Holiday At Home
Australian House & Garden Magazine|February 2020
Once an “ugly duckling”, this 1990s home on the NSW Central Coast is now a welcoming family retreat.
John McDonald
Holiday At Home

This home on the Central Coast of NSW is beautifully bright and breezy. But it wasn’t always that way. Recalling its previous incarnation, owner Kathryn Garton says the home was “a bit of an ugly duckling”, albeit with plenty of potential for improvement. It was a bland beige-on-beige weatherboard and masonry structure, but the location – backing onto the beach – was so wonderful that she and her husband Ian couldn’t resist. Today, it’s the perfect coastal getaway for the couple, their daughters Andrea, 16, Georgia, 15, and beloved cavalier King Charles spaniel, Charlie.

Kathryn and Ian bought the home in 2014; in 2017, they were ready to renovate and engaged interior designer Stewart Horton of Horton & Co for the project. Stewart had renovated their main residence in Sydney’s west, so the couple had complete faith that Stewart would come up with just the right design and scheme. The project took almost two years to complete, including receiving the necessary council approvals, but the Gartons say it was definitely worth the wait.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN MAGAZINEView all
Megan Morton's - RURAL IDYLL
Australian House & Garden Magazine

Megan Morton's - RURAL IDYLL

The stylist and author reveals the secrets to her decorating journey with Mimosa Moon, her home in the Northern Rivers region of NSW.

time-read
4 mins  |
August 2024
RURAL RETREAT
Australian House & Garden Magazine

RURAL RETREAT

A Colonial-look 1970s property on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria is gently renovated with an English-country aesthetic in mind.

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024
Michael Reid OAM
Australian House & Garden Magazine

Michael Reid OAM

The renowned art dealer and entrepreneur, who runs a congregation of creative businesses across the globe, shares the moments and muses that have shaped his extensive career.

time-read
3 mins  |
August 2024
MASTER peace
Australian House & Garden Magazine

MASTER peace

Gallery owner Michael Reid has created his own living paradise, a rambling garden he keenly shares with fellow art lovers who visit the Murrurundi, NSW, gallery location.

time-read
3 mins  |
August 2024
GARDENS of the world
Australian House & Garden Magazine

GARDENS of the world

Up close and personal with the most memorable gardens in Morocco and Spain.

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024
INTO the wild
Australian House & Garden Magazine

INTO the wild

Three words inspired the rework of this Kangaroo Valley, NSW, home among the gum trees: embracing, vibrant and Animalia.

time-read
2 mins  |
August 2024
COUNTRY kitchen.
Australian House & Garden Magazine

COUNTRY kitchen.

Flavourful and warming dishes from The Cordony Kitchen with seasonal vegetables as the stars of the show.

time-read
4 mins  |
August 2024
HOLIDAY at home
Australian House & Garden Magazine

HOLIDAY at home

Missing the Indonesian villa they enjoyed on a recent holiday the owners decided to recreate their own retreat at home.

time-read
1 min  |
August 2024
STATEMENT piece
Australian House & Garden Magazine

STATEMENT piece

For a holiday home that embodies the coastal beauty of Bermagui, NSW, minimalist bricks were the natural choice, inside and out.

time-read
1 min  |
August 2024
EFFORTLESS charm
Australian House & Garden Magazine

EFFORTLESS charm

With a discrete street frontage, this home fulfils the brief to keep its visual impact on the lush surrounds to a minimum.

time-read
1 min  |
August 2024