My Houzz: Renovated Aussie Beach Shack Nods to Italy
Young designers upgrade their inherited vacation house south of Melbourne, and make it a place to live and work full time
From the outside, this 1950s Australian beach shack, about an hour’s drive south of Melbourne, looks like many others on the Mornington Peninsula that get used as vacation homes. During the summer, they’re buzzing with action, and then they’re virtually abandoned over winter. Beyond the unassuming exterior, however, lies a bright Italian Riviera-inspired abode that serves as a year-round home and design studio for Joshua Reitano and Adriana Vujovic.
In 2014, Reitano and Vujovic chose to move from Melbourne and make this house their home, as well as the base for their design business. “It was the next chapter. It was a challenge both Adriana and I couldn’t wait to get our hands on,” says Reitano, recalling the massive undertaking ahead of them to bring the shack out of the ’50s. “We always wanted to keep the charming elements of the house, but also add some contemporary properties to it.”
Much of the interior is inspired by Reitano and Vujovic’s trip to the Cinque Terre in Italy last year. “From the watery hues of the dyed Turkish beach towels hanging in the hallway to the selection of punchy-colored cushions and homewares, the home is a real reflection of what inspired us during our trip,” Vujovic says. “Our decorating style is a contemporary take on an eclectic beach home.”
Plants: Glasshaus; “Inside” artwork: Norsu Interiors; leather pillow: Jardan
Plants: Glasshaus; “Inside” artwork: Norsu Interiors; leather pillow: Jardan
There are also French influences, including their Acqua di Parma candle the couple stumbled across during a trip to Bordeaux. “We instantly fell in love with the wax cubes, and we needed to buy them,” Vujovic says. “We purchased three at the time. We’ve completely finished the Clove White, we have half of the Colonia Yellow candle, but we promised each other we’d keep the Amber Black candle as a reminder of our trip. It now lives in our studio.”
The couple had planned to do only cosmetic changes to the house when they moved in, but they found structural issues that needed repair. Then the ball was rolling to renovate. “Let’s just say, once we started, we couldn’t stop,” Reitano says. “Before any aesthetic brainstorming began, we had a thorough check throughout the home for things that needed to be repaired or changed to suit the home and our lifestyle.”
One of these issues was a roof leak in the entrance hall, which trickled onto the ceiling from above. The plaster sheet had significant damage and needed to be repaired.
One of the more major changes included getting rid of the old carpet. It was all through the home, except for the wet areas, where linoleum was glued to wood floors underneath. The original floorboards were then treated with a white satin floor paint by Feast Watson.
One of these issues was a roof leak in the entrance hall, which trickled onto the ceiling from above. The plaster sheet had significant damage and needed to be repaired.
One of the more major changes included getting rid of the old carpet. It was all through the home, except for the wet areas, where linoleum was glued to wood floors underneath. The original floorboards were then treated with a white satin floor paint by Feast Watson.
“The original carpet was a nightmare. As we’re a two-minute walk from the beach, we wanted a practical home that was easy to clean, particularly with salt water and sand, so this was a major consideration during the brainstorming aspect of the renovation,” Reitano says.
Paint in all areas except master bedroom: White on White, Dulux
Paint in all areas except master bedroom: White on White, Dulux
Reitano and Vujovic say the renovation was solely about further developing their knowledge within construction and exploring their creativity. Although the majority of the work was done with the help of family and close friends, “we used contractors for electrical work, plumbing and tiling. It was such a fun and great learning experience for all involved,” Reitano says. “We love transforming homes, whether a humble home like ours or a project with a larger scope of works; we’d do it over and over again.”
Cross: Ahoy Trader
Cross: Ahoy Trader
They recommend always keeping your overall budget in mind when renovating, and planning each room with a 10 percent contingency for any unforeseen circumstances.
Reitano and Vujovic assessed how they wanted the home to suit their lifestyles.
“Our home was always a secondary home in our lives until recently,” Reitano says. “My grandparents loved entertaining here, and they always had guests over whenever we’d visit as kids. We wanted to ensure that we kept the humble features and communal, inviting and social feel.”
One of the ways they did this was with the oversize dining area within the kitchen, accented by the low-hung pendant cluster over the table, which adds a sense of intimacy and warmth.
Industrial-style dining table: d-Bodhi
“Our home was always a secondary home in our lives until recently,” Reitano says. “My grandparents loved entertaining here, and they always had guests over whenever we’d visit as kids. We wanted to ensure that we kept the humble features and communal, inviting and social feel.”
One of the ways they did this was with the oversize dining area within the kitchen, accented by the low-hung pendant cluster over the table, which adds a sense of intimacy and warmth.
Industrial-style dining table: d-Bodhi
Furniture choices were also influenced by the home’s location and the couple’s busy lifestyle, so they opted for high-quality, robust pieces.
The home came with ample amounts of storage with more than 40 cabinets, all of which needed new handles. The couple sought a cost-effective way of adding the handles, and one that was in keeping with their overall design aesthetic. They also wanted a material that would age gracefully — they opted for leather.
