At Sydney Beach Homes, we’re fans of a wide variety of architecture and decorative styles, which we’ll be featuring here on our blog from time to time. We thought we’d start with the quintessential Classic Australian Beach Home and offer some tips on how to get the style just right.
ARCHITECTURAL STYLE
Classic Australian beach homes, are typically of weatherboard construction, most often painted in white or soft shades borrowed from the coastal surroundings.
Gables are usually high with tiled or Colorbond roofing.
Go for a mix of ceiling heights internally. You might create an upper level in the eaves with dormer windows in parts of the home, while allowing ceilings in some of your living spaces to soar to the rafters.
Be sure to pay particular attention to windows – beach homes should be flooded with natural light, yet have the ability to shield rooms from the heat of the day. And of course, you need to make the most of any amazing views you may have. Coastal homes often locate the main living spaces on the upper levels to maximise the impact of available views, which also has the additional benefit of keeping the bedrooms cooler.
Louvered windows are a great way of capturing a little coastal breeze and filtering it through your home.
BRINGING THE OUTSIDE IN
Interiors should harmonise seamlessly with the outdoors, bringing you closer to nature and its soothing effects, while creating a greater feeling of space. You can get creative with folding, stacking or even garage style doors to open your living areas up to blend with your outdoor spaces.
Here are a couple of beautiful examples, that open the home front and back, effortlessly connecting the pool and gardens with the beach.
Blurring the boundaries of the indoors and outdoors lends itself particularly well to the kitchen.
Allowing your kitchen bench to extend out through a bi-fold or awning-style window to the outdoor entertaining area, creates a handy and sociable kitchen servery. This is a great way to connect the kitchen to the barbecue area, making it easy to pass food and drinks without continually having to move in and out of the house.
KEEPING CLEAN AND TIDY
Australian beach homes generally tend to facilitate a fairly active ocean-side lifestyle, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with half of the beach finding its way into your home.
Thinking carefully about your entrances and the facilities you place there will make your life a lot easier and keep your home a lot neater.
Build in storage areas by your entrance ways, where surf boards, beach toys and equipment, towels and beach bags etc. can be grabbed quickly and easily, and more importantly, deposited on the way back inside without trailing mess and clutter through the house.
Add some shelves, baskets or cupboards to store small items like thongs, sunscreen, hats and shades so you’re always ready to take advantage of an impromptu walk to the beach.
Beachside living can involve lots of larger toys and gadgets too, and they all need a home, so make sure you create ample storage for bicycles, jet skis, kayaks etc. etc. It’s a good idea to install a water source close by too, so you can hose things down before you put them away.
A beach home is the perfect environment to install an outdoor bathroom or shower area. You can make sure everyone is clean and sand-free before they step back in the house. Be sure to make it accessible from the front and the back the property. Having to trail through the house to use the outdoor shower, kind of defeats the object of your ingenious facility.
This clever design (far right) featured in House Beautiful magazine, allows access to an indoor bathroom from the garden.
COASTAL COLOURS
When selecting your colours, both internally and externally, it’s always best to create harmony with your particular environment. There are exceptions, but bright or bold colours can be particularly jarring and will detract from the serenity that is the trademark of a house by the ocean.
If in doubt, you simply cannot go wrong with white. This is the ultimate backdrop for your coastal look. Go for an all-over white on white theme, using contrasting materials and texture to create interest, or blend with sandy and pale ocean colours. White also looks incredibly fresh combined with zingy leafy greens, or if you plan to have a pool, carry highlights of refreshing light blues and aquas throughout your living spaces.
For a twist on the classic opt for deep blues or smoky greys as a base – or sandy coloured natural timber.
Remember, colours that look good on a paint swatch at your local hardware store may look completely different in the direct sunlight. Find place to test your colours and view them over several days under different lighting conditions to make sure you get it right.
