By John Rozentals.
The property, on the NSW South Coast, goes by the name of The Pause, by Soul Home. As the name suggests, it’s the place to step away from the everyday and enjoy a breather, as a holiday property that has been designed with rejuvenation and connection in mind, curated in a style that evokes that magical holiday feeling.
Located in Gerringong, The Pause is two-hours’ drive south of Sydney. It has been designed for families, friends, extended groups and intimate retreats. Set in a quiet, private pocket of Gerringong, it’s walking distance to the main village, Werri Beach and Boat Harbour swimming spot. Award-winning restaurants, wineries and cooking schools are all nearby.
The Pause has been created by Simone Mathews alongside her husband, Ben; together they run BAM Constructions. The property shares their signature Australian coastal, classy-cool aesthetic with introduced influences from the tropics. Luxurious properties of The Bahamas, Indonesia and that classic Singaporean-style were all strong influences in the design and style of The Pause, including the Indonesian-teak plantation shutters that provide the statement look to the property’s facade.
The property has five bedrooms each with their own bathrooms, plus a sneaky bunk bedroom for the kids. The lower floor is dedicated to the social spaces and guest bedrooms, while upstairs offers the master guest bedroom and study. The L-shaped entertaining spaces flow to the tropically landscaped outdoor level lawn and solar heated pool. The kitchen features an over-sized concrete island bench, and the indoor/outdoor dining space can be left open-walled so it’s reminiscent of holiday properties in Bali, or can be enclosed for the chillier months at the press of a button.
Simone was the creator of much-loved Soul of Gerringong, a bespoke guesthouse restored from one of the town’s original coastal farmhouses and lauded for its trademark coastal-luxe style. It was a major restoration project by BAM Constructions. This first holiday property graced the pages of numerous magazines, newspapers and social-media feeds, and is regarded for its bespoke and luxurious holiday style. A year later, Simone also launched the Soul Cottage, the adjoining holiday property.
In 2019, Simone launched her own brand, Soul Home – an educational avenue for holiday-property owners, holiday-goers and anyone wanting to re-create that holiday feeling at home, with how-to guides, style guides, workshops and events, and an active community sharing daily build, renovating and style inspirations, tips and learnings.
The journey of The Pause has been documented in a five-part online series, from the initial design, construction then styling – and everything in between. This series has been developed to inspire others by the journey, rather than just the finished product at the conclusion. It’s to show the real side of building and design and how to create a holiday property from scratch, giving others the confidence and know-how for their own reno journeys.
The build and style was a collaboration with a number of build and design brands. Holiday bookings for The Pause open in October 2020, via www.thepause.com.au.
NOTE: Potential travellers should check the status of individual events and establishments with regard to the coronavirus outbreak.