Ray Of Sunshine

This bright and breezy house in coastal Queensland is the perfect destination for an ocean-side escape plan.

- Fergus Bolton-Hall

Brisbane couple Genny and Chris Lee were originally searching for a dreamy coastal home in northern NSW, somewhere around Byron Bay or Lennox Head. The entrepreneurial pair who, among other business pursuits, import vintage Kombi vans from Brazil, were looking for a getaway where they could soak up the sun, catch waves and be transported into an easy, barefoot, endless summer lifestyle. When the Byron option didn’t pan out, they extended their search area north, up to Peregian Beach on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

Their quest for the perfect property ended when they chanced upon Helia House, a spectacular 1000-square-meter property with a single-story home overlooking Peregian Beach. The prime location is only 10 minutes south of Noosa Beach, with expansive 180-degree views of Noosa National Park and coastline.

Built-in the 1980s, the house had been extensively renovated just prior to Genny and Chris purchasing it 18 months ago. Key to the redesign – by architect Rohan Jackson of Blackburne Jackson – was the reconfiguration of internal spaces to improve the flow and open up the entire home to natural light.

Since taking over the property, Genny and Chris have done a wonderful job of finessing it. They have updated the landscaping and refreshed the home’s interior, injecting their personality with unique touches. “I had in my mind that I wanted a ‘modern 1970s’ vibe,” says Genny. “There are some vintage pieces and nostalgic references, but we tried to do it in a very contemporary way.”