Look out for our “Colours of our World” posts on our Facebook page for inspiration – www.facebook.com/pg/sydneybeachhomes/
INTERIOR STYLE
Typical beach home décor can conjure up images of overly twee, beachy styled cottages that almost look like caricatures, but for us, a practical coastal style really doesn’t mean overloading your home with every little beach related knick-knack you can get your hands on, or find washed up on the beach.
Classic coastal living is about serenity, embracing the elements and taking influence from the beach and the ocean. It’s certainly a casual lifestyle, but that doesn’t mean we can’t weave in a little sophistication too.
By adding just a few carefully chosen beach inspired items to a classically stylish design, these become statement pieces and add a welcome accent to the décor.
These elegant images from coastal-style.blogspot.com.au demonstrates this beautifully.
Beach living really lends itself to natural materials and fabrics, chalky paints, bleached timbers etc.
But don’t be afraid to add some contrast as well to avoid creating a jaded, clichéd beach-house style.
Mix in some contemporary pieces and finishes for a little drama and interest as well as the occasional antique or retro item. Beach house style should be personalised – it’s not one look that you must try to emulate at all costs – it should be very much your look and reflect the personality and lifestyle of you and your family.
IN SUMMARY
The key to creating a beautiful and functional beach home – or any home, in fact, is research. If you don’t have a definite idea of the style you want to create, spend lots of time poring through magazines, making Pinterest boards, collecting colour charts and pulling it all together to see how it looks. Once you have defined your colours, it’s a good idea to always take them shopping with you, as it’s really very difficult to keep a colour in your head. This will save a lot of wasted time, buying and returning things that don’t quite work with your scheme.
We just love to work with our clients’ ideas and help bring them to life, adding our own knowledge and expertise to surpass their initial expectations.
If you’d like to see what we can do together, give us a call…
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[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”] We thought we’d kick off our blog with a little overview of Curl Curl (or Curly) as the locals call it. South Curl Curl is the Sydney beach suburb we have chosen to call home, so it has a special place in our hearts.
About Curl Curl
Located on Sydney’s northern beaches between Dee Why and Freshwater, North Curl Curl and South Curl Curl beaches blend into a 1.2 km stretch of beautiful sand dunes and surf. In fact, it is one of Sydney’s best surfing beaches, averaging 1.6m waves.
The northern part of the beach has a quiet lagoon that flows into the sea, which is a great area for kids, with its shallow water.
It’s mainly frequented by locals here, so it doesn’t get nearly as busy as the likes of Manly and Dee Why, but it is close enough for a short trip to either one to immerse yourself in a more bustling vibe.
Curly is a real natural beauty with its rocky headlands, sun-soaked beach, wonderful ocean pool and open parklands and reserve.
And we have our more than our fair share of breathtaking sunrises.
Living in Curl Curl
If you live here already, you’ll know just how special this place is.
If you’re looking to move to the beach, this may help you to decide if Curly is the right place for you.
This is a very residential suburb and is dominated by family homes, so it provides a great lifestyle for families. You’ll find very few apartment blocks here – instead, you will see a variety of residences from quintessential Australian beach houses, to contemporary luxury homes, making the most of the incredible views we have here.
The atmosphere is relaxed and casual, with a cluster of neighbourhood shops and cafes, parks, picnic areas and playgrounds.
Ocean fishing is a popular sport, as well as netball, softball and hockey, catered for at John Fisher Park alongside the lagoon.
You’ll find a list of our favourite spots as well as a list of local schools at the end of this post.
Swimming at Curl Curl
Double the pleasure – we have two of everything!!
Each end of the beach has its own surf life saving club, car park, café/kiosk and ocean pool, perfect for swimming laps and ideal for children, or less than confident swimmers.
The beaches are patrolled by lifeguards between September – April.
If you are planning to swim at the beach, make sure you stay between the flags, as there are several rips at any one time, the most notable one being the infamous ‘Garbage Bowl’ at the southern end of the beach.
We are both Patrol Captains at the South Curl Curl Surf Life Saving Club, so we’ll be there to look out for you!
