Wanting to build their dream home after years of searching to no avail, Janelle of Bask el sol and her family eventually settled on a nature-filled 3.5-acre block on the Sunshine Coast. Bask el sol is a home that merges Australian coastal style with gorgeous elements of Mediterranean coastal farmhouse style, and the results are warm, grounding, and incredibly beautiful. Bask el sol is a calming home filled with natural light, sky-high ceilings, earthy tones, textures and considered materials with a strong connection to nature and the surrounding bushland. Read on for plenty of excellent building advice and to find out all about Janelle’s Jatana choices.
What motivated you to build?
Bask el sol is a new build home and is the culmination of a beautiful building journey with two teams, Dall Designer Homes and QEBS Design & Build, to create our dream home in our little slice of paradise on the edge of Bli Bli on the Sunshine Coast. We decided to embark on a new build project after searching for two and half years for a new home. Everything we looked at had to be modified or knocked down, so the most logical decision became a hunt for an idyllic patch of land, which we found after a long search. A 3.5-acre plot, surrounded by nature with our own bushland full of kingfishers, wagtails, kookaburras whose birdsongs frequently float across the landscape, a large dam to irrigate our vegetable garden and home to native wildlife and perched just on the edge of suburbia so our children can ride to visit friends, cafes and parks.
What was your goal for the build?
Our goal for building Bask el sol was to create not just a house but a sanctuary we could retreat to, reset and revitalize ourselves surrounded by the tranquil landscape and calming energy our land holds.
How would you describe your style?
Bask el sol is a fusion of styles inspired by Queensland’s coastal aesthetic and our love of coastal Mediterranean farmhouse style. White render, arches, an abundance of natural light, an earthy colour palette, and textiles. You will find abundant natural light, sky-high ceilings and vast window openings to connect with the natural surroundings.
Talk us through the process you took in the planning stages of the build!
The planning stage was quite an easy process as we knew the style we wanted to embrace and features that would highlight the coastal Mediterranean farmhouse we wanted to build. We worked with Dall Designer Homes to put our dream to paper, and we have completely fallen in love with what we have achieved. The initial planning stages involved designing a home with a modern coastal vibe, large open plan living areas with sky-high pitched ceilings and an abundance of windows to let in natural light and airflow. We brought in the Mediterranean farmhouse warmth and feel via light oak flooring, bespoke Jatana tiles, reclaimed timber features and rendered bathroom walls. Arches were used as statement architectural features alongside brushed brass tapware, soft furnishings and decor inspired by nature’s colour palette (Jai Vasicek artworks, wall hangings from the Dharma door, jute rugs etc.).
Did you visit the Jatana showroom to look around at tiles? How many samples did you leave with, or did you decide on your tiles there and then?
Our build began right as COVID restrictions began rolling out, so we could not cross the border and visit the Jatana showroom in person to make our tile selections. Visually I knew the looks we wanted to achieve, so the Jatana website was my guiding light during the selection process.
What were you looking for in a tile?
Our Tile selections needed to suit the coastal Mediterranean farmhouse aesthetic we were creating and stand as beautiful design features in the selected spaces. Being a new build home, I wanted to bring a sense of grounding and earthiness that connects us both to our landscape through design and beauty and creates a welcoming warmth to the eye and underfoot.
Which spaces did you tile?
Jaffa Tile – Kitchen and butler’s pantry splashback – the charcoal/brown earthy colours perfectly complement the reclaimed timber used in the kitchen & butler’s pantry. The delicate lotus pattern subtly referenced our connection to nature and my love of flowers.
Desert San Cristobal – front entrance and foyer – The warm, earthy terracotta colour palette inspired by flora served as the perfect tile for our entrance and set the tone for the rest of our home.
Terracotta Riviera – Bathroom floor – The earthy tactile warmth of the terracotta balanced our wall choice of Venetian plaster throughout the bathrooms perfectly.
Why did you choose Jatana / What did you enjoy best about the Jatana experience?
Jatana Interiors had been a source of love and inspiration to me for years before being able to bring a selection of their tiles into our new build home. With a love of nature, earthy tones and history, I found all these characteristics present throughout the Jatana range allowing the selection process to be visually enjoyable and a highlight in our build process.
Any advice for first time renovators / builders?
The most helpful advice I would offer to first time renovators is to know your budget first and work within that with realistic expectations. Do your homework in regards to builders and timeframes and don’t be afraid to use an interior designer to help guide you through the process if you are unsure. Lastly, create moodboards, Pinterest, Instagram images etc. to help guide you when meeting with your engaged professionals (architect, builder,interior designer etc.).
Where can we find you?
Leave A Comment