My Houzz: An Australian Beach Home to Satisfy Wanderlust

Since the age of 17, Celeste Twikler, an adventurer, an artist and a jewelry designer, has not lived anywhere for longer than two years — that is, until recently. Having traveled far and wide to many beautiful and exotic locations, Twikler has always found it difficult to commit to just one place. When the time came to settle down and find a home that she truly loved, there was one important requirement: It needed to be a place that would make her want to stay. She eventually found that in a leafy hideaway in the beachside town of Byron Bay, Australia. Her home, which she shares with her partner, Chris Cain, is the perfect sanctuary in which to live and work. Much like this couple, the home is relaxed, welcoming and rustically charming.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Celeste Twikler and her partner, Chris Cain
Location: Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia
Size: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and an attached studio

For Twikler, seen here, Byron Bay is as good as it gets. She loves the ideal surf conditions, beautiful national parks and great places to eat, and its close proximity to her family. She also enjoys living a typically Byron (read: creative) lifestyle.

Once Twikler made the decision to live in Byron, she searched for a suitable home for months until she came across this breezy two-bedroom cottage in 2012. She knew instantly that it was the one. “My criteria included plenty of natural light for drawing and general good vibes, wooden floorboards, a little bit of a garden, and it had to be close to the beach,” Twikler says.

Twikler grew up with her five siblings in Flinders, Australia, on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula. She recalls watching and learning from the many renovations her family undertook to make room for their growing brood. Both her dad and brother are handy with a hammer, and Twikler says it’s good to have them nearby when she needs something done or fixed.

“Dad and I are pretty similar: We’re resourceful and good at fixing things, because we’re also good at breaking things,” Twikler says with a laugh.


Twikler works from home, and as the house itself is quite small, she makes her delicate jewelry in an attached studio. Originally, there were no set plans or budget for the additions made to the home, as Twikler prefers to go with the flow, letting creativity take place when the urge strikes. She is also up for learning new skills and is willing to try her hand at just about anything before she outsources help.

The studio was originally an open veranda, which Twikler closed in with the help of a friend and her dad. Her friend helped with the framework, while she and her dad worked on the cladding, windows and doors.

The windows and doors in the studio are recycled, and one of the frames was found on the side of the road. Twikler said it just needed some glass and putty. She always buys secondhand if she can.


Having the separate space to work in allows her to balance her home and work life. “There’s a door I can close, which is integral to keeping me sane and allows me to switch off. Otherwise, I would work all the time,” Twikler says.

Many of Twikler’s friends stop in to visit for a chat and a cup of tea during the day, so work often happens in the wee hours of the night.


The textured glass of these secondhand windows appealed to Twikler, not only for their rustic appearance, but also for their ability to provide privacy without limiting the generous eastern sunlight.


The studio also provides an ideal showcase space for her designs to be viewed by potential clients during private appointments.





Twikler and Cain, seen at left, met at a Byron Bay music festival after being introduced by mutual friends at Twikler’s pop-up market stall.

Cain is a great help when it comes to small fix-ups. “He will secretly do things for me, like fix windows and go on tip runs,” Twikler says. “Chris is always willing to help out with my random projects and ideas, and never attempts to kill my enthusiasm. He is really clever and one in a million.”

Fabric on wall: Ourlieu


The home and its naturally lit spaces provide the ideal backdrop for Twikler and Cain’s many treasured collectibles, travel mementos and photographs. The photos of the colorful dancers were captured by Cain on a trip to Mali, Africa.

Frames: Ahoy Trader


Twikler set out to make her home feel as relaxing as possible and likes to surround herself with reminders of nature.


As a small-business owner, Twikler doesn’t have the luxury of a design budget, which is why she tends to do most things herself. The majority of her acquired belongings and trinkets are gifts, hand-me-downs or cheap finds from overseas travels.

“I pride myself on my [thrift-]shopping abilities and have great luck finding most things I need for a price I can afford,” Twikler says.

One of her few splurges was leather seating from Freedom. “It was ‘buy one, get one free,’ and I figured they would last me a lifetime,” Twikler says. The Matt Blatt replica Eames chairs were a recent birthday gift to Twikler.

