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House Burch Byron Bay

Reinventing a 1980’s bungalow into a modern family home for the 21st century was the brief for the renovation of a home in Byron Bay.

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Project by Those Architects
Photography Luc Remond
Place Byron Bay, NSW
Project Type Residential
Category Residential
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We loved the colour of the limestone the client chose, as it references the sand. It is amazing how soft it is to walk on, it doesn’t feel hard like concrete. The colour of the stone adds a subtle softness, it somehow softens everything.

Project Highlights

Natural Stone Landscaping in Byron Bay

Natural stone paving forms the foundation of the outdoor living areas, defining pathways, terraces and entertaining zones with a cohesive and structured layout. The use of premium materials ensures durability while maintaining a refined and natural aesthetic suited to Byron Bay’s coastal conditions.

Stone wall cladding and architectural finishes further enhance the design, adding depth and texture across vertical surfaces while reinforcing the connection between the built form and surrounding landscape. The result is a balanced and sophisticated outdoor environment that blends functionality with timeless coastal design.

Products Used

Santa Fe Limestone Tiles – premium natural stone for indoor and outdoor use

Santa Fe Limestone

Other Projects

Castle Cove Residence

Ocean Point Dream Home

Assembly Label Fitout

Mosman Project

Murrays Beach

FAQs

Why is natural stone ideal for landscaping in Byron Bay homes?

Natural stone is highly durable and well-suited to coastal conditions, offering resistance to weather, salt exposure and wear while maintaining a timeless aesthetic.

Can natural stone be used for pool surrounds in coastal environments?

Yes, natural stone provides excellent slip resistance and stays comfortable underfoot, making it ideal for pool surrounds in coastal properties.

What types of natural stone work best for coastal residential projects?

Limestone, travertine and granite are commonly used due to their durability, natural textures and ability to complement coastal architectural styles.

How does natural stone enhance outdoor living spaces?

It defines areas such as pathways, terraces and entertaining zones while creating a cohesive and visually appealing connection between indoor and outdoor spaces.

Is natural stone suitable for both paving and wall cladding?

Absolutely. Natural stone can be used across multiple applications, including paving, wall cladding and landscaping features, to achieve a unified design.

TAKE US THROUGH THE INITIAL STAGES WHEN YOU WERE DESIGNING THE HOME.

We were very fortunate to work with the noted Southern Highlands Architect, Martin McGrane, on the creative design and layout of our home. Together with Martin, we created a beautiful, contemporary open plan home to enjoy with our family and friends.  This is our forever home.

Through a friend of ours, we came across an interior designer, and a beautiful outdoor material, the Cathedral Limestone, which we just fell in love with. We worked closely with Peta Daniel, Interior Designer from Daniel Baker Design, based in Sydney.  Which was wonderful, Peta just got us and what we were wanting to achieve in our home and helped us to make it a reality, in the selection of materials and finishes.

 

WERE THERE CERTAIN PEOPLE/PLACES THAT YOU TOOK INSPIRATION FROM WHEN DESIGNING/BUILDING THE HOME?

We were looking for a contemporary design, however, I didn’t want it to be too modern.  Inspired by a property in LA, that my husband came across, which we took some concepts from and added our ideas, and made it our own.

The LA contemporary look and detail leading into the house from the front door was something that we just loved.  Along with having one row of tiles that runs along the inside of the glass sliding doors leading into the living/dining room from the alfresco space was also a unique detail we wanted to include.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES YOU FACED THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING PROCESS?

The build started in February 2020, and with all the delays throughout COVID, material delays, supplier issues, constant rain, mud pools, you name it, we had it!  Encountering all the possible elements, it felt like we were living in gumboots most of the time during the build.  It took 3 years to build the property, and 8 months just to get the roof on!

We had a deadline for our home to be finished by, which was our daughters’ wedding, being held in March 2023.

There were delays happening everywhere, including issues and delays with the quarry who were providing the Limestone that was to be used in all the outdoor areas surrounding the property.  We had chosen Cathedral Limestone in an alfresco finish with a lovely organic distressed finish on the edge, that we knew would complement the other natural materials we were using.  Time was of the essence, and it came to crunch time and the quarry could not provide a guaranteed time of delivery.  We thought what a disaster!

 

TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH SAREEN STONE.. AND HOW THE TEAM HELPED TO OVERCOME THE SUPPLY ISSUE WITH THE CATHEDRAL LIMESTONE.

Working closely with Michael Mastro, from Sareen Stone, he had been in constant contact updating me as best he could.  Then an alternative solution was presented, another Limestone of the same size and finish, with similar tones, which I hoped would work and arrive in time.  Sareen Stone had been behind the scenes working closely with another quarry, to create a new product ‘Lavarosa Anticato’, just for our project, so that we had a solution and were able to finish our home in time for our daughter’s wedding.

When the material arrived, we couldn’t have been happier.  We just loved the Lavarosa Anticato, and it worked so well with our colour palette, and love it even more than our previous selection.  We were over the moon!

 

DESIGNER COMMENTS:

Working with Kate and Eugene on this project was wonderful. They were passionate about the overall design but also the finer details and the interplay of the natural materials with the surrounding landscape.

It was very important that the natural material palette was harmonious, and that each element was both complementary and warm.

I’ve worked with Michael from Sareen Stone on a number of projects and have always been impressed with his professional advice and clear communication. The magnificent home warmly wrapped with the “Lavarosa Anticato” is simply stunning.   A beautiful project!

Peta Daniel, Daniel Baker Design

 

IN COLLABORATION WITH:

Interior Designer:  Daniel Baker Design, 0414 341 778
Architecture:  Martin McGrane Architects, 0412 242 253
Photography and short film:  Bolt Media, 0426 607 040