McMahon paired the home's modern architecture with soft tones and a clever mix of textures. Photo: Lynden Foss

Inside a bespoke Byron retreat with colour and personality at every corner

Elizabeth Clarke Sep 16, 2021

Coopers Shoot Retreat high up in the Byron hinterland reminds Mac Design Studio’s Alan McMahon of home. “The rolling fields and distant ocean views are reminiscent of Ireland,” he says. “Especially in the winter months when it’s lush and green. It’s an extraordinary place.”

Created as a country bolthole for a Sydney family, McMahon took design cues from the home’s modern architecture, transforming it into an indoor-outdoor haven with ‘aha’ moments at every turn.

Glass windows and doors give full play to the verdant panorama, drawing in sunlight and crisp coastal breezes. “The idea was to open the home up to the landscape,” he says. “Not only to the views but to make you feel involved in nature.”

The ground floor houses bedrooms – each with a full en suite and walk-in wardrobe – and a games room. Upstairs is the main bedroom suite and the double-height open-plan living area that spills out onto a terrace. “We lined the internal entryway with shiplap panelling that is traditionally used externally on coastal shacks,” he explains. “It has a wonderful knotty finish we painted white. It’s full of character.”

9_bkwx6y — The pastel blue provides a counterpoint to the bleached ash herringbone floors. Photo: Lynden Foss

Bleached ash herringbone floors sound a natural yet polished note, with shades of blue and pink providing a counterpoint and expanses of V-groove panelling balancing out the two. The chalky white palette McMahon deployed inside allows the views to shine and provides a soothing background for various materials and decor.

“The teal panelling in the kitchen continues into the dining space where we applied a softer blue version for contrast,” he says. Three Herman Miller cloud-like pendants float over the table, delineating the dining zone. A graphic 3D wire sculpture by artist Morgan Shimeld casts a shadowing effect that is beautiful at night.

2_ftif5c — An informal lounge upstairs creates a ‘lovely balance’ to the living spaces downstairs. Photo: Lynden Foss

A small informal lounge is sophisticated and design-centric. “The furniture and art is an amalgamation of local, Australian, and international design classics,” he says, indicating a painting by Byron Bay artist Jordana Henry and a Jardan sideboard. he says. “It’s a lovely balance.”

A custom stone fireplace and joinery that conceals an entertainment system anchor the formal lounge. Two vast rugs in soft pastel and teal sit beneath a pair of pink Walter Knoll chairs and a sleek Jardan sofa. The iconic Snoopy lamp by Floss, perched on a curved stone side table, acts as a sharp punctuation point.

13_s2mngc — Three Herman Miller cloud-like pendants float over the dining table. Photo: Lynden Foss

In the main bedroom suite, a hand-stitched bedhead is positioned against clever custom joinery that conceals a walk-in robe and powder room. “It makes the large bedroom feel cosy and allows the owner to sit in bed and look out to nature,” he says. The en suite, wrapped in New York marble and refined joinery, is elegant and simplistic.

McMahon kept the furnishings minimal on the terrace, surrounding a teak topped table with chic black chairs. “They contrast beautifully with the stone floor,” he says. “The sidebar is custom made with a travertine top and is the perfect spot to sip a wine and enjoy the view.”

26_h7blwi — A curved wall that wraps around the pool area was painted a ‘striking’ shade of pink. Photo: Lynden Foss

Life al fresco is framed by a long curved wall that wraps around the rear of the house, including the pool area. “We painted it dusty pink as a way to introduce the same shade inside,” he says. “It’s very striking!” An aha moment for sure.