An Interior Designer’s Dreamy Beach House On The Great Ocean Road

Inside Leigh’s beautiful beach house! 6286 Dining Table by Fredericia from Cult Design. Custom made banquette seat. Akari Pendant Light from Finnish Design Shop. Ceiling stained with Porter’s Paints Watermark. Photo – Nikole Ramsay for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

Skantherm Shaker Fireplace from Oblica. Korbo Classic 24 Galvanised Wire Basket and Akari Pendant Light from Finnish Design Shop. Artek Day Bed from Anibou. Duvet by Marimekko. Photo – Nikole Ramsay for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

Leigh Ellwood standing by the beautiful series of oyster shell paintings she commissioned by Australian artist Lewis Miller. On left: Milk Tears by Rosslynd Piggott. Photo – Nikole Ramsay for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

Ply wall makes up the wall paneling and joinery throughout the home. Photo – Nikole Ramsay for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

The stunning view from the dining table! Skantherm Shaker Fireplace from Oblica. Korbo Classic 24 Galvanised Wire Basket from Finnish Design Shop. Artek Day Bed from Anibou. Duvet by Marimekko. Photo – Nikole Ramsay for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

Overhead storage by Vitsœ. Carrara marble benchtops by The Marble House. Birch plywood kitchen joinery by builder Alex Penfold. Photo – Nikole Ramsay for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

‘The banquette dining hooked to the back of the kitchen was a solution to create a central social space within a small footprint,’ Leigh says. ‘The banquette faces the ocean and is definitely the top spot to have a morning coffee.’ 6286 Dining Table by Fredericia from Cult Design. Oyster paintings by Lewis Miller. Photo – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

Carrara marble benchtops by The Marble House. Birch plywood kitchen joinery by builder Alex Penfold. Secondhand Smeg oven. Paint colour Watermark by Porter’s Paints. Photo – Nikole Ramsay for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

Lewis Miller painted the oysters directly onto the plywood living room walls. ‘This involved the installation then removal of the wall panels so Lewis could complete the works in his Melbourne studio, then their reinstallation back in the house. Phew!’ says Leigh. Photo – Nikole Ramsay for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

The Poet Sofa by Finn Juhl, from Danish Red. Photo – Nikole Ramsay for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

Akari Floor Lamp from Finnish Design Shop. Artek Day Bed from Anibou. Paint colour Watermark by Porter’s Paints. Duvet by Marimekko. Photo – Nikole Ramsay for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

Art wall left to right: ‘Blonde Girl’ by Heide Yardley. ‘Lost Cat’ ceramic bowl and watercolour painting by Noel McKenna. ‘Untitled’ oil painting by Tim Bass. Stylised flower by Wilma Tabacco. ‘Scott in Central Park Snow’ by Donald Holt. ‘Richie Tenenbaum’ by Marc Etherington. ‘Max’ ceramic tile by Noel McKenna. Oil painting by Angela Brennan. ‘Otways Coastal’ lithograph by Jan Senbergs. ‘Love Hurts’ by Jon Campbell. Pastel drawing by Julian Martin. Watercolour by Noel McKenna. ‘Hakusan Waves’ ceramic thong by Gerry Wedd. ‘After the Rain’ by Julian Twigg. Pastel drawing by Fulli Andrinopoulos. Below: ‘Cupcakes’ by Lucy Culliton. Ceramic vessels by Hermie Cornelisse. Photo – Nikole Ramsay for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

Photo – Nikole Ramsay for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

The main bedroom. Paint colour Watermark by Porter’s Paints. Bed linen by Tekla. Striped linen curtain from Designer’s Guild. Pillows from Cultiver. Photo – Nikole Ramsay for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

Tapware by Vola. Bespoke mirror cabinet designed by Leigh and made by Makestuff. Hand basin by Artedomus. Natural terracotta tiles. Japanese wall tile by Academy Tiles. Photo – Nikole Ramsay for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

The powder room lined with plywood. Ceramic tile by Noel McKenna ceramic tile. Photo – Nikole Ramsay for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

A vintage butterfly chair welcomes guests to the home. Photo – Nikole Ramsay for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

The entrance. Photo – Nikole Ramsay for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

How amazing is thatle view! Photo – Nikole Ramsay for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

Leigh taking a moment to enjoy the serenity from the outdoor deck. Photo – Nikole Ramsay for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

Heaven! Photo – Nikole Ramsay for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

The holiday home of interior designer Leigh Ellwood was originally a 1970s beach shack. When the original house burned down in the early ‘80s, it was rebuilt on the same footprint and in exactly the same style, and remained in the same family for the next 30 years.

Leigh and her family purchased the home in 2020 for its modest size, water views, and location along Victoria’s world famous Great Ocean Road. She initially planned to just ‘tweak’ a few elements, but the project quickly grew into a larger scale renovation.

When designing the interiors, Leigh was inspired by the seaside cabin on the Côte d’Azur in France, designed and owned by the famed architect and designer, Le Corbusier. ‘It’s both a total work of art and the archetype of the “minimum cell” based on an absolute and functionalist approach,’ says Leigh. Despite its tiny 13 square metre footprint and scaled back interior, Le Corbusier reportedly described the home as ‘extravagant in comfort and gentleness.’

Leigh envisioned a similar minimal timber home, allowing the ocean views to take centre stage.

Builder Alex Penfold lived onsite during the renovation, which took the better part of 12 months. Works involved demolition of a bedroom, a new kitchen, reconfiguring two existing small bathrooms into a family bathroom, a new powder room, new lighting, relining and insulating the ceiling, and the installation of a fireplace.

Max Paint Melbourne sealed the plywood surfaces, and painted the remaining walls in Watermark by Porter’s Paints. ‘Watermark was selected to absorb light and soften the connection to the plywood,’ says Leigh.

‘Mornings are a favourite time given the uninterrupted views to the south, and the east with the early morning light often causing the new plywood walls to glow.’

Decoration throughout the home is deliberately minimal, except for the oyster paintings by 1998 Archibald Prize winner (and 18-time nominee!) Lewis Miller, painted directly onto the plywood living room walls. ‘This involved the installation then removal of the wall panels so Lewis could complete the works in his Melbourne studio, then their reinstallation back in the house. Phew!’ says Leigh.

Leigh and her family spend their days in the home taking in the constantly changing ocean views, and local birdlife that passes by at eye level.

A house too special for words!