Homeowner Q&A: Choosing DecoWood Windows

What inspired your beach house renovation?

The brief to our architect was to achieve a modest extension for our family’s needs. We needed four bedrooms and two living areas whilst retaining the stunning and charming character of the original beach house when we bought it. We also wanted to take inspiration from some modern but classic Australian beach houses which we loved the look of whilst not going too contemporary. Basically, we were after simple, functional, warm and pretty!

How did you achieve this?

Our architects, Fabric Architecture, were amazing in bringing our brief to life – restoring the beach house, with adding modern decorative features. We retained the original magnificent rafted ceilings and included some other details such as curved walls, stairs and timber detailing that encapsulates the style. We also added warmth by including DecoWood® windows – for that warm timber finish without the fear of constant maintenance due to its durability.

Why DECO for the windows?

We wanted a timber look to capture the Australian coastal warm relaxed home, however as we live near the ocean facing south, and have had timber windows before – we absolutely were firm on not having timber again! The maintenance is just too much. With the DECO finish, we achieved the look, with the peace of mind knowing the product would withstand the harsh coastal environment.

Tell us about your window and door selections?

The home has incredible views, so of course we have windows everywhere! We have of course featured louvres throughout to capture the sea breeze, while oversized large frame windows capture the beautiful view! We have an oversized sliding door leading onto our deck to create a seamless indoor-outdoor experience from the kitchen and living space. Plus, a similar slider extends to the backyard, so the children can run from the second living space, to the garden and pool – one of our favourite features.

What colour DECO did you choose and why?

We chose Curly Birch – a blonde tone that suits all of the American Oak flooring and cabinetry in the home. They work together beautifully. Once again, we were looking for a light warm coastal tone for the home.

Did you consider any other DECO products for the home?

Absolutely – we’ve used the DECO wood pillars for the pergolas on our deck and alfresco areas. We also used DECO decking for a previous renovation project and couldn’t recommend it more highly.

Have you renovated before, and do you have any key learnings you can share?

Yes, this is our third renovation on the same street! Each time we’ve learnt new things. I would say definitely you do a mood board first and think about all your finishes early on as there are so many decisions to make. You want to ensure all the tones and textures work together seamlessly to achieve the look you are after.

We also always focus on investing in windows, flooring and kitchen for quality items. We save the rest of the budget for elements that can be updated or go for great less expensive options such as tiles, tapware and bedroom cabinetry.