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Keryn Nossal and her partner found this oddly-shaped slice of bushland perched atop a sand dune in St Andrews Beach in 2000. Though Keryn was drawn to the wild ocean and rugged coastline, neighbours thought they were mad for purchasing the difficult, sloping block which had become a staple vacancy on the local real estate market.
But there is, as they say, a fine line between insanity and genius.
In the two decades since purchasing the site, the Nossals have added a four-bedroom private retreat to the half-acre property. The pair engaged architect Aidan Halloran from ITN Architects to realise their vision of a modernist-inspired seaside haven. It took eight years to complete the landscaping, and the couple added a basic beach shack to the site two years later. The impressive main house that now sits beside that shack was eventually built in 2006.
‘I was inspired to build a special, low-key place for family and friends to gather close to the sea,’ Keryn explains. ‘Somewhere to connect with each other and unwind on summer holidays, and spend winters by the fire.’ It’s the perfect trans-seasonal escape!
Upon entering the multi-level house via a footbridge and a landscaped banksia forest, visitors catch a glimpse of the expansive seaside vista through a 6.5-metre window at the spine of the house. Styled with vintage ceramics, Scandinavian furniture, Aboriginal art and treasured objects, the ambience of this meticulously crafted weekender is relaxed yet refined.
The master suite is situated like a nest among the treetops, distanced from the downstairs sleeping quarters, with its own deck overlooking the surrounding scrubland. North-facing windows filter day-long sunshine into the elevated living space, which houses a 4-metre communal dining table and sliding glass doors for seamless indoor-outdoor living on balmy summer evenings.
‘We want guests to do as we do,’ says Keryn. ‘Put their feet up, relax and unwind, share beautiful times with friends and family because that’s what the place is built for.’
Keen for a weekend getaway to the secluded St Andrews beach? Book your stay at Coastal Luxe here.