Artwork: Huckleberry Jones


The guest bedroom is quite simple and very well lit, with natural light streaming through the glass sliding doors. Cain often uses this quiet space to study.


When Twikler moved in, she was undecided as to what style she wanted to decorate her home in. She says she changed things around constantly. With a love of vintage, lace, the ocean and nature, she wondered how to achieve something youthful and fun with a retro surf vibe.

In the end she decided not to worry about having one theme throughout the home, and instead simply displays the pieces she loves with sentimental value.


This colorful wall of framed photographs in the guest bedroom provides a great conversation starter, with photographs from many exotic locations, travels and adventures. Twikler says Cain has a natural flair for photography and capturing beautiful candid shots.


The wall opposite the lounge in the main living area pays homage to more vintage treasures and yet another important style influence in Twikler’s life. “My great-aunt Gladys had impeccable style and taught me a lot about art and being creative,” she says.


The art easel belonged to Twikler’s great-aunt and doubles as a TV stand. “It is one of my most treasured possessions, as most of our conversations were about art, and when I look at it, I’m always reminded of her,” Twikler says.


Twikler credits her mother for always providing helpful style ideas, as well as cleaning and renovating tips, during her visits and via email.

“My mum has helped me so much. She knows something about everything, and she rules at Trivial Pursuit! She has an amazing green thumb and incredible style,” Twikler says.

“You Me & the Sea” pillow: Ourlieu; daybed: Ikea


Another reason that Twikler fell in love with the home was the fact that it was in great condition. It didn’t require any major work and allowed her to focus on the decor.


Twikler had been lusting after a Tom Dixon pendant shade for quite some time when she found the one seen here on sale at a local shop. “I’m unsure if it is a replica or not, but the price was too good to pass up,” she says. She teamed it with two simple pendant lights to add another layer of interest.


The only thing Twikler felt compelled to change was the main wall color in the kitchen. “It was a sponge-applied yellow … I got rid of that immediately!” she says with a laugh.



This framed artwork hanging outside the couple’s bedroom is one of Twikler’s original illustrations.


The main bedroom is feminine and soft. It has embellishments of lace and embroidery and a feeling of vintage luxury.

The delicate fabric that hangs above the bed is a shawl that belonged to Twikler’s great-aunt. “It means so much to me, and I got sick of hiding it away in a drawer. It’s too beautiful not to be seen or used,” Twikler says. She hung it along with a fine string of lights, and she says at night the bed looks and feels enchanted.

Dreamcatcher: Sea Gypsy Treasures; wall hanging: Bohe Clothing; wings kimono: Lisa’s Closet


As a jewelry designer, Twikler has an impressive collection of her own. Her treasure trove adds to the feminine energy of the room, and this tall chest of drawers has been with Twikler for so long that it’s almost more for show than for practical purposes.

“I fell in love with the brass-detailed handles. It was secondhand and stained in dark brown, but everyone knows me and my desire to sand all of my furniture back and just paint it white,” Twikler says. She adds that it’s on her list of things to fix, as some of the bottom drawers no longer open as easily as they once did. “I just can’t bring myself to part with it,” she says.


Living by the beach in such a picturesque part of the world means Twikler and Cain spend many of their mornings and afternoons in the ocean. It was Twikler’s idea to put in an outdoor shower so she could rinse off her board after a surf.

“Dad and I built the outdoor shower and the deck, and I think we did a pretty good job considering neither of us had any experience with building one before,” Twikler says.

The outdoor shower was originally added for simply washing off the sand and sea, but it has become the couple’s main bathroom. They rarely use their indoor one.



“I love the outdoor shower! It’s really nice on a clear night when the stars and moon are out,” Twikler says.


Both Twikler and Cain prefer to keep the doors and windows open to make the home feel like an extension of the garden, and both enjoy spending equal time indoors and outdoors. Twikler says she often enjoys sitting on the front veranda in the mornings with a cup of tea, taking in the sun and thinking about how lucky she is to have found her own slice of paradise. She also feels just as lucky to have great people in her life to share her home with.





As she hadn’t had a long-term home for so many years, Twikler has put a lot of energy into making this house her sanctuary.

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URL: My Houzz: An Australian Beach Home to Satisfy Wanderlust http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-26345.html