North Rock Pool
This pool is pretty unique, as it is so tucked away into the cliff face, which overhangs the pool one side, and it has two big rocks in the pool itself forming a couple of ‘islands’. It’s also quite unusual to have an ocean pool like this on the northern end of a bay, which can make it vulnerable to heavy seas and swells off the south, so please take care when swimming here – and watch those little ones.
We particularly love this pool. It has a great 50m pool section, marked with lanes at the ends for lap swimming. A wall divides this section from a shallow paddling or wading area with a gradual walk into the water, emulating the natural walk into the ocean.
If, for you, all of this ocean activity is more of a spectator’s sport, just find a spot at Gusto on the Beach, where you can relax and watch the multitude of surfers, body boarders and ocean swimmers negotiate the rolling ocean waves, while sipping your favourite coffee.
Activities
Park Run
Meet up every Saturday at 7 am for the Park Run Curl Curl, where people of all ages come together and run for 5 km – no racing, no pressure – just fun!
The Nippers programme is designed to allow children over 5 to gradually learn about beach and water safety, lifesaving skills and teamwork, while making friends in a supportive environment on Sunday mornings, from October to April.
The North and South Curl Curl SLSCs have been going since 1922 and 1918 respectively and both are proud to report ‘no lives lost’ since their beaches have been patrolled.
South Curl Curl SLSC Nippers
South Curly is a family oriented club – these guys make it really fun and educational.
It’s also a very social club, holding regular Sunday breakfast barbeques on the promenade after Nippers.
Friday evening nippers and sippers as well as Sunday evening sippers are held often during the season.
The North Curly team really wants the kids to enjoy their Sundays at the beach, while developing their skills and they, too encourage all parents to get involved in training – and also as cooks at the weekly after-nippers barbeque.
Gusto on the Beach
Speciality coffee and café fare
South Curl Curl Surf Life Saving Club, Carrington Parade, South Curl Curl
02 9939 5689 Visit Website
Penny Lane Cafe
Fresh house made produce
1/31 Brighton Street, Curl Curl
02 9905 0022 Visit Facebook Page
Cooh Organic Coffee
Gourmet organic café fare
64-68 Pitt Road, North Curl Curl
P. 02 9939 8565 Visit Website
Curly’s On The Corner
Classic café fare with a kid’s corner
77 Pitt Road, North Curl Curl
02 9401 0195 Visit Facebook Page
Playgrounds & Recreation
John Fisher Park Playground & Playing Fields
Fenced in playground next to playing fields
Abbott Road, North Curl Curl
Google places category: SportsActivityLocation
Surf Reserve
Spacious playground behind the sand dunes of North Curl Curl beach
Surf Road, North Curl Curl
Google places category: SportsActivityLocation
Stirgess Reserve
Neighbourhood playground with plenty of shade and picnic tables
9 Stirgess Avenue, Curl Curl
Schools
Curl Curl North Public School
Co-ed, yrs K-6
Playfair Road, North Curl Curl
02 9905 1757 Visit Website
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”] Living by the ocean, it’s important to have a respect and understanding of water safety. One of the best ways to do this is to join the local Surf Life Saving Club. Jono and I have been patrolling the beach at South Curly for almost 20 years now, working a half-day patrol every 5 weeks or so.
We both love the surf club culture and have developed some really close friendships there. It’s such a great place to bring up kids and getting them involved in the Nippers programme, teaching them good surf skills. Eventually many of them will be doing patrols as well in the future.
Both my children’s godparents are surf club people and they have been very significant role models for my kids and family as our community values are very much aligned.
I think Jono & I both have generous natures and feel the real wealth comes from giving back and helping others. Offering our time for patrol services is one of the ways we can contribute.
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The club believes its most important function is to provide patrols every weekend and public holiday during the surf season. All active senior members provide patrol duty throughout the season on a rotational basis, which usually works out one day per month.
We’re really proud to be a part of the South Curl Curl Surf Life Saving Club, which has been in existence since 1918. It is a testament to the club’s dedication and hard work that no lives have been lost whilst the beach has been patrolled. The Club places great emphasis on training club members in life saving skills to ensure this tradition is maintained.
