Damon and Ceinwen have been holidaying in their own backyard since they returned from overseas nine years ago.
And there’s never been a better time to do just that in South Australia.
The Adelaide couple fell in love with the beautiful and unique seaside town of Coffin Bay, located at the southern point of the Eyre Peninsula, on their first visit during summer.
So much so, they bought a place there three months later.
Six months after that, the pair finished renovating the 1980s beach house, adding some much-needed warmth and style, without taking away from the existing features.
Now, the property, which has three bathrooms and sleeps 8-10, is yours to enjoy. Along with the stunning ocean views – from every room just quietly – and all that Coffin Bay, with its natural beauty, wildlife, national parks and pristine beaches, has to offer.
The short story is you can go ahead and create your own memories by booking online
The long story?
“When we first arrived in the town, it was like something just clicked and we instantly fell in love with its laid-back vibe, friendly locals and stunning scenery,” Ceinwen, who works in HR, says.
“We loved that the house had been handcrafted by the previous owners and wanted to keep the soul of the house and many of the original features, particularly the bespoke timber paneling.”
Ceinwen and Damon even made a promise to the original owners they wouldn’t knock it down, but rather update instead.
“From our own experience, holiday homes often lack a little warmth and style so we really went about creating somewhere special that we would want to take friends and family," she says.
As Ceinwen puts it, the beach house is a meticulous blend of old and new with a touch of contemporary luxury. There’s vintage furniture, modern appliances, eclectic artwork. And it all fits together.
“I had some really clear ideas early on,” Ceinwen says of the interior of the house she designed with the help of some friends.
“I wanted it to look like it could have always been that way,so more of a 1970s/80s vibe.
“I’ve tried to take the inspiration from the original home and I was channeling a laid back surf shack with the contemporary additions you would expect - new dishwashers, washing machine etc.
“I wanted to go Low-Fi or No-Fi but Damo and his best mate won that battle so there is also a huge TV in the family room.”
But, while it all came together, fitting out the entire house with furniture wasn’t easy, especially with the Covid pandemic making interstate deliveries difficult.
Drawing from the experience of their first renovation – the family home in 2017 - selections were made and ordered before they even had the keys. Some things didn’t make it, and others only just.
“Lots of the furniture was bought from auction houses and the amazing travertine table from Curated Spaces was shipped across from Sydney just days before they went into lockdown,” Ceinwen explains.
The changes weren’t just cosmetic, either. Architect David Brown from BB Architects joined the pair at the first open inspection and helped plan the main part of the addition – the deck and new bathroom.
The original idea was to just extend the existing deck out, but, now, it wraps around the house, further taking advantage of the property’s waterfront position and allowing for an undercover dining area with easy access to the kitchen.
“Now you can see the sand dunes of the national park over your shoulder from the kitchen sink – that was a bonus,” Ceinwen adds.
“We also converted the walk-in robe into an ensuite for an extra bathroom which has proved very popular when everyone arrives back from the beach at the same time.”
We can imagine.
The existing timber lining exterior was painted black in Porter's Palm Cove Black in an eye-catching statement, which surprisingly takes a backseat to the colourful surroundings.
But don’t ask Damon – a corporate affairs consultant - about the colour. He was covered in it after a full can fell off the scaffolding during a long day painting.
“Damo may never pick up another paint brush,” Ceinwen says with a laugh as she explains how much they underestimated the task of doing it themselves.
But to help keep the budget from blowing out further, with the help of family and friends, they got there. And they are now enjoying the end result, before work on the next project, the original 1950s beach cabin out the back, begins.
“Our children, now eight and ten, already talk about how much they love it there – from marshmallow roasting over the fire pit, going out in the tinny to fish, sand and surf boarding or just the freedom of being allowed to ride down to the local shop for a bag of mixed lollies.
“We love that we are giving our children some of the freedoms we experienced as kids but don’t feel so comfortable doing now, living in a city.
“We tried to cater for the needs of everyone for the ultimate family holiday and a place where we can welcome and entertain our friends.”
And, now, they are welcoming you to do the same with your family and friends.
Just maybe don’t mention the TV.
WHAT YOU GET AT THEIR PLACE
Sleeps 8-10 (2 Queen Beds + 6 singles)
Sea Views from all rooms
Large deck with expansive sea views
Great for one or two couples, or one or two families
Complimentary WIFI - and smart TV in the bunkroom
Great corner block on the Esplanade
Oyster Walk access across the road
Easy parking at the rear
Plenty of board games for great family fun
CEINWEN AND DAMON'S PLACE
Built: 1980s
Land: 930 m²
Bed: 3
Bath: 3
Builder: Bradford Constructions
Architect: BB Architects
Interior Design: Ceinwen and Damon
Photography: Richelle Martin and Ceinwen
WHAT THEIR PLACE TAUGHT THEM
The more detailed the drawings the better
"Especially when you are not on site, these are such an important communication tool."
The benefit of natural light
"When we created the ensuite, we also put in a skylight for natural light – it made a
huge difference to the feel of the space and totally worth the investment."
Sometimes, custom-made is best
"With the benefit of hindsight, we probably should have gone with a custom kitchen
from a local supplier rather than putting the time and effort required with getting an off the
shelf kitchen to the Eyre Peninsula and then getting it installed. Especially when the original floor plans were out by 20cm, so we had to swap out 80cm drawers for 60cm ones and move
things around to fit it all in once the cabinets had already been transported to
Coffin Bay."
Take risks!
"Don’t be afraid to take some risks – I kept flip and flopping on the blue grout and
powered blue sink until I mentioned it to an interior designer who encouraged me to
go there. How that room has all come together, with the curves and blue, was just
as I had imagined and it makes me happy every time I walk past it."
Swipe right to see what their place looked like before and during the renovation