Queensland Homes Autumn 2005

Getting a feel for this property - the elements which make it so special - while living in a shack on the spectactular Newell Beach site, provided insight and inspiration for Sue and Graeme Lawrence to create 'Absolute'; an outstandingly innovative beach home.

Views of the sea, sand, mountains and World Heritage rainforest abound from every nook and corner of this impressive owner-builder success story, with its abundance of balconies and nautical look stainless steel balustrades.

This is an idyllic place where the Coral Sea rolls onto golden expanses of sand overhung with tall coconut palms. Where the green lawn ends, the tropical beach begins.

The house is a joint design concept by carpenter/owner-builder Graeme, with input from his wife Sue and their good mate, architect Barry Santry.

'I told Barry we wanted big spans and I knew we'd need steel to get them. If it was blowing on the ocean side we wanted a deck that would catch the mountain views. We've got a deck on each bedroom, two upstairs and one around the pool. They all serve a specific function - the top deck is for an afternoon drink overlooking the sea and the back one is for windy days."

"It's an interactive house," architect Barry Santry confides, "all the rooms and zones are connected to the living space to actively enhance the entertainment value. There are no corridors - the design of the home was driven by function and to provide cross-ventilation in the hot muggy conditions".

The house is christened 'Absolute; and absolute it is! The double height void with its floating bridge in the middle of the house created volume for air movement when hot air rises from the kitchen.

"We wanted a huge open kichen that had an outlook. We wanted large bench spaces with everything minimal and tucked away." A two pac finish is used with a glass splashback behind the ceramic bench stove. Bench tops are Stone Italiana Crystal. Kitchen innovations include the stainless steel cupboard kickboard and a 'kick vacuum system'. If you spill rice you kick and it sucks it up." Sue explains.

Practicality walks hand in hand with beachside luxury. The spacious entertainmant area opens to wonderous views and the pool deck. With a young family to accommodate it was imperative that the house be child friendly - especially the sitting room. Sue chose wipe clean macro suede covers in a hardwearing charcoal tone for the sofas.

One steps from inside to the large entertainment deck, Dry moat and wet edge saltwater pool. Twenty metres further on is the golden coconut fringed Newell Beach. And to cleanse the body toxins while absorbing the sea views, the steam room is situated on the beachside beside the pool.

A steel framed open staircase, with polished timber treads, leads one upstairs to a plethora of bedroom and balcony surprises. Each bedroom boasts either sea or mountain views - one as spectacular as the other - and its own private balcony space and ensuite. Sleek white-tiled bathrooms tuck behind each bedroom with Leda Vesqu alcover counter basins on circular Stone Italiana vanities. En suites with spas add the additional splash of luxury to the two master bedrooms.

'Absolute' is an extremely well planned and designed house. Spaces are cleverly co-ordinated for functionality and lifestyle ease.