic. The master bedroom also includes a colorful artwork by Jai Vasicek of Ahoy Trader, hanging above a chair sourced from Byron Designworks. The kitchen, a central hub for the family, was completely rebuilt in its original location to incorporate more cupboard and bench space, catering to practical family needs. The dining area features a marble-topped dining table from Coco Republic, complemented by chairs from Fenton & Fenton. The bathroom was updated with Bianco Industry Silver tiles from Byron Bay Tiles, ensuring a contemporary yet cohesive feel. An outdoor dining area includes a table from Kelli's father, paired with chairs imported from Indonesia, and a fan from Beacon Lighting, with a towel from the Talulah homewares range, enhancing the indoor-outdoor flow. Functionality and style extend to the exterior with a garage built from merbau timber at the front of the property, designed to house the family's surfboards, including a mini mal from Kelli's own label, Talulah. This renovation successfully blends modern design with a relaxed, beach-inspired atmosphere, creating a home that is both beautiful and practical for a coastal family life. #ByronBayHome #BeachHouseRenovation #HomeDecor #InteriorDesign #CoastalLiving #FashionDesignerHome #FamilyFriendlyDesign #HomeTransformation

Shelley Craft, co-host of The Block 2021, has unveiled her new beach house, named Pacifico House, located in Byron Bay. The property, acquired five years ago by Craft and her husband Christian Sergiacom, was formerly the site of a whaling station from 1954 to 1962. Craft's vision for the home was to move past the site's grim history and create a contemporary, light-filled 'forever home' that reflects Byron Bay's industrial heritage rather than a typical coastal aesthetic. The design ethos of Pacifico House focuses on 'restrained luxury' and practicality, incorporating industrial elements while maintaining comfort and environmental sensitivity. Craft emphasized the importance of air circulation and natural light in the home's design. This was achieved through the strategic use of raked ceilings, louvred windows, skylights, and sliding glass doors, contributing to the spacious and airy feel of the interior. The house features high ceilings, which Craft believes command attention upon entry, and open-plan living spaces designed for entertaining. The material choices include Gyprock Supaceil plasterboard for the ceilings and Gyprock Superchek plasterboard for many interior walls, highlighting Craft's attention to products that enhance comfort and liveability. The residence comprises five bedrooms and four bathrooms, showcasing a blend of style and functionality. A unique feature of Pacifico House is the 'surfclub change room,' which is clad in Cemintel Barestone in Graphite and Gyprock Aquachek. This room is equipped with two shower heads and a built-in timber bench, serving as a practical space for rinsing off after swimming in the pool or returning from the beach. This design choice underscores the home's integration with its beachside environment and the family's active lifestyle. The overall design successfully balances an industrial aesthetic with the relaxed atmosphere of a beach retreat, creating a cool, comfortable, and environmentally conscious family home. #ShelleyCraft #ByronBay #BeachHouse #HomeDesign #InteriorDesign #PacificoHouse #TheBlock #SustainableDesign

Doors serve as fundamental architectural elements, deeply embedded in language and psychology, facilitating the transition between spaces and defining boundaries between public and private realms. Historically, early European settlers in America utilized simple plank doors for protection from elements and intruders, a design known as board and batten. These early doors, including their hinges and hardware, were entirely wood-fabricated. While board and batten designs persisted in rural areas, residential architecture in more populous towns evolved through distinct styles such as Georgian, Federal, and Greek Revival between 1750 and 1840. These foundational styles shared a common architectural language, primarily drawing decorative elements from classical architecture. A notable feature, the raised-panel door, and a strict adherence to symmetry characterized these styles, despite variations and occasional overlaps. The advent of woodworking machinery in the 1830s revolutionized door manufacturing, leading to a wider selection of manufactured doors by the late 19th century. Both exterior and interior doors shared some design characteristics, though interior doors were typically thinner and initially utilized thumb latches rather than doorknob assemblies, remaining relatively thin until the 1840s. Technological advancements permitted greater embellishment, leading to more elaborate designs, particularly in the Greek Revival style. This style featured intricate molding designs, often nailed on, creating a layered panel-within-panel effect that could reach several inches in thickness. Victorians, known for their elaborate decorative tastes, further exploited machine-made door ornaments, leading to a proliferation of intricate door designs. Stained