When Indah Island’s Natalee Bowen and her family bought their 20-year-old home, it was tired and dated and a far cry from the Hamptons-inspired property they all dreamed of.
So, as you would expect of one of Australia’s leading interior designers, Natalee set about transforming the home into a picture-perfect sanctuary, ideal for entertaining, relaxing and family living.
Its marina-side location made the Hamptons look a perfect choice and the home’s new crisp white and blue colour scheme fits in perfectly with the nautical surrounds.
The first part of the renovation involved transforming the interior. Walls were moved, the property was painted inside and out, and new cabinetry and bi-fold doors were installed.
Natalee said she knew the only way to get an authentic Hamptons look was to install exterior weatherboard cladding.
“I would suggest that the defining element for an Australian-Hamptons look is weatherboard cladding – it’s all about creating long, clean lines and deep shadows,” she says.
“Scyon Linea weatherboard is a low-maintenance and hard-wearing weatherboard alternative to timber, with deep shadow lines, perfect for the Hamptons look.
“Easy to install over existing brick and easy to paint, it was the perfect option for bringing my Hamptons vision to life. The weatherboard look totally transformed the home.
“Most of the houses around us are finished in a render look – our home stands out so much that people drive by and comment on how beautiful our home is. It’s a fabulous feeling knowing that people love our home as much as we do.”
Natalee says the finished home is a pleasure to live in. “Our renovated house is all about open living, bringing the outside in through the use of natural fibres in rugs, as well as plants such as pinnate palms and orchids. We have multiple areas to entertain that ooze informal elegance.”
Top Tips
If you’re the owner of a brick home but a lover of the Hamptons look, it can be hard to imagine how to blend the two styles successfully – but it can be done. Here are workable ways to introduce a slice of Hamptons paradise to your home.
Go neutral – One of the key elements of a classic Hamptons home is a colour palette of crisp whites and neutrals. This colour scheme can be applied throughout the interior, such as on walls and cabinetry, as well as externally, on doors, picket fences, trims, and window and door frames.
Clad it – Want to transform your brick home into a truly Hamptons-inspired residence? Clad it with a product such as Scyon Linea for a classic take on the look. Made from fibre-cement, Scyon is durable, easy to maintain, and has the charm and look of weatherboard. However, unlike timber, it is resistant to termites, moisture and bushfire damage. It is also available in a range of colours – including white for a true Hamptons look. Cladding over brick is a process that generally involves installing a timber-steel batten over the bricks, then applying a vapour permeable membrane, and then the cladding.
To find out more, visit Scyon or visit the showroom at Home Base.