The South Curl Curl Surf Life Saving Club is a volunteer organisation and its basic objective is to provide the highest possible level of water safety to visitors to South Curl Curl beach throughout the surf season (currently October to April).
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Last year the network of beach patrol volunteers throughout NSW performed over 5000 rescues around 26000 first aid treatments and 440,000 preventative actions.
The coastline is a beautiful and dynamic place, but please remember it can also be hazardous and unpredictable. Knowing how to stay safe when you visit the beach is essential.
Follow these tips for safety …
1. Always swim between the red and yellow flags – it’s impossible for patrol captains to monitor every part of the water, so please stay where we can keep an eye on you. If there are no flags, you should not swim.
2. Look and take notice of the signs at the beach – these are put in place to alert you to various hazards. Although some of these may be permanent, others are placed each day by the lifeguards to highlight specific hazards, such as rip currents.
3. Ask a lifeguard or lifesaver for safety advice – if you’re not sure about anything at all, ask your lifeguard. We are highly trained and knowledgeable about beach safely and conditions, so talk to us – it’s what we’re here for.
4. Learn how to identify a rip. Joining a SLSC will help to educate you, but again you can ask your lifeguard to help you.
You’re looking for deeper, dark-coloured water with fewer breaking waves and a rippling surface. You might also see foamy, sandy water flowing beyond the waves.
It’s not just tourists and poor swimmers that get caught in rips.
Don’t try to swim against the rip as you will quickly become exhausted. Try to float with the current, while raising an arm for help – or try to swim parallel to the beach to catch some breaking waves to help you back to shore.
5. Swim with a friend so you can look out for each other- never swim or surf alone.
6. If you need help, try to stay calm and attract attention by raising your arm above your head. Conserve your energy by floating until you are rescued.
7. Please never enter the water if you have been drinking alcohol or are under the influence of drugs.
8. Always wear sunscreen – even on a cloudy day. Bring some shade to the beach with you and make sure you and stay hydrated.
9. If you are bodyboarding, please remember to use a leash and wear fins. Lifeguards often rescue bodyboarders who couldn’t kick their way out of rips, because they weren’t wearing fins.
10. If you witness an in-water emergency, alert the surf rescue team on the beach. If you are outside a patrol area, dial Triple Zero (000) – Police.
For information on Beach conditions or to find a patrolled beach near you, you can check out the BeachSafe website or download the mobile app.
Ocean Secrets only beach-dwellers truly understand
Moving closer to the sea significantly improves your wellbeing. The seaside environment can actually reduce stress and encourage physical activity. Of course, we all feel this, but researchers studying the physiological benefits of coastal living are coming up with some compelling evidence. We’re pretty sure it has positive psychological benefits too.
You might get frustrated when your beach gets busy with day-trippers, but you appreciate the place you call home all the more after everybody’s gone.
You love the beach all year round – you know it’s not just for summer and love nothing more than rugging up for a brisk wintry walk on the water’s edge.
You crave that sense of calm that comes over you when you look at the water. Even being alone at the beach makes you smile in your heart – this is your special place. You somehow feel like this beach is yours and only yours – we all do!
You feel just a little sad for anyone that doesn’t live by the beach and can’t understand why people would choose to live anywhere else.
You can’t imagine life without the continuous soundtrack of the ocean waves.
You know you’ll never be short of something to do.
The sunrises and sunsets seem to look so much more magnificent at the beach – maybe because they are amplified by the ocean.
You take infinite pleasure in the natural delights the ocean has to offer, from rock pools, to sea creatures, to shells, sea glass and pretty stones.
You’re not wild about wearing shoes.
You never underestimate the power and unpredictability of the ocean and you constantly worry that visitors may not have the same appreciation and get into difficulty.
Nothing in the world tastes like fish & chips eaten by the sea, with your lungs full of salty air.
Can you imagine living anywhere else? We didn’t think so! 🙂
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0414 562 730
