Beloved television presenter Liz Cantor was so enchanted by Metricon’s vibrant coastal home designs that she decided to take the plunge and build with us - twice. So naturally, she was the ideal choice to host our recent Coastal Living Masterclass Webinar.
Spoiler alert: You don’t have to live by the beach to bring your coastal living dreams to life.
“It transcends geographical boundaries,” Liz explains. “A coastal-inspired home offers a lifestyle that captures the essence of seaside charm and tranquility, no matter where you are. It blends natural beauty, relaxation, and serenity, creating a space that fosters well-being and a deep connection to the environment.”
The natural touch
So how do you achieve the coastal look and feel? Liz invited The Block stars-turned-professional renovators Kyal and Kara to share their personal insights into living the sea breeze-inspired lifestyle in New South Wales Central Coast hotspot, Bateau Bay.
“We’re right across the road from the beach in a leafy area with lots of gum trees,” Kyal says. “It’s such a great experience for the kids to walk across the road, through the national park and down to the sand. They’re adventurous and love being in the water.”
They bring that feeling into their home interior (by the beach or not) in simple yet strategic ways. “When I think 'coastal style', it’s got a certain rustic element to it,” Kyal says. “The first thing that you see at our home, when you walk up to the front door, is a big piece of driftwood, and that’s our door handle.”
Drawing inspiration from the naturally beautiful elements she’s encountered at the beach over the years, Kara seamlessly weaves these coastal touches into her own home and into the coastal living designs she creates for her clients. “For me, the essential elements are the colour and texture,” she says. “Many people assume a coastal interior is all white, but it’s also about those soft blues, sandy tones, linens, and gorgeous timber finishes.”
Coastal living is all about being practical. “When we’re coming in from the beach and we have sandy feet, making sure that entry point is robust is important, so we have tiles at the entry to our home before the timber floors,” Kara says.
“That’s where the outdoor shower comes into play too. You can wash off the sand before the kids hop in the pool.” Kyal adds.
Kyal thinks about the coastal look from top to bottom. “We love to collect all the finishes and samples and create a physical mood board, starting from the roof down,” he says. “So we’ll look at all the COLORBOND® steel colour swatches and then pick a palette that is best suited to the environment.”
You can afford to be a bit rough and ready. “Embrace those natural imperfections in textures, like a render with subtle undulations that enhance the coastal vibe,” Kyal says.
It's easy to find plenty of coastal living inspiration, Kara adds. “It could be on a Saturday morning drive at the beach with the kids, finding a gorgeous colour on the sand that we love,” she says. “Social media plays a huge part these days too. We’ve got Pinterest, Instagram and TikTok.”
Durable and delightful
Metricon Display Design Lead, Toyah Meekel, emphasises that indoor-outdoor living is key to capturing the essence of the coastal feel. “We think about big windows, big glass sliding doors, and decking that seamlessly connects you to the outdoors,” she says.
Toyah says you need to bear in mind that outdoor furnishing should be stylish but hard-wearing, especially if you are living by the coast. “You do have to think about the harsh conditions with salt water, wind and the humidity,” she says. “You want waterproof, durable materials. Natural stones, timbers and concrete work well.”
Coastal living calls for creative indoor solutions too. "At Metricon, we’ll help you design a home that harnesses natural ventilation by strategically positioning windows to catch cross breezes and incorporating awnings and louvres to maximise airflow."
Metricon Interior Designer Brooke Boman says finishing touches can elevate the coastal look. “Textured wallpapers, cushions, and rugs can inject colour and depth into your space,” she explains.
“We also maximise natural light with skylights and soften the interiors with sheer curtains to create an airy, coastal feel.”
Get washed away with the coastal palette
Our designers collaborate closely with the COLORBOND® steel team, including Design & Colour Consultan, Kaela Turgeon, to perfect the coastal aesthetic. “I work with the interior designer consultants in Metricon’s Studio M, and I love being able to mentor and collaborate with them to really be inspired by our colour palette,” Kaela says.
“One of my favourites this year is our new colour, Southerly,” she adds. “It’s a really beautiful, neutral grey that just has a softness and feels right at home in coastal areas.”
Kaela also recommends the new Surfmist tone. “It just sits so beautifully in a serene canvas, working with materials like timber and stone,” she says.
By using accents like Dune, you can move between the internal and external finishes to blur the boundaries between those spaces, creating a beautiful calm, peaceful scheme.”
If you want a sneak peek at how the coastal living dream can come together beautifully, check in with our customers Joe and Rose and their beautiful home away from home in Nelson’s Bay, affectionately named 'Onda'.
