This beautiful Gold Coast home is all about laid-back living with a relaxed shimmer of sophistication. It’s designed for people to come together, a restful space that is all about family living.
The dwelling is a far cry from its humble origins. The original house took the term “fixer upper” to its extreme. Before the renovation, the derelict abode was in need of major work. Antoinette Idzikowski, head designer and creative at An Style, says the front door was falling off and trees were growing through a shed in the backyard. “There was mould, cracked tiles, and every room had a different flooring or none at all,” she recalls. Feedback from friends and family who popped over to check out the homeowners’ new digs ranged from “what were you thinking” to “faulty towers” or “good luck”. “Looking back, they were probably right!” says Antoinette.
But with a lot of research, planning, diligence and a can-do attitude, Antoinette not only pulled it off, she created a dwelling that’s as pretty as a picture. The Pink House is home to Antoinette, her tribe of three — Hudson, Arielle and Georgia — and their two little pooches, Apple and Joy. The scope of work to complete the home was extensive, with the middle and lower floors being completely gutted, all while they lived on the third floor. She was very much hands on with the project, employing select trades and doing the design, demo work and painting herself.
Antoinette says she wanted to create a restful abode that would grow with the family, which offered a place of refuge and calm. “I wanted to take the large, rundown house that had lacked love for years, strip it back to a blank canvas, and turn it into a family dwelling that would feel like you are on holiday when you are home,” she says.
During the process, the design had to be modified when engineers said some walls could not be removed. But shifting gears and recalibrating is often part of a large renovation process. Antoinette rallied, and the middle level became open plan with a fireplace along one wall that could not be removed. A large-scale renovation during Covid posed its share of challenges, among them the lengthy hold-ups. “It was a completely different ballgame that led to lots of unforeseen delays,” says Antoinette. Micro cement in one of the bathrooms was supposed to be completed within a month, but then seven months of fixing cracks and sealing issues ensued.
There are four bedrooms downstairs, with a smaller master bedroom with ensuite so Antoinette can be closer to the children while they are young. Family bathroom, laundry and the children’s playroom are on this level. This leads out to a playground, sparkling swimming pool and outdoor entertaining area that’s perfect for when friends drop by.
The Gold Coast skyline offers extraordinary views. The middle level saw the kitchen and dining moved to maximise the beautiful backdrop on offer. There’s also a study, powder room, formal living with fireplace and a media room.
The third level is the ultimate in indulgence, with a complete stylish master retreat that captures the glorious views. Antoinette chose a colour palette that is fresh and inspired. “It was designed to be my ‘forever home’, so I embraced my love of pink and incorporated touches of blush tones that I feel have a calming presence to them,” she notes.
Her favourite part of the design is the rose quartz bench in the kitchen. “It’s such a special semi-precious stone and I drew inspiration from its colour palette for the whole house,” she enthuses. “The soft blush has veins of warm golden tones and white.”
Now that the project is finished, Antoinette can reflect back on what has truly been a labour of love. It turns out she’s not the only one who is benefitting from the ugly duckling in the street that’s morphed into a beautiful home. “I’ve had neighbours thank me personally for making their view a nicer one; they are genuinely grateful to not have to look at a mouldy, run-down, overgrown property and have something beautiful to look at instead. That’s such a genuine compliment.”
Photography: Rex, Desire Media
