Home Tour: Experience Dreamy Seaside Getaway Stay Casita

Who lives here: The holiday home of Heidi Albertiri, Editor of The Lifestyle Edit

Location: Vincentia, Jervis Bay 

Decor style: Relaxed Mediterranean feel with a touch of Bali.

Favourite room: The house is so new, so I love all of it, but the kitchen is really special—the kitchen island with handmade Moroccan tiles on the front and its beautiful curves.

Favourite piece: I’m a stylist, so for me, it’s about building up the layers. The built-in couches that look out to the back garden are also really special.

Beautifully positioned between Huskisson and Hyams Beach, Vincentia is a dreamy seaside getaway that makes the most of its pristine wilderness. National parks, idyllic beaches, and a bay that’s teeming with marine life – it’s the stunning backdrop to Stay Casita, a holiday property by the editor of The Lifestyle Edit, Heidi Albertiri.

With towering gum trees all around and an easy stroll from the foreshore, Stay Casita is a small 90s brick home that’s been transformed into an oh-so-chic abode that’s all about sunshine, people and good food. Beautifully curated, every single detail has been thoughtfully considered. Every nook has a purpose, and every piece brings a sense of understated sophistication.   

THE VISION

“We’re always going to beautiful homes to do product shots for The Lifestyle Edit, and I thought how good it would be to have our own house to do these shoots,” explains Heidi. “When I saw this house, I visually connected with how it could look – and because we work with so many brands, I thought, imagine having a house with them all in it. So, everything in Stay Casita is basically supplied by the brands we work with.”

Heidi’s clear vision of how she wanted the home to look and feel comes through in the details. From the external paint to all the finishes and furnishings – appliances, bedding, tiling, even the door handles have been supplied to create a place that brings a whole lot of luxe to the humble three-bedroom home.

THE STYLE

“From the time you pull up in the driveway, your senses are in overload, guiding you through the journey of the house. It’s not a big house, it’s quite small, but every single thing has been considered, so if you are using that space, it feels good and looks pretty,” says Heidi.

Setting the scene for what lies within, the rendered exterior and painted gate and garage door (which will change colour every three months) sits in harmony with the minimalist garden that features cacti – a striking contrast to the surrounding gum trees that tower above. Inside, the open-plan living, kitchen, and dining effortlessly flow together, while custom built-in furniture features throughout the home, from the kitchen benches and shelving to the couch in the living room.

“The kitchen is really special, with the kitchen island’s beautiful curves and handmade Moroccan tiles, while the built-in open shelves and the coolness of the concrete floors beneath your feet is a nod to Bali,” says Heidi, who took inspiration for the home’s makeover from the Mediterranean and Bali. 

With a family that loves to cook, the kitchen was always bound to be a favourite of Heidi’s. And the calm and relaxation that the open plan living exudes continue into the bedrooms and bathrooms. Sensual curves are a defining feature throughout the home – playing out in the spa-like sanctuary, with a beautiful deep-set bathtub, curved basin and handmade tiles.

Yet, it’s the sun-drenched veranda that runs the length of the house that really shines—an inviting and calm space to be, watching the birdlife that abounds.

“It’s all about being in the space with people you enjoy hanging out with, and eating food and going to the beach,” Heidi says. “I wanted to create a home that you could literally turn up to with a bag of clothes, and everything would already have been taken care of, so there’s no stress. I want people to walk in and throw their bag down and lull into their surroundings.”

THE NEIGHBOURHOOD 

Along the shores of Jervis Bay, Vincentia loves to live life nice and slow. Quiet streets with beachside abodes and towering gum trees, idyllic white sandy beaches, and national parks that are just begging to be explored. And that’s just what you’ll discover on land. Vincentia is a holiday-goers dream, and for the lucky few, it’s home year-round.  

HEIDI ALBERTIRI’S FAVOURITE JERVIS BAY HANGOUTS

For breakfast: Salty Joes in Huskisson is a must for their coffee and oats. For juice, The Nook Juice Bar. 

For lunch: On a sunny day, we go to the Pavilion Bar at Huskisson Hotel. 

For dinner: We either go to the Pavilion Bar, or Salty Joes makes a theme dinner once a month, where they pair the food with some great wine. But, with my husband being such a great cook, we tend to eat at home a lot. 

For drinks: The Pavilion is on the water, so that is always a go-to. 

To shop: For food, Kraken Sourdough in St Georges Basin is fantastic, and Tomerong Markets is on once a month and has stalls brimming with local homemade goods. For homewares, Few & Far Huskisson is the local go-to. 

Best kept secret: Aside from the well signposted beaches, you can stumble on the most beautiful little beaches that have no one around. That’s when you stop and sit within the shade of a gum tree.

PROJECT CREDITS

Stylist: Heidi Albertiri

Photography: Sue Ferris