Coastal Charm/ Satara’s Dreamy Weekender

Walking up the unassuming, Tea Tree lined driveway on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, visitors are greeted with birdsong and the sounds of distance surf roaring. Once through the front doors, you’re transported to the Mediterranean, with breezy, open spaces layered with earthy tones and tasteful finishing touches. As homeowner Colleen explains, it’s a beautiful haven away from the everyday bustle of city life.

For Colleen and her husband Andrew, finding a place closer to home for weekend and holiday escapes became even more of a priority when the restrictions of Covid hit last year. As well-seasoned travellers, they knew exactly what they were looking for. So when the owners of Satara (a luxury resort-style furniture company) spotted a hidden gem in a coveted location, they snapped it right up. It had good bones but needed some work to bring it to 2021 while still respecting the original architecture and landscape it sat within.

“Knowing that Covid was going to limit our ability to travel for a long time, our initial vision for the beach house was for a coastal, light and bright escape from the city with a subtle southern Mediterranean vibe. The beach house needed to be both a weekend escape from the city but also a place we could relax with family and friends for the month over summer and of course school holidays.”

Flooring Xtra was delighted to collaborate on the home, with Satara’s gorgeous furniture and lifestyle products the perfect accompaniment to the flooring. The fresh timber tones of Merseyside XXL hybrid flooring in Crosby run from the front door to back providing a seamless and chic coastal vibe. Textured tiles, stone benchtops and crisp white paint compliment the aesthetic while the rattan, linen and timber furniture (from Satara of course!) complete the space.

Throughout the bedrooms and sitting room, a softer, more textured flooring creates warm, inviting spaces. The textured loop pile carpet, Azolla in Corin was specified to create a feeling of relaxation, earthiness and comfort. Views over the trees from the upstairs master bedroom make the home feel completely in touch with nature, the absolute intention of the original architecture.

Flooring in holiday homes comes with its own set of demands. It needs to be resilient, durable and easy to maintain. After all, who wants to spend every weekend madly cleaning when they could be relaxing? Both the hard flooring and carpet offers this while never compromising on style. Azolla is a Solution Dyed Nylon that is incredibly tough, while Merseyside is a hybrid flooring, which is durable, waterproof and easy to maintain.

“To me, aesthetics was the most important consideration, but durability was a close second. The wide range available at Flooring Xtra made it easy to choose. There were quite a few colours and design options that suited our needs perfectly in both the timber look flooring and carpet ranges. Knowing that sandy and wet kids and dogs would run in and out of the beach house, durability and ease of maintenance were key. I love the look of both the carpet and timber-look boards, they underpin the southern Mediterranean vibe while working perfectly with our furniture selections. The fuss-free maintenance is fantastic too.”

The finishing touches were a collection of Flooring Xtra rugs, carefully selected to fit right in while still making an impact. The Noosa rug, a jute weave with golden highlights compliments the coastal tones of the living area and the shaggy Saffron rug in the kitchen would be right at home in Capri. Outside, under the olive branches lining the backyard, a huge Seaside rug completes the alfresco setting. The perfect place to sip an evening aperitif. The whole home inside and out is a celebration of Australian living with a nod to trips past (and future!) to their beloved Mediterranean coastline.

“When we walk in the door, the day-to-day work worries are left behind and there’s a sense of happiness and calmness that replaces the stress.”