My Houzz: A Relaxed Retro Feel on the Australian Coast

After Rachael Valentine and partner Sebastian Hartog were given eight weeks to find a new home, they could not believe their luck when this original 1976 beach duplex came up to rent. Given the home’s 1970s structure and appearance, not all renters would be able to complement its original fittings and fixtures with their existing decor. But this was not a problem for experienced vintage shopper Valentine.

It has been less than a year since the couple moved in, and yet it feels as though Valentine and Hartog have lived here for years. The coastal home is filled with color and character, and almost everything they brought with them is pre-loved. “Our style is retro and recycled, which is heavily defined by what we happen to find in vintage shops,” Valentine says. From the outset, one might even believe the house was made for the pair.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Rachael Valentine, owner of Hattie and The Craft Parlour, and her partner, Sebastian Hartog, a videographer
Location: Queensland, Australia
Size: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Year built: 1976

The home sits high up on a hillside street that overlooks the coastline and border of Queensland and New South Wales, Australia. Valentine and Hartog live on the top level of this duplex building, which is a 10-minute walk (downhill) to the heart of Coolangatta.

A large proportion of the community is retired, and many homes in the area remain in their original state. “This area is a gold mine for street finds,” Valentine says.


“I started thrifting for treasures at secondhand shops and garage sales when I was just 15 years old,” Valentine says.

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Since meeting Hartog 10 years ago, Valentine has been conscious not to bring anything into their home that doesn’t suit the space or the both of them. Luckily for her, Hartog loves most of her finds, and he even surprised her one Christmas by purchasing this retro-inspired sofa at a garage sale for less than $140.

“I had no idea he bought it,” Valentine says. “He kept it hidden at a friend’s place. It’s definitely not vintage and surely can’t be more than a few years old. We both really love it, and it just so happened to fit in with everything we already owned.”

A framed Banksy print hangs on the wall behind the sofa.


The home’s entrance takes you back in time to the 1970s. The frosted yellow glass pane in the sliding wood door at the top of the staircase is the first injection of a warm retro welcome, followed by the lacquered pine-paneled walls and matching floors.


A Vladimir Tretchikoff print positioned farther along the hallway is one of Valentine’s prized possessions. Some close friends found it on the street, and Valentine purchased it from them years later. The powder blue typewriter was a bargain secondhand store find.


The first bedroom, located to the right of the entry, is used as Valentine’s sewing room.

A treasure trove of collected pieces is housed neatly on this modern shelving unit. When Valentine isn’t in the midst of a busy weekend at the markets with her Hattie stall — or hosting a weeknight workshop at The Craft Parlour — she can be found working from home, either in her light-filled sewing room or perched at the kitchen counter with her phone and laptop.


Valentine is the owner and sole operator of two businesses. The first is online store and local market stall Hattie, selling South American handmade goods, housewares and vintage fashion finds. More recently, Valentine opened the physical doors of her second creative business, The Craft Parlour, a studio space in Miami (a suburb in Queensland) that hosts a variety of creative sewing and craft workshops.

Some of her designs and handmade creations are pictured here.


In the hallway outside the sewing room, a wall-mounted shelving unit proudly displays a collection of salt and pepper shakers. Purchased at garage sales and local secondhand shops, the pieces reveal cultural references to life in the “Sunshine State” of Queensland.


The living room is spacious and open.


Each piece has its own place in the home, whether it be among other items of a similar era and style or simply juxtaposed with something special. This 1970s sideboard was an eBay find for $22.


Valentine has a flair for eclectic styling, which is evident from the successful mixing of diverse furniture, artworks, plants, collectibles and colorful pillow covers. She made one the pillow cover seen in front here from a 1980s tea towel during one of her sewing workshops at The Craft Parlour.

The original section of floor tile near the entrance to the sunroom is one of her favorite features of the home.


The enclosed balcony allows generous amounts of sunlight in during the morning, while the sliding aluminum windows allow the cool ocean breeze to come through the east-facing rooms throughout the day.


“This place has the most amazing views. We watch the whales go past from the sunroom,” Valentine says.

This salvaged table can be used for dining or crafting. An arrangement of rustic objects and finds creates an interesting focal point for this otherwise bare area of the balcony.


Valentine says she is very much aware of the difference between collecting and hoarding, and aims to maintain a clutter-free home. “Every piece I purchase or bring into the home has to have a space or a use,” she says. “Otherwise I just leave it behind.”


A papasan chair brings a bohemian vibe to this cozy nook, ideal for taking in the view.


The couple’s bedroom further reveals Valentine’s flair for all things creative and is just as eclectic in style as the rest of the home.

The single green chair in the corner of the main bedroom was found just down the street after one of the neighbors discarded it. “There were two of them in perfect condition; the other one lives in the lounge room,” Valentine says.


Two quirky ensembles hang on the wall next to the bed.


This second living area is used as a more relaxed office space for Valentine when she is working from home.

The wall art was made by EdenEve Macramé. Valentine found the rug in Miami after the previous tenants of The Craft Parlour studio space moved out. “They left it with a bunch of other items on the street as rubbish. I liked that it had previously lived in the space that I then opened as my second business,” she says.


There is an undeniable Mexican influence in this colorful corner. The Aztec-patterned blankets are one of the most popular products Valentine sells from her Hattie store.

The artwork, by local artist Huckle Berry, was custom made for the window frame — another Valentine street find.

“I love Huckle Berry’s work, and every time I spotted a piece that I liked, it immediately sold. So when I found this old window frame, I took it straight to the artist and commissioned him to make a unique work just for us,” she says.


The mismatched stools lining the kitchen bar add variety and fun to this part of the home. The recycled Schweppes crate is well utilized as storage for the busy couple’s shoes.

“Working from home can be challenging, as there is always the distraction of housework, but I find the space of this home to be very versatile, and my office is either at the kitchen bench or on the floor if I need more room to spread out,” says Valentine. “The joy of spending my time in such a beautiful space is that I don’t always feel like I’m actually working.”


Valentine makes herself at home on the original 1970s kitchen cabinetry.


More collected salt and pepper shakers can be found on the kitchen counter.

“I started collecting vintage ceramic salt and pepper shakers about 10 years ago from various secondhand shops and garage sales, but I stopped once I felt I had enough,” says Valentine.


A covered patio is accessible through the sliding doors next to the kitchen and provides another sanctuary for the couple. It is light-filled and airy, making it an ideal area for entertaining.


Valentine’s styling of this outdoor space is playful and has a sense of celebration.


Hartog “is the owner of the green thumb — he actually has a background in horticulture. He keeps all of the beautiful plants in our home alive, and gardening is just one of his hobbies. He loves to be outdoors,” Valentine says.

The lace curtains, which hang behind the potted plants, were found at a secondhand shop. Their inclusion in this area enhances the natural light and sets a stage-like backdrop for this delightful outdoor setting.


Ceramic teapots and recycled cans double as pots for small succulents and cacti, and work well among the quirky plant-holding ornaments the couple collects.


“This house really is our private sanctuary to work, play and relax. It’s a super chilled place to live, and we are grateful to be able to call it our home,” Valentine says.

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