Bella Vista Living - A Coastal Renovation on the Central Coast

Located on the beautiful Central Coastal of Australia is the recently renovated home of Grace and Jarrad - Bella Vista Living. The perfect duo to tackle a project like this, Jarrad took on the build side of the project and Grace did all of the interior design. The home features some beautiful and unique features, such as the fluted island bench with a brass shadowline (we're here for this kind of detail) and the fluted glass shower screen. We took the opportunity to chat with Grace and ask her about the renovation process and share some lessons she learned throughout the journey. If you love a coastal home or are planning a renovation yourself, we're sure you'll find this interview helpful and inspiring.

Congratulations on your renovation! Can you tell us a bit of background about this home?

Thank you so much! We bought our home nearly 5 years ago now in Forresters Beach. I was 23 and my partner was 24. It was a big deal at that age. I was very set on this house. So confident that I put an offer on it before my partner had even inspected it. Very risky especially because he’s a builder (whoops). The next thing you know. I had received a call from the realestate agent and it had been accepted!! Luckily the builders inspection went to plan and that’s when all the fun began with the renovations. 

What changes did you make from the original house?

So far we have left the normal layout of the house but we have rearranged most of the rooms on the inside. We have created a brand new kitchen with lots of luxe detailing, lounge room with a beautiful wood fireplace, master bedroom, ensuite, and outdoor alfresco including outdoor entertainment. There’s still a lot more to do. But we are slowly getting there.

Did you do the renovation in stages or all at once?

We have renovated in stages. Because my partner and I are just doing it ourselves, it takes a lot longer than it would with a whole heap of tradies helping out. It’s been nice for us to create this home together and say we’ve made it together. Financially doing it this way has worked better for us. 

We love your fluted island bench! Where did you draw inspiration for this from?

I personally get my inspiration from Instagram. It’s so much easier to source where the actual product is from and how I can get my hands on it. But I also have an epic Pinterest board happening. Curves were just coming back in when I started to design the kitchen island bench. So I put some photos together on a mood board and drew something up and @kalodesignshopfitting made my vision come to life. Even better than what I had imagined.  

What were some suppliers you used throughout your renovation?

I absolutely love to support local or small businesses. Just a few I can name off the top of my head though are 

First of course my husband @js__projects 

@loughlinfurniture 

@byronbayhangingchairs

@the.styling.republic 

@kalodesignshopfitting 

@cocorepublic

@havenathome

Homeowners Jarrad and Grace with their furry helpers, Vader and Obi

What was the most challenging and most rewarding part of the renovation? 

The most challenging but rewarding part was our skylights about the kitchen island bench. It was a very last-minute decision I made but they’re the show stopper (apart from the island)! The three Velux skylights by @coastal.skylights. They let in so much natural light and it just makes the space feel so calming and open. Now I’ve come to realise I love them so much I’d like one in every room. Also our outdoor alfresco! That was a major updo and it is such a perfect place to entertain with friends and family.

What tools did you find helpful when planning your renovation? 

If I’m being honest, I didn’t actually use any floor planning apps or anything other than Instagram and Pinterest. I’m a creative person and so is my partner. So a lot of the time, I had a few ideas in my head and we just went along with what was possible. It seems to be working so far.

What was the biggest lesson you learnt during the renovation? 

That things aren’t as easy as just looking at a photo and saying “I want this.” It is HARD labor and so time-consuming. Especially when you want it to look and last for a long time. Seeing it first hand from my partner throughout our own renovation, I take my hat off to all trades working as hard as my partner does. Patients is key and the wait is always well worth it