TESS’S HOME – THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE BRAND:

Welcome to a coastal-inspired home nestled among the rolling hills surrounding the Queanbeyan region, where the views are as stunning as the design. This gorgeous house and garden combo was built almost seven years ago for owners Tess and Sean Godkin and has really settled into its surroundings now. The couple had been looking for some land when they stumbled across this beautiful elevated acreage where they could design and build a new home that fit their own modern yet timeless aesthetic.

With a love for travel to especially tropical and mediterranean locations and with plans in the future to have children their aim was to build a family home and garden that felt like they were on holidays all year round. The result is a home that seamlessly blends coastal comfort and understated luxury.

From the moment you step through the front door, you are greeted with a sense of tranquillity and warmth as you look through a large picture window with a view out to the pool with the stunning countryside behind. The neutral colour palette inside the home is soothing and inviting with warm white walls and materials like oak wood floors and linen furnishings used throughout the space, adding to the relaxed coastal vibe.

Tess, a photographer with a passion for interiors, has put many hours into curating the perfect collection of modern and antique furnishings, many of which she has enjoyed hunting for on Marketplace and second-hand stores and given a bit of a makeover to suit her natural style. The furniture is plush and inviting, with oversized sofas and chairs that beckon you to stay in and relax. Every room is thoughtfully styled, with carefully selected artwork, accessories, and lighting that add to the overall ambiance.

Almost seven years on from moving in and Tess and Sean now have three young children to enjoy their family home with and have hence been very conscious about choosing furnishings that are not too precious but still stylish and comfortable. The family often gets asked how they manage to have white sofas in their living space, but the secret is, all the fabrics are removable linen slipcovers that can be easily thrown in the wash and bleached if necessary. This practical approach to decorating ensures that the home remains stylish and inviting while also being family-friendly.

The family loves to spend as much time as possible outside, and the home, with its enormous sliding doors throughout the main open plan living space, blurs the distinction between the indoors and outdoors when they are flung wide open throughout the warmer months. When they moved into their home, the garden was non-existent, with just dry, dusty rock surrounding the immediate house and beautiful natural Australian bushland on the rest of the 4.5 acre block.

Tess and Sean have spent hundreds and hundreds of hours lovingly designing, planting, and maintaining an extensive garden that has now become quite well-established and provides a beautiful backdrop to their home. The garden includes a tree lined driveway, beautiful herringbone stone pathways, veggie gardens, outdoor entertaining spaces, an olive grove, cottage and coastal inspired garden beds and a cute cubby house and play ground area.

Despite the home being very much coastal holiday inspired and there not being a beach in the region, a pool was an essential feature for the home and garden. It blends seamlessly with the plants around it and the mountain views beyond and becomes a mesmerising water feature in the winter when it’s not being used.

The Godkin family has found their coastal-inspired home to be a true sanctuary, where they can relax and enjoy the beauty of their surroundings. They look forward to many more design and garden adventures in the future, as they continue to make their house a home. With its comfortable and timeless style, their retreat is sure to be a cherished place for years to come. Tess, has an Instagram account called @you.me.and.the.sea_ which documents their ever-expanding house and garden journey with thrift find makeovers, interior styling ideas and new garden plans always in the works.

The Godkin family home is a testament to the landscaping and home design dreams that can be realised within the large blocks of land available at Talpa. The large sized blocks will allow you to truly let your imagination take charge and build your life’s masterpiece at Talpa Estate.