Life’s a beach

11 Aug 2026

It is said that in real estate the three most important things are: location, location, location. And few locations are as sought after, or iconic, as Sydney’s Palm Beach, aka Summer Bay (IYKYK).

It was to this coveted suburb that architect Chris Howe went in search of the ideal beachside home.

“My wife, Betsy, and I wanted a beach house that was quintessentially Palm Beach, with a nod to the architecture of Maine and The Hamptons. The architectural design had to be subtle and low impact, but include a seamless blend of sophistication, comfort, and technology, taking advantage of the site, views and surrounding natural landscape.”

While the ideal home didn’t exist at that time, what they found was a property that was ripe for renovation.

“Originally a 1930s two-bedroom beach cottage, the home had undergone substantial alterations and additions in the 1980s, resulting in a pseudo-Balinese style of darkly stained timbers, weatherboards, shingle roofs and timber decks. Much of the exterior of the house was in poor condition, the landscaping was predominantly native and largely unkempt and the swimming pool, pool patio and pool cabana needed substantial renovation.”  

The formerly dark interior has been opened up to create a free-flowing floorplan that easily transitions from indoors to out.

What followed was a two-year project that encompassed just about every surface in the property including all new roofs; walls, ceilings and floors; timber door and window frames; home automation and services; and new sandstone and polished concrete paving, pool fencing and irrigated landscaping.

“While some parts of the original structure, exterior components and rooms were retained, in essence the original house was stripped and remodelled, the original floor plan amended, and all internal and external spaces renovated, altered and/or extended. 

“The property has been transformed from a tired, brown and uncomfortable house with disconnected landscaping, to a crisp, light-filled house that takes advantage of the site, orientation and views, integrates indoor and outdoor living spaces, and provides high levels of comfort, sophistication and technology while ensuring sustainability of the built environment through efficient thermal management and water use.”

Key to the new design, was the pared-back colour scheme, which draws on a ‘Hamptons’ aesthetic, showing off the property to great effect.

The remodel was inspired by the beach houses found throughout The Hamptons and features a neutral palette that includes Resene Foggy Grey and Half Concrete.

“The overall ‘white/not white’ palette of materials and colours has resulted in a crisp, clean, sophisticated and uncomplicated aesthetic, that contrasts with the darker colours of the swimming pool, landscaping and surrounding natural bushland. The result is the subtle, quintessentially Palm Beach coastal property as we envisioned.”

For the exterior, Chris chose Resene Lumbersider tinted to Foggy Grey for the weatherboards and Half Concrete for the columns, fascias and trims. For the handrails, doors and door frames he specified Resene Lustacryl, again in Half Concrete.

Inside, the Shadowclad ceilings have been finished in Resene Ceiling Paint tinted to Flat White, the walls are SpaceCote Flat in Quarter Foggy Grey, while Resene Lustacryl in Half Concrete features on the columns, skirtings, architraves and window frames. Resene Colorwood Natural Wood Stain in Pitch Black has been used to highlight the Tasmanian Ash used on the stair treads.

Resene Colorwood Natural Wood Stain in Pitch Black features on the floors and stair treads. Resene Lustacryl in Half Concrete features on the columns, skirtings, architraves and window frames.

“I have been using Resene paints for 40-plus years. Firstly, when painting my own homes in New Zealand, and later as an architect, specifier and builder. During this time I have never found a better product. The quality of Resene paints, in my opinion, is second to none, both with respect to their technical attributes and coverage, as well as ease of use and longevity, an opinion which is shared by every painter I have since introduced to the Resene brand.

“Resene has products for most applications, whether residential or commercial, backed up by technical expertise and of course a great colour range.”

The ‘white/not white’ palette was chosen to provide a neutral backdrop to the wide-ranging views, which take in the surrounding bushland and Palm Beach, for which the area is renowned.

Personally, the couple has made the difficult decision to list the property as new work commitments have drawn them back into the city. Professionally, Chris’ practice, Howe Architects, has a six-storey residential apartment building in Double Bay nearing completion, along with two house renovation projects, and there’s a heritage project and new-build waterfront home on the boards.

Published: 11 Aug 2026