Everything about this beach house in Normanville, SA, was inspired by its coastal location; from the material choice and colour palette, to the laid-back functionality
Designer and owner, Adam Johnson, says the brief was simple; ‘create a low-maintenance space to complement a coastal lifestyle and the neighbourhood it sits in.’
Beyond this, it needed to be highly functional, durable and suitable for up to two families with kids.
‘If you’ve ever been to the beach with a bunch of toddlers, you know it’s like the Wild West upon return,’ he explains. ‘[In this home] Sandy feet and wet bums are quickly addressed in the courtyard with an outdoor shower and civility is restored prior to returning inside.’
The design isn’t compromised by the need for function and durability, rather, the opposite. Adam picked materials that would perform well in the home’s coastal setting — and look good too.
In fact, before the design had even commenced, he’d chosen Krause Bricks and Australian Sustainable Hardwoods‘ ‘Iron Ash’ timber for both internal and external use in the home, ‘to create a seamless transition’.
Joining these natural materials is a colour palette inspired by Banksia integrifolia (coastal banksia), native to the Fleurieu Peninsula.
‘Upholstery, bed linen and tiles are all composed of tones that occur in our natural environment,’ Adam says. ‘Even the veins in the bathroom marble subtly pick up on the greens and golds.’
The completed home is exactly what any beach house should be; a place to disconnect and relax.
‘It’s an idyllic escape,’ says Adam. ‘A two minute stroll to the beach from the house means that once there, it’s easy to ditch the car and take a breath.’
