Inspired by its proximity to the ocean, Lavana ‘Sea Salt’ House is one of the three Vela properties designed and delivered by multi-disciplinary design studio, The Designory. Located in Byron Bay’s coveted golden grid, Lavana is just 400m to the pristine sands of Clark’s Beach and a short 150m walk to the town centre.
Each space of the home is connected through a contemporary coastal palette of fresh white and sea green with ‘sea salt’ accents including natural stones, blonde timbers, rattan, soft linens and powder blues. “Lavana House exudes a relaxed style of Australian coastal with a touch of Palm Springs,” says Melissa Bonney, company director and lead designer at The Designory. “The generous living zone that greets you on entry sets the tone of the property, a luxurious four-bedroomed family home that speaks to the senses, enlivened by the nearby coastline and the raw nature of the ocean.”
The home is complete with an interactive indoor/outdoor living space, rumpus room, an expansive dual garage and bespoke pool set amidst a beautifully landscaped garden. With its north facing aspect, championing natural light to determine tone and texture within the home was a key consideration, and each room at Lavana has been elegantly finished with the practical application of premium Luxaflex blinds and curtains. “The Luxaflex window furnishings finish the rooms in Lavana with a luxurious touch, complementing each space for its individual aesthetic as well as light control and privacy needs,” Melissa says.
At the entryway, simple layered details, including natural oak and soft sage green, are framed by crisp white walls, creating a charming look and feel that permeates throughout the residence. “The combination of soft sage green, natural oak and accents of stone against crisp white and natural light brings together a relaxed yet sophisticated contemporary Australian style, perfect for its idyllic Byron Bay setting,” says Melissa.
The home was designed with family living in mind, and for increased longevity and durability, CSR Gyprock’s Superchek plasterboard was chosen to line the walls. With its reinforced core, Superchek reduces the impact of day-to-day activities such as knocks and scrapes or even more serious damage. Boasting strength and sound reduction, the quality plasterboard adds an improved level of protection and value to the property, while making the house more comfortable to live in. “Choosing the right plasterboard that is fit for purpose in terms of flexibility or acoustics or moisture resistance can make all the difference to the end result,” says Melissa. “Over the life of the property the benefits will be seen and felt, every day.”
Each of the four bedrooms in the home has been designed with absolute tranquillity and rest in mind, filled with natural materials, abundant light and details to fill the senses. The soft tones connect to the materials of the bathrooms and living areas and reflect the simple yet warm environment that is infused throughout Lavana. Key features have been created, most notably in ‘bedroom 3’, which has been styled for comfort and calm in a gorgeous ‘Winter Water’ shade of pale green. In a unique application, CSR Gyprock’s Trio cornice has been layered from the window to the floor to meet a perfectly matched motorised Luxaflex Duette shade in Daisy White. “We wanted to create a striking angular feature wall that would bring depth and interest to the space,” says Melissa. “The dramatic three-step cornice profile creates strong contemporary lines in the room, which are reinforced when the Luxaflex Duette shade is closed.”
As well as adding an element of style, Luxaflex Duette shades play an important role in helping moderate the temperature in a bedroom. Their unique honeycomb structure traps air, which provides a layer of insulation to help keep the home's interior warmer in winter and cooler in summer.
This profile was selected for three of the bedrooms at Lavana, while for the master suite, the motorised Luxaflex Luminette privacy sheers were selected from the Linen Range in the colour Bright White. “The structured wave shape gives a crisper, more modern look, which perfectly complements the design of the house,” says Melissa. “I love that with a press of a button, and on a single track, you can close the sheer vanes and then opt to rotate back for room darkening.”
The main bathroom is exquisitely complete with a natural stone paver that extends into the exterior facing wall, filling the room with character. The natural tones are set against beautifully crafted, simple, white Gyprock walls, enhancing additional impact. Gyprock Aquacheck, a moisture resistant wall and ceiling plasterboard designed for use in wet areas, was selected for use on the bathroom walls, while the window was finished with the Luxaflex PolySatin plantation shutters, also an ideal solution for wet areas as the product won’t blister, peel, flake, corrode or fade. “Luxaflex PolySatin shutters in the main bathroom complete the Lavana look by providing a sophisticated alternative to blinds and adding a touch of coastal charm,” Melissa says.
Open to the front yard through sliding and bi-fold doors, the rumpus room is light, bright and airy and filled with warm, natural materials and fresh white layering to encourage relaxation. Luxaflex motorised sheer curtains were selected to complement the soft textural dimension of the room. The lightweight woven fabric adds a further layer of softness, cocooning the space when needed to block out the sun. “We selected the Luxaflex S Wave curtain in Aylin Sheer fabric in the colour Shake, to work with the existing ambience of the room, rather than complete block out,” says Melissa.
Lavana House oozes quintessential Australian coastal style with its white, sandy tones and subtle hint of seaglass greens throughout. Fresh, light and playful, this home is saturated in light and embodies a true Byron Bay vibe, effortlessly liveable and designed for indoor outdoor year-round living and entertaining. The installation of the Luxaflex Nordic Arafura motorised folding arm awning is the epitome of luxury and creates a welcoming reprieve from the sun’s north facing glare. “It’s another big tick to creating additional outdoor space and to enjoy more time with friends,” says Melissa.
