House Tour: An Eco-Friendly Boho Home

Rustic charm meets coastal living in this beautiful eco-friendly cottage. It is located in Gerringong, NSW, Australia and was once a tired seaside retreat. However, today the home has a fresh new look and styling by interior designer (and owner) Simone Mathews.

In 2018, Simone, together with her husband Ben, and their four young boys, ventured into this Gerringong property and found that the home was for sale. It was certainly meant to be. Despite the home’s tired state, the family was drawn to the charm of the place.

The challenge

What ensued was a challenging renovation which needed to meet strict time and budget constraints. Things were kept streamlined and many items were repurposed. The floors were given a fresh new coat and polish while old barn doors were carefully rebuilt. to ensure that the pair met the budget limitations.

Another recycled solution, the new kitchen would comprise of the timber shelving, benches and door fronts from a local café closure.

Simone also reworked the floorplan to accommodate families. “Everything was created around what was the shed/storage area and is now the living area,” says Simone. “This space would be the heart of the home and work hard, as it includes the living/dining area, kitchen pantry, laundry and powder room.”

Applying the principles of design

Styling a new home on a budget can be tricky. However, Simone applied a ‘70/20/10 rule’. She explains: “You have 70 percent of one style, 20 percent of another, and a final 10 per cent that brings it all together”. “So, for the cottage, it was 70 percent rustic, 20 percent coastal and 10 percent classic”. All done while respecting the past and creating a new personality for today.

The result is a beautifully fresh coastal retreat. The interior is somewhat rustic with a few Nordic influences and boho charm. However, we really love the sustainable edge with repurposed items that are new once more.