The story behind Glenelg Retreat

Some projects are remembered for the spaces they create, others are remembered for the chapter of life they become part of; the Glenelg Retreat is one of those projects.

As owners of a successful landscaping business, Sam and Abbey deeply appreciated good design. Abbey had also studied design herself, making this project particularly meaningful. They knew what they loved, but with a growing family, a demanding business and a baby on the way, they needed a trusted partner to bring everything together.

For Abbey and Sam, this Glenelg North character home represented much more than a renovation project. After searching for the right family home, they had finally found a property with enormous potential; a home they could gradually evolve and extend over time as their family grew.

With a third baby on the way and two energetic young boys already keeping life wonderfully busy, they wanted the house to feel settled; they wanted it to feel like home.

Abbey & Sam had a clear vision for how they wanted to live, but bringing that vision to life felt overwhelming. Having previously worked with a builder on parts of the home, they were looking for a trusted partner who could guide the process, make confident decisions on their behalf, and create a cohesive result that reflected their family, their lifestyle and their future plans.

Our role was to transform the home through considered furnishing, styling and design, while remaining mindful of the larger renovation plans they intended to undertake in the years ahead. Every decision needed to feel worthwhile today, while still supporting the home's future evolution.

From the beginning, our design intent was simple: create a retreat; a home that felt calm, welcoming and restorative for a family with three young boys. A place that was practical enough for everyday life, yet beautiful enough to make coming home feel special.

Throughout the project, we focused on elevating each room while ensuring the home remained deeply personal to Abbey and Sam. We reimagined the main living spaces to better celebrate the home's existing architecture, drawing attention to the stone feature wall and fireplace while improving the overall functionality and flow of the layout.

One of our favourite spaces was the boys' bedroom; a room that needed to feel unmistakably like a child's space, while still belonging to the broader design story of the home. The result is playful, imaginative and full of personality, yet remains timeless enough to grow alongside the boys who call it their own. The result is a space that feels timeless, elevated whilst still being full of personality (& lots of crafts!); a room designed to grow alongside the boys who call it their own.

The primary bedroom became a sanctuary for Abbey and Sam. Intentionally free from televisions and distractions, it was designed as a place to slow down, reconnect and retreat from the demands of everyday life.

We transformed the guest bedroom into a flexible multi-purpose space, allowing it to function as a guest retreat, home office, children's playroom or secondary living area depending on what the family needed most in any given season.

Our scope included full-home furnishing and styling, paint selections, wallpaper design, electrical and reflected ceiling planning, custom window furnishings, furniture procurement, installation and final styling.

Then came a moment none of us will ever forget; the evening before installation, Abbey called to let us know she was going into labour.

Like any mother preparing to welcome her third child into the world, she had more important things to focus on than furniture deliveries and styling details. She simply told us not to worry; her parents would let us into the home the following day.

While Abbey welcomed her beautiful baby boy into the world, our team quietly completed the installation.

A few days later, she arrived home from hospital, newborn in her arms, and walked through the front door to a fully completed home, not just a house; a home that was ready for the next chapter of their lives.

A home ready for family dinners, quiet moments, growing boys, muddy feet, birthday celebrations, Christmas mornings and all of the memories still to come.

Shortly after returning home, Abbey sent us a message that perfectly captured everything we hope to achieve through our work:

"OMG just got home! Have died and gone to dream home heaven!! The house is PERF! I couldn't believe my eyes. Thank you so much. Everything is so beautiful."

As designers, there are few compliments more meaningful than that.

For us, Glenelg Retreat will always be remembered as the project where a family welcomed a new baby and a new home at the very same time. A reminder that the most meaningful projects aren't measured by the furniture selected or the finishes specified, but by the lives that unfold within them.

Because the most meaningful homes are never simply places we live.

They become the backdrop to the moments that matter most.

Beautifully Designed. Made for Memories.

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