and etched glass emerged as Victorian innovations; initially, only the two upper panels were glazed, but by the 1880s, entire top halves of doors might feature leaded panes and patterned, colored stained glass. Despite the integration of traditional elements like fanlights, common in Georgian style, Victorians introduced intricate ironwork and brighter door colors. Later, a simpler, more modern yet almost medieval-looking design, the Arts & Crafts door, gained prominence at the turn of the 20th century. This style became a defining feature in bungalows, Foursquares, and Prairie School-inspired homes. Throughout history, door styles have continuously adapted, with material trends influenced significantly by cost. While wood remains a popular choice for its aesthetic appeal, insulated doors made of fiberglass and steel offer energy efficiency for entryways. Plastic and composite interior doors saw a boom in the early 2000s due to their perceived low maintenance and affordability. Despite radical changes in building technology, wood has consistently been the primary material for doors, even interior ones, owing to its superior thermal efficiency and dimensional stability compared to other materials. Wood's cellular structure acts as a natural insulator, proving significantly more efficient than steel. The sustainability of wood also appeals to environmentally conscious consumers. However, wood doors are not maintenance-free and require protection from constant exposure to full sun, often necessitating porches or hoods to preserve their finish. Expert craftsmanship emphasizes the satisfaction of transforming high-quality raw materials into durable and beautiful doors. Door security has also evolved dramatically. Robert Barron's 1778 patent for a double-acting tumbler lock marked an early serious attempt to enhance entrance door security. The Industrial Revolution in the 19th century spurred the production of metal and metal parts, leading to more secure locks. Even after World War I, some communities still relied on door shakers to ensure home security. While innovations like Marie Van Brittan Brown’s 1960s invention of the video monitoring and remote door operating system have modernized security, the basic principles of door locks endure. Today, 21 types of locks, from padlocks to deadbolts, serve various purposes, with materials and designs continually evolving for greater streamlining. The door's journey from a basic barrier to a complex, multi-functional element reflects ongoing human innovation, enriching daily life in countless ways. #DoorDesign #ArchitecturalHistory #HomeInteriors #BuildingMaterials #HomeSecurity #Woodcraft #VictorianArchitecture #ArtsAndCrafts #Sustainability

Aphy and Randy Lennon, approaching retirement, embarked on a significant home transformation, converting their Bethany Beach vacation property into a permanent residence. Their vision for this new phase of life was a comfortable, functional, and light-filled home, a stark contrast to their previous busy careers in Washington, D.C. The couple’s detailed wish list included a state-of-the-art kitchen, luxurious bathrooms, an open-concept living and dining area, a versatile den doubling as a home office, and extensive storage solutions. Aphy, a keen observer of home design trends, drew inspiration from various online resources like Pinterest and Houzz, but found the most valuable insights from in-person tours, particularly the annual Beach and Bay Cottage Tour in Bethany, for which she meticulously saved tour booklets and notes over 12 years. To actualize their ambitious plans, the Lennons collaborated with architect Scott Edmonston, whose work they admired, and builder Allen Curtis of Cottage Construction. A significant challenge was the home's location on wetlands bordering a pond, which precluded any expansion of the existing 2,350-square-foot footprint. Edmonston ingeniously devised solutions to maximize the perceived space and functionality within the existing structure. The cornerstone of this redesign was the creation of an open-concept gathering space on the second floor, seamlessly integrating the kitchen, living room, and dining area. This design choice reflected Aphy's desire to avoid a formal dining room, promoting a casual and interactive environment where she could engage with guests while cooking. The renovation involved removing internal walls and replacing old carpeting and tile with cohesive four-inch oak plank flooring throughout, donated to Habitat for Humanity. A striking feature of the transformation was raising the roof to create a lofty cathedral ceiling with white-painted tongue-and-groove wood and beams, significantly enhancing the sense of spaciousness. Given the absence of natural gas in their area, the couple opted for propane to power their stainless steel range and a fireplace set in stacked stone. The kitchen, designed by Sue Smith of Custom Cabinet Shop, features cottage-style beaded white cabinets, with a top bank of glass-fronted cabinets showcasing Aphy's pottery collection. A large island, topped with a massive slab of quartzite hoisted in by crane, serves as both a prep