Subscribe
Subscribe
Inside Matty J and Laura Byrne’s Mid-Century Beach House on the South Coast
A mid-century renovation on the NSW South Coast that moves the beach house into a new era.
Chante Mer, Matty J and Laura Byrne’s mid-century beach house in Ulladulla, on the NSW South Coast, began life as a gloriously run-down 1960s shack. Bought after a late-night realestate.com.au scroll and quick open house peruse, the couple were drawn in by the homeās incredible bones, uninterrupted ocean views, and decades of history from former owner Valerie Barnes. Theyāve shared the full renovation journey with us, as well as their ideal South Coast Sunday.
The History Behind Chante Mer, Matty J and Laura Byrne’s Mollymook Beach House
Whilst plans quickly snowballed from āsmall cosmetic updatesā to a full-scale renovation, one key structural factor set them up for success. Matty shares, āThe best thing about Chante Mer is that the original design completely understood the hero of the home wasn’t the houseāit was the view.ā
Sharing more on the homeās personal history, Matty explains, āThe previous owner, Valerie Barnes, called the home Chante Mer, which translates from French as ‘Sing the Sea’. Given the uninterrupted ocean views and the soundtrack of waves rolling in all day, we never even considered changing it. It felt like such a beautiful part of the home’s identity.ā
Despite having to replace windows, kitchens, bathrooms, flooring and timber framing that had been destroyed by white ants, a major goal of the renovation was to retain the homeās undeniable character.
Matty adds, āAs we learnt more about Valerie, we felt an even greater responsibility to honour what she’d created. She worked as a translator for the United Nations and spent decades writing from the house, so there was already so much history woven into its walls. Throughout the renovation, our goal was never to erase that history ā it was to preserve the character and charm that made the home so special, while giving it another chapter for our family.ā
The Sitchu Edit: Shop The Look
Ella Martin Art, ‘The Eve’
Life Interiors Valentina Burlwood Console
Fenton & Fenton Utopia Cushion in Citrine
How Matty J and Laura Byrne Renovated a Mid-Century Beach House
Weaving in thoughtful details was one way Matty and Laura sought to add their stamp to the already characterful home. Zeroing in on the fireplace, the pair went above and beyond to ensure it was a feature of the natural āheart of the home.ā āWe worked with Smink Studios to create a custom handmade tile design that was playful, colourful and completely unique to Chante Mer. It’s one of those features that makes people stop the moment they walk in, and we love that it doubles as a piece of art.ā
When we asked the pair if the decision to have Chante Mer as a holiday home impacted design choices, it was a decisive no. āWe still wanted it to feel like a home first and foremost ā not a holiday rental designed to appeal to everyone.ā, they explain. Matty continues, āWhat it did give us was permission to be a little braver. We embraced colour, playful tiles, bold patterns and design details that we might have been too nervous to use in our family home. We wanted Chante Mer to have a real sense of personality so that walking through the front door immediately felt like you were somewhere unique.ā
What Matty J and Laura Learnt Renovating on the NSW South Coast
As for learnings, Matty insists remote renovation isnāt a realistic concept. āWe had every intention of waiting until our next scheduled visit, then Tom (our builder) would call with a question that needed an answer in person, a delivery would arrive, or we’d have to choose between two options that somehow looked completely different in real life than they did over FaceTime. We aimed to get down to the house at least every two weeks, but when deadlines got tight or delivery issues popped up, we found ourselves doing the 7-hour round trip twice a week at times.ā
āIf you asked me whether I’d renovate it again… I’d probably need a long lie down before answering. But would we change any of the design decisions? Not a chance. Somehow, through all the dust, delays and sleep deprivation, we created a home that feels true to its history while giving it a whole new life.ā
The Sitchu Edit: Shop The Look
Robert Gordon Pearl Wall Sconce in Coast
Florabelle Living Caden Dining Chair Natural
Tonimay Reina Gold Hoops in Gold
Where to Eat and What to Do Near Mollymook and Ulladulla With Matty J & Laura Byrne
One of the reasons we fell in love with Chante Mer is because of everything that’s around it. Ulladulla and Mollymook have this relaxed, unpretentious vibe where you instantly feel like you’ve switched into holiday mode.
Our perfect Sunday would start with a coffee from Craft Surf Cafe, followed by breakfast at Native Cafe, both in Ulladulla. On the way home we’ll usually stop into Ulladulla Florist to grab fresh flowers for the house, and if we’re lucky enough to get to Lagom Bakery in Burrill Lake before everything sells out, their croissants are worth planning your morning around.
If we’ve got the girls with us, there’s a good chance we’ll squeeze in a beach walk or a swim before heading back to the house.
Lunch is hard to beat outside at Cupitt’s Estate in Ulladulla. Great food, a glass of wine and those incredible vineyard views ā it’s one of our favourite places to spend a lazy afternoon. Or you can grab takeaway fish and chips from The Fish Shop and eat them by Burrill Lake while the kids run around the park.
For dinner, it depends on the mood. If we’re after something a little special, the chilli prawn pasta at Bannisters Pavilion at Mollymook Beach is a winner. If we’re keeping things easy with the kids, Mollymook Golf Club is also one of our faves.
Project Credits
Interior Design: Matt Johnson & Laura Byrne
Builder: Tom Young via Bespoke Construction
Stylist: Laura Byrne
Landscape: Robert Plumb Southern Highlands
Photography: Melinda Cartmer
Loved this peek into Laura Byrne and Matty J’s South Coast beach house? You can rent it out for your own little South Coast escape and find out more about the area with our Mollymook travel guide.
FAQs
Matty and Laura’s beach house, called Chante Mer, is in Mollymook on the New South Wales South Coast, roughly three and a half hours’ drive south of Sydney. The couple bought the mid-century property after spotting it on realestate.com.au and were first through the door at the open home. It sits in the Mollymook and Ulladulla area, a stretch of coast the pair describe as relaxed and unpretentious, with uninterrupted ocean views that were the deciding factor in both the purchase and the renovation.
Chante Mer translates from French as “Sing the Sea”. The name was given by the home’s former owner, Valerie Barnes, a translator for the United Nations who spent decades writing from the house. When Matty J and Laura Byrne bought the property, they chose to keep the name rather than change it, feeling it was a meaningful part of the home’s identity. With the sound of waves rolling in throughout the day and ocean views from the main living spaces, they felt the name captured the character of the house completely.
Chante Mer is a mid-century modern beach house, and the renovation was led by the couple themselves, with interior design credited to Matt Johnson and Laura Byrne and styling by Laura. The build was carried out by Tom Young of Bespoke Construction, with landscaping by Robert Plumb Southern Highlands. A standout feature is the custom handmade tile fireplace created with Smink Studios, designed to double as a piece of art. The renovation retained the home’s original character while replacing windows, kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, and timber framing damaged by white ants.
You sure can! Chante Mer it offers four bedrooms with ocean views, a huge entertaining deck, and sand at your doorstep. It sleeps up to 8 guests, or 10 with children’s trundles. Nearby you’ll find Mollymook Beach, Cupitt’s Winery, a berry farm, and seasonal humpback whale sightings just offshore.
Matty and Laura recommend starting with coffee from Craft Surf Cafe and breakfast at Native Cafe, then picking up croissants from Lagom Bakery before they sell out. For lunch, they favour vineyard dining at Cupitt’s Estate, or takeaway fish and chips from The Fish Shop by Burrill Lake. For dinner they suggest either the chilli prawn pasta at Bannisters Pavilion for something special, or Mollymook Golf Club for an easy family option. A beach walk or swim rounds out the day in this relaxed stretch of the South Coast.
