interior exterior design

home

  design projects  

  services  

   contact us   

Suzie Beirne

 

PROJECT:

Treehouses

 

It is always a challenge when designing the finishes and decor for any home without being able to work with an individual client.

 

Where do you start, whom do you please?

 

Creating a concept where you try to please everyone is always a total failure.

And so how to begin?

 

Being true to the architectural concept when you have no other design input for the decor is the best way to plan and develop a scheme. And never has this concept worked better than in the wistfully beautiful environment of Currumbin Hill.

 

Trees and more trees, not newly planted but strong and well established natives full of laughing birds and that fantastic slightly euphoric feeling that you get high up
floating in the forest canopy.

 

Given surroundings that provided colours galore to work with it was in this slightly heady atmosphere that we gained inspiration for the finishes and decor that would eventually become the interiors of “Treehouses”.

 

Richly polished timber floors reflect the dappled forest light - the architects had the foresight to include slatted panels on neighbour facing windows, eliminating the need for window treatments and at the same time allowing glimpses of the ocean way below through the greenery.

 

We hopefully captured the essence of the clients intentions with our decor, using the vibrant colours and textures of the trees for furnishings - set against a soothing backdrop of muted bark and winter leaf colours for finishes. It is soothing, serene.

 

Being so high in the canopy of the trees there is always a soft breeze and the colours were chosen to enhance that tranquility.

 

Muted backgrounds hunger for rich features in granny smith apple green and our carpeted bedrooms, with their soft mocha floors, responded to a tumble of earth tones with clay, mango and black highlights.

 

We kept the decor simple, allowing the background to set the scene.

As usual, it is all a matter of balance, reflecting inviting views with mirrors or echoing the surrounding bushland with artwork in the limes and greys and burnt orange of the trees.

 

Another important influence we took into consideration was trying to imagine how our imaginary clients would use their bushland hideaway - given that the fantastic wide beaches from Tugan to the Currumbin headland and Palm Beach are right at the bottom of the hill - literally a short stroll -
and too enticing to waste the day on housekeeping.

 

Easy care timber for the floors, lush rugs with fat deep pile in pure wool, fabrics that would be suitable on a London bus when it comes to durability and fun cushions and throws to introduce our highlight and accent colours.

 

It is going to be a lot of fun when clients finally start to personalise their decor schemes - we had created over 25 different colour combinations to select from and after our visit to Furnitex in July we have been able to increase this to more than 30 schemes.

 

 

Suzie Beirne m.d.i.a
by appointment only
Phone: 07 5528 5974
Mobile: 0418 758 389
maisonjardin.com.au