Resort living.

Featured home in Mt Duneed.

Words by

Joanne Hawkins

Topic	Featured Homes
Photography	Rachel Winton
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When Brigitte and Scott moved to Australia from their native South Africa, they fell in love with Victoria’s Surf Coast and decided to build a house in Torquay.

After taking advantage of a “buoyant market” they sold it in 2016, but then decided to build the same house – Boutique Homes’ Barcelona – again.

“We loved our Barcelona. We wanted to remain in the Geelong/Surf Coast region, but wanted a larger block of land and a pool,” explains Brigitte.

“We also particularly wanted an east-west orientation with a northerly aspect to the side to maximise natural light in our home’s living area. Orientation is everything. It makes a home so much more homely and warm and inviting in winter.”

The couple, who have two sons, wanted their new home in Mt Duneed – to have a relaxed, resort-style vibe with neutral earthy tones.

Sheer magic.

“Our home has rustic elements and unique pieces we brought with us when we immigrated, which adds a raw beauty and warmth to our interiors,” says Brigitte.

“One of the most important factors to me was to invite the outdoors in. We increased the size of our sliding doors and windows in our living/dining area to do so, so the choice of window furnishings played a massive role here, too.”

Brigitte visited dollar curtains + blinds Geelong showroom after “falling in love” with some beautiful sheers the company had installed in another new build she’d seen on Instagram.

“The consultant at dollar curtains + blinds helped me with my indecision as to which windows would be best suited to the sheers and she was spot on,” says Brigitte.

Wave Fold Sheer Curtains in Filigree’s Southport fabric were used to maximum effect over those oversized sliding doors allowing for soft breezes into the living space.

They also add the “beautiful soft textured layer” that Brigitte wanted to add to her interiors.

They are layered over Blockout Roller Blinds in dc+b designs’ Vamp fabric while Sunscreen Roller Blinds in dc+b designs’ Sabi fabric on other living area windows face the coastal sun and provide much-needed glare and heat control, as well as UV protection.

“I love how amazing the Sheer Curtains make our master bedroom look and they're so easy to use.”

— Brigitte, Mt Dundeed

Curve appeal.

Ceiling to floor Sheer Curtains are also teamed with Blockout Roller Blinds in the master bedroom where curved Curtain tracking was custom-made for the bay window. “I love how amazing it makes our master bedroom look and it’s so easy to use,” says Brigitte.

Elsewhere, Double Roller Blinds have been used in the boys’ bedrooms and theatre room and add functionality by combining two blinds on each window as well as a sleek, no-fuss finish.

“The kids’ bedrooms are west-facing and get a lot of sun in the afternoon. The Double Roller Blind allows for a complete blockout option at night while the second blind is so handy to filter the later afternoon sun, while still being able to see outside,” says Brigitte.

The calming home that Brigitte has created will be a private sanctuary for her family to relax in for years to come. Unless they get the urge to build another one, of course…