Venue Crush: Bespoke Getaway in Lush Port Stephens

All photos courtesy of Salt at Shoal Bay

Sun-loving days by the water’s edge,meandering between pristine beaches and weathered homes was the catalyst for thisluxury beach house in the humble seaside town of Shoal Bay, Port Stephens.

An hour north of Newcastle, Lauren and Michael Charge went back to their roots to transform a worn-down abode into a modern Australian beach house with three self-contained spaces. Already experienced in the home reno business, and avid travellers themselves, they saw a gap in the local market for a unique family holiday home with all the trimmings of a bespoke getaway.

Now, Salt at Shoal Bay is putting this beautiful beachside town on the map, with guests flocking from near and far to experience the stunning accommodation. Made all the more impressive with its beautiful surrounds and incredible vistas, we went behind the scenes to get the lowdown on this chic coastal retreat. 

THE LOOK & FEEL

At the base of Tomaree National Park andacross the road from Shoal Bay Beach, Salt is a simplistic, yet luxuriousbeachside stay. It’s a place where you fall asleep to the sounds of waveslapping against the shoreline. And you wake up to native birdlife flitteringabout beyond a fence-line that was inspired by the weathered coastal fences ofTasmania’s sand dunes.

The house itself has been divided into two self-contained levels and a third freestanding cottage. Each with their own style, but weaved together with raw timber elements. Coming from a graphic design background, Lauren chose a neutral palette to create a sense of calm. She uses white as a base and introduces texture to complement the stunning views of Shoal Bay.

THE HOUSE

High raked ceilings and large glass windowsframe views of Tomaree and Yacaaba Headlands in the upper level of the house(Salt One). 

The interiors are kept minimalistic in the four-bedroom suite; it’s self-contained with a full kitchen, open plan living and dining area complete with a gas fireplace. The sliding stacker door takes you out onto a luxurious deck with lounge and barbeque facilities, and the master bedroom has a private balcony with views of the beach. 

Below, in Salt Two, the barefoot luxuryvibes continue. It too offers four bedrooms, a full kitchen, and an open planliving and dining space with a gas fireplace. Unlike Salt One, the lower levelhas a private outdoor dining and barbeque area and a side deck and bar withviews of the headlands. 

Salt Two

It’s a nod to island luxe, and the light-well in the kitchen will have you swooning over the lush surrounds. 

Salt Two

THE COTTAGE

Along the south end of the property is atwo-storey cottage (Salt Three). It has a more provincial living-slash-countrycoastal vibe going on. 

A cosy getaway with two bedrooms, lofty raked ceilings, open plan kitchen, dining and living room complete with a wood fireplace, and a large outdoor courtyard that was made for entertaining – and all with views of the headlands.

THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

A sleepy coastal town an hour north ofNewcastle, Shoal Bay is perfectly positioned at the base of Tomaree Mountain onPort Stephens peninsula. Bounded by bays and a national park, there is so muchto explore on and off the land. Days can be spent cycling tracks, hikingtrails, dolphin spotting, and even kayaking the untamed coastline of TomareeNational Park. 

It’s a place where many retirees settle fora quiet and relaxed lifestyle, but when the weather warms up the localpopulation swells, and the towns of Port Stephens transform into bustling hubs.It’s a lifestyle that Lauren and Michael were brought up in and that manySydneysiders are starting to tap into. With them, comes a burgeoning café anddining scene that’s an easy walk from Salt at Shoal Bay.

GET THE LOOK

Want a similar look to Salt at Shoal Bay?Head to some of Lauren’s favourite local homeware stores, The Home Interior andHomebody Nelson Bay. Filled with beautiful coastal and raw texture pieces, theystock brands such as Uniqwa furniture, The Dharma Door, The Beach People, andRobert Gordon ceramics. 

Zephyr Lounge, $3,595, by Sarah Ellison from Life Interiors; Lattice Coffe Table, $795, The Home Interior; Harbour Bar Chair, $689, Uniqwa Furniture; Wooden Beaded Necklace, $49, Uniqwa; Pampas grass print, $399, Temple and Webster.

LAUREN’S TOP 5 STYLING TIPS

Mood board everything to makesure it all feels right together. Be specific about each of thefinishes, as those tiny details add together as a whole to make a place feelunique. It’s important to get the bonesof the structure right. Interior furnishings (rugs, tables, chairs), you canupdate over the years. When it comes to styling, don’tfollow trends, choose pieces that feel right to you.Don’t settle for something ifit doesn’t feel right.