In Conversation With | Ky Drury of Studio Haus Co

The surf roars and salty air saturates the coastal bushland at Beach Haus, a recently renovated family home that backs onto Tallows Beach in Byron Bay’s Suffolk Park. The transformation of a dark and dated Caribbean-style shack has been a project close to home for Ky Drury of Studio Haus Co and her husband Mick, who heads up Broken Head Building.

“We owned Beach Haus and lived in it with our four children before renovating it,” Ky shares. “As this was our own personal project, we got to have a bit of fun with the design. We didn’t want it to be your typical beach-style house.”

While the exterior shell remained untouched (besides a lick of fresh paint, says Ky), the updated interiors now beam with the casual sophistication Studio Haus Co is known for. The calm palette of white, soft neutrals and timbers speaks to the sunbleached native seaside grasses and sandy textures the family wander past en route to their daily ocean dip. New skylights and a reworked layout give the home its airy, voluminous feel. “We opened the living space up to make the kitchen larger and more accommodating for a larger family,” Ky explains.

“We owned Beach Haus and lived in it with our four children before renovating it,” Ky shares. “As this was our own personal project, we got to have a bit of fun with the design. We didn’t want it to be your typical beach-style house.”

The details certainly make this house a home. A very inviting, stylish home, at that. Each space is layered with subtle textures and elegant design gestures, manifesting in an elevated coastal style with depth and character. Every surface finish has been selected with intention, from the Ibiza lime plaster walls created by Royal Finish Plastering to the lofted ceilings finished in VJ panelling and the artful pairing of dark and light timbers.

“My favourite design feature would have to be the custom edging we had done on the kitchen and bathroom counters,” says Ky, who engaged the family-owned and operated Stone Inspirations in Ballina to do the work. “This unique feature is the first of its kind in our area. And we just love it!”

Keeping it local is a consistent motivator for Ky and her team at Studio Haus Co, whose range of projects encompasses must-visit venues like The Fig Tree Restaurant and The Loft and a multitude of stunning private residences that echo the client's lifestyle and the sheer beauty of the surrounding naturescape. Decorating her own home, Ky remained true to her ethos. “We are lucky enough to live in an area featuring some of the best artisans in Australia, so working with them, we secured some amazing one-off pieces.”

Woven into the curation of handcrafted pottery, natural linen and original artworks is a selection from The Dharma Door. “Like in most of the projects we do, Dharma Door product works because they are aesthetically appealing as well as purposeful,” says Ky. “We love to use the baskets in pantry shelving and bathroom styling. And you can never go wrong with one of the laundry baskets in any bedroom or bathroom.”

Designed with easy family living in mind, practicality hasn’t been spared at Beach Haus. Reimagining the house and garden was also an exercise in togetherness. “We actually did all the landscaping as a family over the weekends,” says Ky. “When selecting what plants to put in, we wanted it to be as low maintenance as possible so time could be spent down the beach rather than in the garden.”

Now that the work is done, Ky and Mick have placed the house on the market and are moving on to their next personal project. “It’s ready for another family to take over and enjoy it as much as we did,” the designer shares. “It’s the perfect home for a family who enjoy the lifestyle that comes with living on the beach. When designing this home, it was important that it had a laid-back, relaxing energy where the family could come together and enjoy.” Mission beautifully accomplished!