Home Tour: La Palma Comes to Life With an Injection of Colour

When the owners of the luxurious holiday home, La Palma in Palm Beach turned to esteemed interior guru Yasmine Ghoniem to refresh the property, they had one important directive for her to adhere to.

And that was for Yasmine, who is the Director of the prestigious architecture and design studio YSG, to bring her trademark unexpected and unique touch to the four-bedroom home, that underwent a dramatic 12-month transformation which was completed in February 2022.

The starting point for the refresh was to make a distinct and purposeful departure from the typical beach house aesthetic of nautical stripes, all-white interiors, decorative surfboards, and ornamental shells and instead lean full tilt into something that reflected the working professionals’ personality.

Around the World

Inspired by their travels, the clients wanted to inject La Palma with a feeling of fun and excitement that channelled the tranquillity of remote Mexican shores, the refinement of the Côte d’Azur’s refinement, and the rustic vibes of an Ibiza beach club. 

“Homes should ultimately reflect the personalities of their owners. Thankfully, our clients played ball! You walk into this pad and really feel transported to another place. They wanted to create a palpably playful mood that introduced a perennial approach to entertaining,” Yasmine explains of their vision.

“The clients wanted to tap into a dreamy resort vibe that savoured the feeling of summer all year round and opened the house up to easy entertaining. The mood also had to be playful,” she adds.

Anything but Beachy

As Yasmine puts it, the home underwent an “almighty” cull to abolish all of the beachy trinkets and seaside tropes, and that’s when the real fun could begin.

“We decided colour had to perform a visceral role, with vibrant reds and ochres replacing all-white rooms, covering the walls, ceilings and bathrooms. It has more energy and warmth now. It pulses and glows,” says Yasmine.

Adding: “It’s rare to see shades of red and ochre in homes. The checkerboard pavers also bring a very Mexican foundation. Raffia and rattan also sing to coastal Ibiza cafés and beach clubs.”

Textural Touches

To help bring the vision to life, Yasmine turned to Australia’s leading textile design and printing company, Think Positive, and spent two days with one of the clients doing a deep dive into their archive to source materials to adorn cushions through to headboards and blinds; using the glorious, vibrant painting in the living room as the main source of inspiration.

“Patterns and iconography range from rodeo cowboys to clusters of clay urns and rippled teal zebra stripes, charging every room with personality and padded comfort. There’s lots of rattan and raffia, which gives the home a breezy coastal vibe, plus sculptural feature lighting to add dimension (via pendants and wall sconces),” Yasmine muses.

Structurally speaking, changes were minimal. “Internally, we widened the entrance to one of the bedrooms’ en-suite and re-jigged the layout of the bathroom, moving the shower up from the rear so you could enjoy the water and side jungle views,” she reveals.

Serene Spaces

Outside, a new barbecue area was created to raise the boundary wall and bring more privacy, while checkered, tumbled marble cobblestones surround the pool, adding a striking Mexican-inspired foundation.

A decadent tub was added outside the master suites, clad in the same marble as the bathroom, to integrate the two areas. It’s a serene space to soak up the fresh air and watch yachts float by with a drink in hand. Next to the bath is a lounge so you can have some company - if you’re in the mood for it.

With dazzling views that stretch out over the coastal inlet of Pittwater, Yasmine admits another unexpected element of the magical vantage point took her aback.

“I was expecting to be blown away by water views, but the greenery up there is equally phenomenal, with a tropical feel. It’s like a dense jungle surrounds the home, so it feels super private. This jungle theme enhanced my instinct to play on Mexican themes,” the stylist shares.

It was also crucial the shared spaces of La Palma were super comfy and welcoming, so you could mosey in from the beach - wet, salty and just kick back on the sofa and relax.

“We opted for Adam Goodrum’s super comfy Trace armchairs, they’re the perfect spot to enjoy a sundowner,” Yasmine says.

The end result is a spirited and welcome escape that will leave guests feeling invigorated.

“It’s got a sexy beat, but equally, makes you surrender to relaxation,” Jasmine reflects.

Your New Summer Watch 

Renno fans, rejoice! Grand Designs Transformations, starring Anthony Burke and Yasmine Ghoniem, is on our screens right now. 

So, what can we expect from this tantalising new offering? “The show follows ordinary people doing extraordinary things in the world of renovations at a time when we’re all dreaming big when it comes to home improvements,” Yasmine tells us.  

“Over eight weeks, you meet couples dotted around the county as they tackle their dream home transformations. Along the way, there are lots of laughs, a few tears, and even more problem-solving, which we can all learn from.” 

Grand Designs Transformations, stream it now on ABC iView 

PROJECT CREDITS

Photographer: Prue Ruscoe @prueruscoe

Interior styling: Yasmine Ghoniem, YSG @ysg.studio

Build: Promena Projects @promenaprojects

Finishes and painted detailing: Creative Finishes @creativefinishsydney

Words: Bella Brennan @bellarosebrennan

Loved our tour of La Palma and want to keep perving some of the most stylish places going around? Take a tour of Amileka in Byron Bay. Then check out this gorgeous Bronte home which epitomises quiet luxury.