Courtney Adamo’s ‘Modern Mid-Century’ Beachfront Holiday Home
Homes
Custom made blackbutt windows and doors by Teal Windows.
Custom made blackbutt windows and doors by Teal Windows. Deck made from Accoya wood.
Courtney sitting on the front deck. Exterior wall lights by Seaside Lighting from Creative Lighting Solutions.
Courtney Adamo in her Minnie Water holiday home. Blackbutt veneer panelling on the walls. Wall light by Wo & Wé. Custom sofa seat cushions made by The Dusty Road. Decorative cushions by Citta. Rug by Pampa.
Sequence Table 01 by Coco Flip. Decorative cushions by Citta. Custom sofa seat cushions made by The Dusty Road.
Large windows capture views of the water located just over the road. Decorative cushions by Citta. Custom sofa seat cushions made by The Dusty Road.
Artwork by Sara Maria Darling. Pendant light by Coco Flip. Sofa by Adairs. Rug by Pampa. Blackbutt stairs, railing, and battens.
Pendant lights by In Common With. Island bench top marble by CDK Stone. Blackbutt veneer cabinetry. Solid blackbutt timber shelves. Stools by Dowel Jones.
The entire back wall of the home is hemp masonry. The kitchen has been rendered and finished with a lime render, while the area behind the dining table is un-rendered. Solid blackbutt timber shelves. Stools by Dowel Jones.
Stools by Dowel Jones. Pendant lights by In Common With. Island bench top marble by CDK Stone. Blackbutt veneer cabinetry. Solid blackbutt timber shelves. Terrazzo tiles by Fibonacci.
Pendant lights by Coco Flip. Custom table and chairs by Kye D’Arcy of Darcy Design. Terrazzo tiles by Fibonacci.
Mayu 02 Pendant by Coco Flip. Custom table and chairs by Kye D’Arcy of Darcy Design. Hemp masonry wall, left un-rendered. Terrazzo tiles by Fibonacci.
Fine art print from Pampa. Custom bed by Kye D’Arcy of Darcy Design. Nelly Wall Light by Jardan. Bedding by Ikea. Sideboard by James Lane.
Blackbutt floors. Framed print on wall by Sanna Annukka. Tabata light by &Tradition.
Wall light by Robert Gordon Interiors. Island bench top marble by CDK Stone (the same used in the kitchen). Tap by Sussex Taps. Walls rendered in a lime render from Rockcote. Vase from Imprint House. Basket from J’Jute.
Artemide Dioscuri light. Green tiles came from House of Surfaces. The timber bath frame was custom made by Courtney and Michael then tiled. Tap by Sussex Taps. Window by Teal Windows.
Blackbutt battens line the wall. Pendant light from Creative Lighting Solutions.
Bedding from Bed Threads. Window is by Teal Windows. Wall lights by Creative Lighting Solutions.
Wall light by Robert Gordon Interiors. Tiles by House of Surfaces. Tap by Sussex Taps.
Wall light by Robert Gordon Interiors. Tiles by House of Surfaces. Tap by Sussex Taps.
Writer and creator Courtney Adamo loves her home in Bangalow, but her family dreamed of a true beachside house, where they could gather for precious weekends away.
Their holiday house in Minnie Water (located almost two hours south) is in many ways the complete opposite of their permanent residence in the Northern Rivers, NSW.
In contrast to their late 1890s home, the beach house was built just last year, frames views of the surrounding pine trees, and features generous open-plan spaces within. It’s also right on the water — perfect for a family of surfers!
‘We live in Bangalow, which is only 15 minutes from the ocean, but it still feels like more of a hinterland home than a coastal one,’ explains Courtney.
‘Personally, I was also excited to have a home which would bring our family together in a special way that we don’t always have when we are home in Bangalow.
‘We now have three teenagers and a tween, and they have social lives and jobs and they are often busy getting around town.
‘I love when we are all down at our beach house because we spend more time as a family and slow things way down.’
Courtney and her husband Michael worked with an architect to create a home that felt ‘entirely different’ to their home in Bangalow, both in style and feeling.
‘It’s much more minimal, which always feels so nice when we walk in the door,’ says Courtney.
Inspiration was drawn from the original green fisherman’s shack on site (demolished due to termite damage), and Courtney’s mid-century family beach house in the San Juan Islands in the U.S, which she remembers fondly from her childhood.
‘The flat roof, the long lines, the big windows, and even the green colour of the exterior is a nod to my family’s beach house,’ says Courtney.
‘I think it’s a modern version of a mid-century home. We used a lot of natural materials throughout, to make it feel natural and earthy and (hopefully) quite calm and grounded.’
Being newly built, it’s also a highly functional house that stays warm in winter, and cool in summer — an element that’s often overlooked in Australian homes!
‘Of course I love the charm of an old house, but gosh it’s so nice to be in a new home that gets the sunlight and is properly insulated!’ Courtney says.
Courtney likens a visit to Minnie as a return to her childhood, where there’s not much to do but swim, relax, and be entertained by one another.
‘When you’re there, you’re always connected to nature,’ she says.
‘We watch the sun come up. We are aware of the tides and the winds and the weather. We can see whales and dolphins playing in the ocean and watch sea birds overhead. When it’s windy, we fly kites. When it’s rainy we play card games. When the winds are right, we go surfing.’
When the Adamos aren’t visiting or hosting friends in this beautiful home, their property is available to rent via Airbnb. Book your stay at Sandy Pines house here.