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Life’s a breeze “Its location in a quiet cul-de-sac with ocean views is pretty hard to

beat,” says Simone Haag of the weekender she shares with her family, including their dog Tank.

Against the grain The shack may be near the beach, but it’s not decorated in a “typical beach house” style or palette – Hans Wegner

for Carl Hansen vintage dining chairs from Modern Times are testament to this. A

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Treat yourself Simone splurged on three things in the kitchen – she tiled to the roofline to help zone the space, and chose a Santa & Cole

“Wally” wall lamp for a beautiful glow, and De’Longhi coffee machine for her morning brew.

Sweetie pie Simone’s daughter Goldie sits on an Ikea “Sinnerlig” table under a Swedish

“Bumling” pendant light from the 1970s, one of the pieces that dictated the whole interior look. A

W H O L I V E S H E R E ?

S T Y L I S T S I M O N E H A A G , H U S B A N D R H Y S , G O L D I E , 2 , B A B Y C L O V E R ,

A N D R E S C U E D O G , T A N K . S I M O N E H A A G . C O M . A U ; @ S I M O N E H A A G

Excited about… “Spending winter weekends here so we can enjoy the fireplace,” Simone says.On the wishlist “For Rhys, it is the skate ramp he plans to build so he can teach the girls to skate, as well as keep entertained on days where there is no surf. For me, I would say it is the time to scour op shops and markets for all manner of nautical/Navajo trinkets.”Best bargain “Ceramics from a Phillip Island antique bazaar that mimic our palette perfectly.”Sources of inspiration “LA-based design studio Commune Design (Communedesign.com), designers of Ace Hotels, and US model/actress/designer/stylist Erin Wasson’s house via Insta.”

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“THE VERY NATURE OF the design world is that it’s so often deadline driven, so imagine if you had a decade to think about what you would do with a space? It’s a luxury not many interior stylists have, but that was the case with the weekender I now share with my husband Rhys, our daughters Goldie and Clover, and our rescue dog Tank.

“Rhys and I regularly spent surfing weekends at Angler’s Shack – as it’s affectionately known – when it was owned by his parents, who now live a handy few hundred metres up the road. The house became a second home for us and our friends. It’s deceptive in size; it can actually sleep 12, and, of course, more when mates bring tents and campers.

“Before we owned the house, many a drive back to ‘the big smoke’ of Melbourne was spent lamenting the lack of comparable cottages nearby that we could put our stamp on. So when it finally came up for grabs, it’s hardly surprising the reno was swift and enjoyable. The work was completed with the aid of builders Dave and Louey, who I had previously worked with on a client project. Their craftsmanship has to be commended as there wasn’t a straight wall in the house. Unlike most clients whose brief would be to make it perfect, we wanted to embrace the imperfection, which I think was harder for them.

“The main change is the kitchen. The internals of the cabinetry were retained – as a cost-cutting measure and also because Rhys was scared that if we pulled out the kitchen, the floor would come with it. We worked with Druce from Greener Kitchens (Greenerkitchens.com.au) to workshop the ply finish, which we stained with a Haymes stain and fitted with handles from Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Co. It was a cost-effective reno – we even used the old sink – but I splurged on tiles to the roofline, a Santa & Cole wall lamp and De’Longhi coffee machine.

“Other changes included painting the floors white, adding lining boards and wall lights to the double bedroom, lining the bathroom and painting it, updating sinks, window treatments, door hardware and, of course, layering with furniture and lighting. Being a stylist, who specialises in furniture, art and objects for residential clients, the furniture was as much fun, if not more, than the reno.” R

Desert by the sea In the dining area, a Navajo-style blanket thrown over a chair and

the Cactus View photographic print, from Middle Of Nowhere, nod to the global-traveller vibe. Curl up The new, vintage and op-shop finds in the cosy living

area include a Moroccan rug from Criteria, an Ikea “Sinnerlig”

daybed dressed up with a Kip & Co throw, and Pelicano

armchairs from Hub. Anchor Ceramics tiles are laid around

the original 1960s wood stove. Life’s beachy Simone and

family can easily wander down to the nearby beach. A

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Dining style Sheer grey curtains from Weylandts filter soft light into the dining area. Simone has filled a wall-mounted shelving unit with books, plants and accessories. Sit back, relax In the living area, opposite, a pair of Pelicano armchairs from Hub sit beneath a Pony Rider wall banner and a mirror from Etsy. A

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Pic of the day In the master bedroom, a Telegram “Woven Rope” pendant is the hero, while a Kate & Kate linen throw is made into curtains. The Electrolux barbie is a beach house must-have! A guest bedroom features two double beds, and a snuggly flokati rug, a vintage find. The Artek poster is from Luke Furniture. Lining boards were added to the bathroom, painted in Haymes “Yukka”, paying homage to the original green fibreglass shower. The bedside table is an Ikea “Sinnerlig” cork stool; the range features through the home. The lightweight String shelf unit is handy. A Ferm Living clothes rack is also duplicated in the bedroomsElegant touch The wall panelling was added to the bedroom. The print is from Our Print Collection. A

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SIMONE’S LOOK

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On deck The living area opens out to the new deck increasing the living space. The cactus was a roadside find. At the end of

the deck is an outdoor shower, which was custom-made by Simone’s husband Rhys,

using a Seletti copper shower.

Colours and finishesFROM LEFT Paints Haymes “Interior Expressions” in Organic 1, Intrigue and Yucca, each $69.95 for 4L. Haymes Dexpress stain and tint, $102 for 4L. For stockists, see page 177.

1 Marset Follow Me lamp, $289, Design Stuff. 2 Woven rope pendant, $199.95, Telegram Open House. 3 Artek 75th Anniversary poster, $690 for 1.4m x 1m, Luke Furniture. 4 Isaac short-arm sconce in White, from $US149 (about $AU205, plus shipping), Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Co. 5 Pampa “Puna #41” wool

rug, $1350 for 1.97m x 1.33m, Modern Times. 6 Sonos “Play:5” wireless speaker in White, $749, Harvey Norman. 7 The Modernist pot in Bungalow, from $125 for 33cm diameter (not including plant), Pop & Scott. 8 Rubn Lighting “Hunter Grand” floor lamp, from $1529, Fred International. 9 Cactus View framed print (1.15m x 85cm), $399. Oz Design Furniture. 10 Folding stool in Blush, $259, Barnaby Lane. 11 Objekto “Pelicano” armchair, $1490, Hub Furniture. 12 Antler

resin wall piece in Natural, $49.95, Freedom. 13 Atelier Stella “Large Bowl” vase, $49, West Elm. 14 Check tumbler in Pinks, $62, Jardan.

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