Whitehaven Coastal Retreat

Clifftop holiday home on the NSW coast. Raw limestone, whitewashed timber, and floor-to-ceiling ocean views.

The home sat on a stunning clifftop site but the interiors completely ignored the surroundings. Heavy drapes blocked the ocean views, dark timber paneling made every room feel enclosed, and the layout forced circulation away from the coast-facing rooms.

Salt air corrosion had damaged most of the existing fixtures and hardware. The timber window frames were warped, several rooms had persistent damp issues from poor ventilation, and the kitchen and bathrooms hadn't been updated since the 1990s. The home needed to be rebuilt for coastal conditions, not just redecorated.

We stripped the interior back to its shell and rebuilt around the view. Every living space now faces the ocean. We used raw limestone floors, whitewashed timber ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling glazing to blur the boundary between inside and out. Furniture was kept low and natural — linen, rattan, and brushed teak.

All materials were selected for salt-air durability: marine-grade stainless steel hardware, powder-coated aluminum window frames, and sealed limestone that resists moisture penetration. The master bedroom opens onto a private terrace with an outdoor shower, and a covered veranda runs the full width of the house for year-round coastal living.

The home is now used year-round instead of seasonally. The owners report hosting three times more guests than before, and the project was shortlisted for the 2025 Australian Interior Design Awards in the Residential category.

The veranda has become the most-used space in the house, serving as an outdoor dining room from October through April. The Whitmores say they no longer think of it as a holiday home — they're considering making it their permanent residence.