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AUSTRALIAN HOUSE & GARDEN | 113
F
or an avid surfer, the
cold, dark waters of
Victoria’s Mornington
Peninsula can prove
to be a real challenge.
So Celeste Twikler upped
sticks and moved up to the north coast of NSW seven years
ago, to enjoy the seemingly endless summer that comes with
living in Byron Bay.
Surfing is a daily ritual for the jewellery designer, who recently
released a homewares and clothing range. “Sometimes it’s a
‘whole daily’ ritual, as I find myself surfing for up to seven hours
when the waves are good,” she says. “But I make up for it in
studio time and usually work until all hours of the night.”
Four years ago, Celeste found a rare freestanding bungalow
on a large corner block within walking distance of the beach.
Even though the exterior was bright blue, with a yellow-sponged
feature wall inside, Celeste’s discerning eye could see past the
unfortunate paintwork to a potentially ideal home, which is just
what it’s become for her and Staffordshire terrier, Nala.
The charming two-bedroom house is surrounded by a wide
covered return verandah, an ideal spot for relaxing and watching
the world go by. High windows abut raked ceilings that reach
3m in height, allowing beautiful north-eastern light to stream
into the internal spaces year round. Inside, the open-plan kitchen,
dining and living areas open up to the verandah and connect
the internal spaces to the garden.The first thing Celeste did
after buying the property
was take out a subscription
to H&G for inspiration. She
then turned to her jack-of-all-
trades dad to help problem-
solve and execute renovation ideas, and the first order of business
was a thorough colour transformation. “I didn’t move a thing
in until all the internal walls were painted white,” she says.
“There is nothing better than a fresh canvas.”
Structural changes began with the building of an outdoor
shower, a no-brainer in this subtropical climate. “I never use the
indoor bathroom, not even in winter,” says Celeste. “It’s even
better when it’s cold and raining and I’m having a hot shower.”
Next step was to set up a work-from-home scenario, which
was made possible with the addition of a studio to the side of
the house. Using large recycled windows and french doors,
Celeste and her father created a space that can be opened up to
the outdoors. “I wanted to work in natural light and in an open
space,” she says. It’s now the engine room for Celeste’s collections
of jewellery, clothing and homewares, which she sells through
stockists Australia-wide as well as online.
The garden is as much a living space as the interiors. Celeste
often throws down kilims around the fire pit in the front yard
to create a comfy outdoor room, screened by established trees
and shrubs. Agaves and other lush succulents have replaced the
bushy ferns and lattice that prevailed when she moved in. >DINING Nala the Staffordshire terrier poses on an heirloom Persian rug. The table was delivered by accident (Celeste had purchased a different design),
but matched the floorboards, so it stayed. Bamboo chair, Cactus Hill Project. Replica Eames DSW chairs, Matt Blatt. Artworks by Celeste. LIVING Vintage
artworks reinforce the beachy theme. Sofa, Freedom. The coffee table was an op-shop find, as was the platter. “I jumped on it like I was saving everyone
from a grenade!” says Celeste. In the glass bowl, she keeps shells she collected as a child. Planter basket, Big W. For Where to Buy, see page 188.