Peach & Craig’s Peaceful Australia Abode

Name: Rachel (Peach) & Craig Woods and their three children
Location: Dunsborough, Western Australia
Size: 300 square metres (3230 square feet)
Years lived in: 3 years; Owned

When Peach and Craig first bought this house in the coastal town of Dunsborough, south of Perth, it had been seemingly untouched since the 1970s. They didn’t let the pine-lined walls and ceilings, peeling wallpaper, and poky rooms put them off though, as they knew with a clear vision and a whole lot of hard work, this house could be just what they wanted.

Peach and her husband have transformed this home into a beautiful, peaceful oasis. It is a breath of fresh air, tying in perfectly with its coastal surroundings. As soon as you walk through the front door, you are greeted with white-washed floors, white walls and high ceilings. Peach has added little touches of her personality everywhere, without overcrowding the space with ‘stuff’ — a very colorful Boucherouite rug breaks up all the whiteness and there’s a line-up of guitars resting in the corner ready and waiting.

The back of the house has been extended, with the addition of a huge kitchen/dining space that can accommodate all the family and their friends that come and go throughout the day. There are still lots of opportunities to seek out your own space as well though, with little nooks left as-was in the original design of the home. Peach and her husband Craig both work long hours at their newly opened General Store — Merchant and Maker — so space to clear their head and relax is a priority for the whole family.

Our Style: Is Coastal Rustic a thing? If so, I think that would best describe our style.

Inspiration: Pretty much anything visual. There’s not any one thing or place that I draw inspiration from. Sometimes it’s from a magazine or Pinterest, other times it can be sparked during conversations and day dreaming with friends, through the environment or just from my own imagination.

Favorite Element: White timber, natural light and a peaceful, coastal location.

Biggest Challenge: The house was in much need of some TLC when we bought it. We stripped a lot out in order to start again. Figuring out where to locate the kitchen and the lounge room was a bit of a challenge, hoping we had chosen the best spots to center life around for both areas. Also, having a large upstairs bedroom that our two girls share has been a challenge in a few ways. We are now in the process of dividing it into two separate bedrooms by building a wall in between and giving them their own space. Trying to make the new spaces not look pokey could prove to be a little tricky but we’ll see how we go!

What Friends Say: Friends often comment on how peaceful a sanctuary it is that we have created here. Many also remark on how much a difference an all-white space makes.

Biggest Embarrassment: The bottom half of the front facade! The 20-year-old unprofessional render has a big three-panel aluminium frame sliding glass door slap bang in the middle; I can not stand it. Renovating the outside is our next mission and I will be happy to see that all change.

Proudest DIY: Our wood panelled walls hide a multitude of sins. Beneath the panels hide hideous wallpaper that I had so wished had at least been ugly-cool, instead they were just plain ugly! Upon stripping, the plaster beneath proved to be very flaky, so we decided to panel right over the top. We also designed the kitchen and put it all in ourselves. We had three free-standing units made custom for us as we couldn’t decide on any other kitchens that we looked at. They are all made from recycled timber in Fremantle with Marri hardwood bench tops. I’d better mention the timber decking and pergola outside that Craig built too…they’re pretty amazing 😉

Biggest Indulgence: The custom leather sofa we had made for us recently, the commercial-grade white wash floors and the exposed aggregate driveway and pathways outside.

Best Advice: Focus on what you do have and not on what you don’t have. Enjoy the work that you have done in making your house a home, not on the bits that aren’t quite there yet as there’s ALWAYS going to be something that needs improving. Live and love where you are at!

Dream Sources: Sibella Court’s books and anything from Real Living Magazine, Country Style Magazine, Inside Out Magazine, Mr Jason Grant’s Books, and Megan Morton– (all Aussie publications!).

The entire house is painted in Dulux Lexicon (half).

• Keybox: General Eclectic
• Wild & Free Print: Blacklist
• Ceramic Cross: Ahoy Trader
• Jute Rug: Beach Lifestyle
• Hold Tight Wall Flag: Blacklist
• Vintage Trunk: thrifted
• Vintage Cottees Cordial Amber Bottle: thrifted
• Black Desk: thrifted

• Moroccan Floor Rug in lounge room: Sugar Shack Styling Co.
• Shell Chandelier: Bali
• Orange Woolen Lounge Blanket: Kip & Co
• Moroccan Pouffe in Mustard: Fusion Blue
• Kantha Throw Rug in Green: Sugar Shack Styling Co

• Tablecloth: Bonnie & Neil
• Enamel Blue Canisters: Garage Sale Find
• Tea-towel converted wall hanging: Our Lieu
• Enamel ex-mechanics Green Pendant light: Second-hand purchase from vintage seller

• Butter Dish: Robert Gordon
• Tea Towel: Kip & Co
• Mermaid Bottle Opener: Empire Homewares
• Bread Bin: Parlane Enamelware
• Mixer: Kitchenaid
• Round wooden cutting board: Needle and Nail

• Grey Linens: Major Minor
• Pillowcases: Kip & Co
• Lace Valance: thrifted crochet tablecloth
• Industrial Metal document drawers: World of Empire
• Vintage Floral Print: thrifted
• Ceramic Cross: handmade by owner

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