area and casual seating, equipped with specialized storage for cookbooks and small appliances. Rustic pendant lights illuminate the island and dining table. Beyond aesthetics, the renovation incorporated practical upgrades such as a surround-sound entertainment system and remote-controlled custom window blinds. The interior palette is serene, with Benjamin Moore’s Concrete Gray walls complementing white cabinetry, millwork, and subway tiles, alongside stainless steel and gray-veined quartzite accents. Design consultant Gail Lednum assisted with color schemes and furniture, incorporating comfortable solid-upholstered pieces with a bold gray-and-yellow floral print chair. The gray-and-white theme extends to the bathrooms, featuring Carrera marble and pewter-toned hardware. Unique design elements include a seamless sliding shower door in the guest bath and rolling mirrors in the master bath for light control. The redesign also optimized the home's natural surroundings, enhancing views of the pond and its wildlife through larger windows and an expanded screened porch. The garage was reconfigured to create a spacious laundry room with extensive storage, including a gift-wrap station and pantry. Externally, vinyl siding was replaced with cement board siding mimicking cedar, and the asphalt driveway was upgraded to a semicircular paver driveway, significantly boosting curb appeal. The transformed house is now a permanent and cherished home for the Lennons, allowing them to fully embrace their retirement in Bethany Beach. #BethanyBeachHome #OpenConceptDesign #HomeRenovation #CottageConstruction #RetirementHome #InteriorDesign #CoastalLiving #KitchenRemodel #BathroomUpgrade

The entryway or hallway of a home is a frequently traversed but often underutilized space, playing a crucial role in shaping a visitor's initial perception. Design experts emphasize that a well-executed entryway not only creates a positive first impression but also establishes design cohesion throughout the home and can visually expand smaller spaces. Dan Brungardt, a designer and owner of Home at Last, suggests extending the design concept from the driveway to the front walk and consistently carrying it through the interior. He highlights the importance of blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor areas, noting that repeating colors and design themes from the entryway to the back patio or deck can make a smaller house appear larger by presenting these spaces as extensions rather than enclosed areas. Color is identified as a powerful tool for attracting attention and revitalizing a space. While grays are currently fashionable, Brungardt recommends bold colors like reds and kelly or grass greens for front doors, drawing inspiration from his travels in Dublin, Ireland. He also advises using a high-sheen finish to enhance light reflection and create a softer lighting effect. Vickie Lynch, a designer and owner of Soho Interiors, agrees that front door color should reflect personal style, also favoring greens, blues, and salmon hues. For those hesitant to paint their front door, adding colorful accessories offers an alternative. Repurposing a thrift-store chair with a bold paint color for the porch or entryway can add visual interest and provide a spot for a planter, offering a flexible design solution. Incorporating planters, pots, or urns that complement the home's architectural style and color palette is also recommended. Careful plant selection, considering color, texture, and scale, is essential, with Brungardt suggesting one large pot over several small ones to avoid a cluttered look. Indoor/outdoor area rugs, available in various mildew- and fade-resistant colors, and brightly colored welcome mats for smaller spaces are other ways to introduce color. Beyond color, functional and aesthetic upgrades include replacing door glass with artistic options like leaded or stained glass, updating worn door handles or light fixtures, and coordinating hardware. Outdoor furniture should be high-quality, durable, and functional, with Lynch advising against cushions due to wear and soiling, instead preferring easily wipeable hard surfaces. Her guiding principle for entryways is "Less is more," advocating for good function and efficient use of space without overcrowding. Indoors, the design scheme should continue with coordinating area rugs and artwork. Mirrors or reflective pieces can be strategically placed to enlarge small entryways. Functional items such as a console table for keys and other essentials, or a coat rack and umbrella stand, add both utility and interest. The overall aim is to create a warm, welcoming, yet minimalist, elegant, and functional space. The article concludes by reiterating that the first impression of a home starts from the driveway, emphasizing the importance of well-manicured lawns and landscaping that seamlessly transition into the interior design. This holistic approach not only enhances living space but also significantly contributes to resale value. #HomeEntryways #HomeDecoration #InteriorDesign #ExteriorDesign #ColorPalette #FirstImpression #HomeImprovement #SpaceUtilization #HomeStyling