“While studying, Josh developed a strong understanding of materials, and one of his favorites was leather,” Vujovic says. “This is where we came up with the idea to use an Argentinean lamb hide, which has a butterlike softness that will develop a beautifully unique patina on each tab, all due to regular use and the natural oils in our hands.”
Sunlight also darkens the hide, and there will be a slight stretch that will happen with pulling the leather over time.
“The home was always a casual, warm and humble environment. We wanted to play on the casual aspects with the implementation of patina leather handles,” Vujovic says.
Argentinean lamb-hide handles: NSW Leather Co.
“While studying, Josh developed a strong understanding of materials, and one of his favorites was leather,” Vujovic says. “This is where we came up with the idea to use an Argentinean lamb hide, which has a butterlike softness that will develop a beautifully unique patina on each tab, all due to regular use and the natural oils in our hands.”
Sunlight also darkens the hide, and there will be a slight stretch that will happen with pulling the leather over time.
“The home was always a casual, warm and humble environment. We wanted to play on the casual aspects with the implementation of patina leather handles,” Vujovic says.
Argentinean lamb-hide handles: NSW Leather Co.
More of the Cinque Terre influence appears in the hallway with an enlarged photograph the couple took while on holiday there for the Milan Furniture Fair.
“The casual, laid-back lifestyle of the locals was inspiring. They had a unique and effortless design style, which is now our forefront with The Salted Chair,” Reitano says.
“Cliffs” artwork: The Salted Chair
“The casual, laid-back lifestyle of the locals was inspiring. They had a unique and effortless design style, which is now our forefront with The Salted Chair,” Reitano says.
“Cliffs” artwork: The Salted Chair
The second photograph is hanging in the main bedroom, and influences the colors and relaxed vibe of the room. “It serves as a constant reminder of the way we felt while traveling through Italy,” Reitano says. “The blue walls were a literal reference to this photo of the Mediterranean sea.”
Wall paint: Atlantic Mystique, Dulux; “Scenic Detour” artwork: The Salted Chair
Wall paint: Atlantic Mystique, Dulux; “Scenic Detour” artwork: The Salted Chair
When it comes to using strong colors like the cobalt blue in this room, Reitano says to go bold and trust your instincts.
“Tradespeople in the house always had this look on their faces when they saw us painting the master bedroom blue and painting the hardwood floors white. It was a look of devastation!” Reitano says.
Headboard: Table of Contents; headboard fabric: Mystere Royal, Warwick Fabrics
“Tradespeople in the house always had this look on their faces when they saw us painting the master bedroom blue and painting the hardwood floors white. It was a look of devastation!” Reitano says.
Headboard: Table of Contents; headboard fabric: Mystere Royal, Warwick Fabrics
“If it is what you envisioned, don’t let anybody deter you from your vision. We knew we wanted to enhance the light and bright atmosphere, and we knew what we needed to do to accomplish this,” he says.
Candle: Bella Freud
Candle: Bella Freud
Reitano says that one of the most beautiful aspects of the home is the natural light it gets, which they embrace wholeheartedly. The guest bedroom was painted white and reflects the ample sunlight from the windows.
This room gets regular use from friends and family visiting from Melbourne and staying over for a night or two at a time.
The bathroom also got an update. Sticking to a simple white palette, the couple splurged on quality faucets as their budget allowed.
Because of the home’s age, there was originally only an outdoor laundry in the backyard. They converted the existing mudroom connected to the back door into their new laundry.
Near the back of the house is the space the couple use to run their interior design studio, which they started a year ago. It was formerly a third bedroom, but Reitano and Vujovic wanted to work together at home, so they converted it. They find their home and its surrounds inspiring, and particularly love the paned windows and openness of the space.
They divide their work between their beachside home studio and client visits back in Melbourne.
They divide their work between their beachside home studio and client visits back in Melbourne.
“As designers, we are passionate and absolutely love what we do, so we don’t tend to separate our work and life. Our favorite room in our house is our studio. It is a space where the most creating happens,” Reitano says.
Vujovic’s passion for midcentury modern furniture directed the couple to the beautiful Parker sideboard that now lives in their studio.
On the sideboard sits an Eames House Bird from Vitra. They enjoy having design icons like this in their creative space for inspiration.
The black Aqua di Palma candle bought in Bordeaux remains untouched in the studio as a constant reminder of the couple’s travels.
Small bird: Architectmade
The clipboard wall in the studio gets regularly updated with inspirational images, client mood boards and famous furniture references.
“The studio provides us with ample storage and open space for working on large projects and, of course, Marble — our British blue shorthair and unofficial mascot — still has her space to lounge in the room and keep us company,” Reitano says.
Reitano, holding Marble, and Vujovic hang out in their studio.
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style:
Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style:
Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Who lives here: Joshua Reitano and Adriana Vujovic of The Salted Chair
Location: Rosebud, Victoria, Australia
Size: Three bedrooms, one bathroom
The home was bought in 1996 by Reitano’s grandparents and is only two blocks from the beach. “It has been like a family heirloom, passed down,” he says. “My grandparents Giuseppe and Caterina loved the beach, and my grandfather particularly loved gardening, so it was his garden home, and it was Caterina’s home where she was at the beach and visited her local friends. It’s been a happy place for as long as I can remember.”