Dreams of a modern and functional beach house on a Queensland Island overlooking it's own white sandy beach to stunning water views really can come true.
For builder Charles Moore and his interior decorator wife Tania Hindmarsh, the completion of their luxurious holiday home on South Stradbroke Island is the fulfillment of a vision they had when they first holidayed with their family on the magical island.
"We rented a holiday house and knew straight away this would be an ideal place to build a beautiful home, a beach home, but a contemporary place where two families could come and live easily on the beach with every imaginable comfort. We like to holiday with other families and it's good to have a place that can accommodate everyone easily."
With that principle in mind, Charles and Tania set about building a property they named Istania, a striking home that flows seamlessly from indoor area to outdoor decks, a resort-style property with soaring roof lines and such a contemporary feel, it looks more like a showplace than a beach house. Yet despite the home's obvious opulence, thoughtful planning and building allows nature to still shine here. Nothing was permitted to take away from the South Stradbroke beauty across the water.
It was important to Tania and Charles to have two large master suites so parents from two families could feel equally spoilt.
"Often when you share a holiday home, one of the parents gets stuck in the smaller bedroom with shared bathroom," Tania said. "We wanted to create space for two sets of parents where they would all feel pampered and cosseted. And we wanted a completely separate area for the young ones to have their space. The house sleeps 10."
It took just 12 months to complete Istania despite the many challenges faced when building a lavish home on a subtropical island.
"Only being able to get there by water was an immense challenge", Tania said. "Building materials had to be barged over. It took a lot of strong men to get some of the materials off the barge, especially the big recycled posts in the mid-section of the house which was used as supports for aesthetic appeal."
Local builder Gary Bestrews was commissioned after Tania and Charles designed the home themselves before handing over drawings to a draftsman for council submission. "Charles did the interiors," Tania said, "He knows my way of thinking. He knows exactly what i will like or what I won't on a plan. If he says 'you will not want something this way', then I won't. That's the beauty of working together as a couple. We can almost read each other's minds."
Such an intimate collaboration ensured the home went up without a hitch and the result is a jewel of modern open plan living of unparalleled standards overlooking one of Australia's most beautiful water views.
With four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a gourmet kitchen, a large expanse of outdoor entertaining area, the latest audio and visual equipment and interior decoration that knows no compromise, Istania has understandably, been the talk of the island. It has set standards and paved the way for other adventurous builders to follow suit.
Polished timber floors throughout are cool and sensuous on the feet after a day on the beach. The welcoming lounge room opens up completely when the stacker doors are thrown back to lead out to the huge undercover entertaining deck. A log timber and cream cushioned banquette lines one wall in invitation to sit back with a glass of wine a dusk. At the other end of the vast deck, the built-in barbeque sits beneath peek-through timber slat's; cooking and eating out here throughout most seasons of the year would be mandatory, even though inside, the polished wood dining table and benches look out over the entire deck area.
Although the crystal clear water of the Coral Sea is just metre's away, Istania boasts its own swimming pool - something extraordinarily difficult to build on an island - looking over its own private beach nd jetty to the green palms and native tress across the water. Everything for easy yet sumptuous living has been thought of in all areas of the home. Tania's experienced decorator's touch is evident everywhere, from the soft chocolate colour of the leather sofa to the soothing blues and greens in the cushions, to fascinating candle-lit alcoves and nooks, eye-catching object d'art and modern artworks showing flowing lines that imitate the water and nature outside.
The stunning timber ceiling is a highlight. "It's a feature," Tania said. "The timber is spaced evenly but because it is different widths it gives tremendous eye appeal."
The kitchen, a chefs dream, is equipped with all the latest European appliances as well as a double fridge, ensuring plenty of space to stock up before the holiday begins. The kitchen is an integral part of the relaxed living area and looks over the lounge to the decks outside.
Up the timber and stainless steel staircase, the commitment to luxury accessories and finished continues in the main bedroom suite.
Glass doors open to private balcony overlooking the water, and louvres allow cross breezes to cool naturally. Bedding colours are light chocolate and dusty red. A kitchenette with microwave, bar fridge and tea and coffee making facilities in this bedroom removes the need to go downstairs for a morning cuppa. The second master bedroom downstairs, in a separate wing from the other two, is equally luxurious with pale olive green walls making a striking contrast to the contemporary paneled mesh artwork above the bed. The quilted green bedding is in keeping with nature outside.
"Everything has to match and flow and give senses peace," Tania said. "Just because you are on holiday in a beach house doesn't mean you can't live in beautiful surroundings. Exquisite details and luxury appointments add to the holiday pleasure."
Bedroom three caters for the young ones with four designer bunk beds to delight pre-teens. Bedroom four has two single beds which can convert to a queen bed. This bedding configuration makes Istania perfect not only for two families but for three couples holidaying together. Even in these two bedrooms, the luxury is obvious with fun funky bunks and swathes of netting over the beds.
The warmth and invitation of Istania has an instant effect from the moment of entering it's cocoon-like luxury. This is a holiday home where the need to venture outside may never quite come. reclining on a sun lounge on the timber decks by the pool, occasionally looking up from a good book to the sparkling water and attractions of nature beyond, is all the holiday activity you may care for. However, should a burst of energy come over you, there is swimming, fishing, boating, kayaking, bushwalking and sailing out there. Humpback whales migrate each year and can be seen off the eastern beaches. South Stradbroke Island is unique... as is Istania.
