Home Tour: This Byron Bay Villa Feels Like Going on a Vintage Vacay

Byron Bay is one of the country’s most chilled-out and serene destinations.

So, when a newly married couple from Melbourne purchased a stunning five-bedroom holiday home on Clarkes Beach, they turned to renowned interior designer, Jase Sullivan, to help stamp the property with Byron’s signature blissed-out vibe and a touch of Mediterranean flair.

Jase’s design journey began with a goal to reimagine the space as a modern homage to vintage holiday retreats, drawing inspiration from his extensive travels across Greece, France, and Italy.

As he scoped out the property for the first time, he envisioned a radical overhaul, proposing a complete reconfiguration of the floor plan to evoke the carefree spirit of Mediterranean escapades. 

“I flipped it all around,” Jase explains, “creating a fresh layout that breathed new life into the home.”

Central to the designer’s ethos was the seamless integration of his client’s preferences with his creative vision, resulting in a captivating blend of personalisation and uniqueness throughout the home.

Euro Vision

Jase was given carte blanche with colour, so he didn’t hold back in brightening the home with a kaleidoscope of vibrant hues reminiscent of sun-kissed coastal towns.

“I wanted the home to feel like a ’70s Mediterranean vacation home. The beachside location inspired me to design a place that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Even though it is quite detailed, it also feels welcoming and playful,” Jase shares of his overarching brief.

Indeed, the residence exudes an air of relaxed sophistication, a tribute to Jase’s most cherished holidays. Texture and finishes played a pivotal role in the overhaul, with Tadelakt (a typical Moroccan finishing) walls and stone channelling the light ambiance of Mediterranean villas, juxtaposed against bright upholstered mid-century furniture and stained timber surfaces.

“The house is so fun and bright,” Jase exclaims, reflecting on his exuberant palette choices that infuse the space with energy and vitality.

A Fresh New Layout

Structurally, Jase’s design prowess shines through in the meticulous reimagining of the home’s layout, flipping spaces and introducing architectural flourishes that amplify the beachside location’s carefree charm.

With its four-sided archway and verdant vistas, the central courtyard emerges as the architectural hero, flooding the interiors with natural light and fostering a seamless indoor-outdoor flow, perfect for entertaining.

“The deck off the kitchen, dining, and living room overlooks the garden and pool, and there’s also an integrated outdoor vegan teppanyaki kitchen,” Jase says.

In the Med

Outdoor spaces are imbued with an air of European elegance, with custom powder-coated furniture and pink pool umbrellas sourced from Italy tapping into the feel of a coastal resort.

As Jase reflects on the project, he’s proud of the result, creating a home that radiates warmth, character, and joy. “I am most proud of this project for transforming the entire house into a completely different look, flipping it on its head, and changing the layout to a much more liveable space,” he shares.

In a world where homes often echo trends and templates, Jase’s design narrative stands as a testament to the power of creativity, collaboration, and a boundless spirit of adventure.

“Relaxed yet polished, this home is a triumphant love letter to all of my favourite holiday destinations,” he concludes.

PROJECT CREDITS

Interior Design: Jase Sullivan @jasesullivan

Photographer: Prue Ruscoe @prueruscoe

Build: Todd Knaus Construction @tkconstructions

Words: Bella Brennan @bellarosebrennan