“Visitors always comment on how our space has warmth and a sense of welcome and happiness,” says Janelle of her soul-stirring property in the Sunshine Coast idyll of Bli Bli. Clearly, we feel it too. In fact, if you love a home (amazingly, this is a new build) in tune with its glorious surrounds and radiating positive energy from the very first second, step this way.
Bask el sol (el sol means ‘the sun’ in Spanish) is a home with plenty of heart — not surprising when you learn Janelle shares it with husband Mark, four children, two dogs, one cat and 16 chickens! Its journey to creation has been filled with intention, know-how, and a little bit of magic. Back in 2018 (remember those carefree days?) Janelle and Mark approached house hunting with an ambitious wish list: “views over treescapes and rolling hills; acreage but not isolated; five to six bedrooms; large open-plan living; an abundance of natural light and sky-high ceilings.” But nothing clicked. Not keen on demolition and/or renovation, the couple instead decided to track down a slice of paradise and build their dream abode.
Fast forward a year of land hunting and they finally lucked out with this 3.5-acre block in the luxuriant hills of Bli Bli. “I immediately knew we had found the location,” recalls Janelle. “Tucked on the edge of suburbia yet hidden away from its hustle and bustle, nature is in abundance here. The songs of kingfishers, wagtails and kookaburras echo across the hills, we are surrounded by mango farms and fields of horses and cows, and our own spring-fed dam supplies water to our abundant veggie patch and a provides a home to wild ducklings.” What’s not to love?
The couple engaged the “wonderful team” at Dall Designer Homes to start bringing ideas to life, with help from their own business, QEBS Builders Warehouse. “Being able to use our own hebel, render, flooring, plumbing, kitchens etc was essential and Dall Designer Home gave us free reign to take over when needed to complete areas with our own products,” says Janelle. Despite the nerves of building at the start of a pandemic, the team harnessed the momentum. “With amazing trades and under our builder’s watchful eye, it was a stress-free 10 months,” says Janelle. “We were able to move in for Christmas 2020.”
Having a building supplies cache in their back pocket was invaluable but Janelle’s natural eye and passion for interior design was the project’s other superpower. “With a love of the Mediterranean, I drew a lot of inspiration from this aesthetic in our use of neutral colour tones, render, pottery, terracotta tiles, arches and bespoke finishes,” she says. “We chose natural textures and finishes with a mixture of reclaimed timber, rattan, greenery and natural fibres to evoke an earthy, grounded feel.”
The family’s wish list has manifested into a beautifully bespoke reality. “We infused the Mediterranean vibe with a fresh coastal twist,” says Janelle of the light-filled space that breathes through its abundance of oversized windows and VELUX skylights.
Spanning two airy levels, the home casts an immediate spell. Softly organic tones and creamy oak floors bring cohesion, but individual treasures still shine — talismans of wanderlust, whispering their stories. In the stay-awhile living room, a sandstone fireplace created by First Point Masonry and Sunshine Living Tile & Stone brings cosiness to the expansive proportions. The family gravitates here and to the gorgeous kitchen where form and function converge with the warm detailing seen throughout. Beyond the decorative tiles and covetable woven cabinetry pulls, a pair of antique Indian doors from Alabaster Trader draws the eye upstairs, enticing further exploration.
Spaces feel generous and comfortable, with pops of green (lovingly tended by “plant mumma” Janelle) fostering a contented sense of home. You can cultivate your own experience here — embrace the feeling of ease or lean into the deeply energising vibe. Looking for low-key? Expect no trouble finding a lazy afternoon perch as reading nooks, day beds, and comfy chill zones abound as well as six gorgeous bedroom retreats. And when it’s time to come together, two enormous timber dining tables set the scene for entertaining and celebrating inside or out.
While playing favourites may seem impossible in such thoughtfully curated, regularly refreshed spaces, Janelle does have a few pet pieces. “The two artworks by Jai Vasicek (Henna Sisters and Wynne), are simply breathtaking,” she says. “The Tassel Wall Hanging from The Dharma Door is also one of my favourites: the texture and tones suit the natural aesthetic we aspire to cultivate here, and we love supporting businesses that sustainably and ethically source and create products.” And it’s not just the artworks on the walls that have captured the owner’s heart.
“Am I allowed to be obsessed with my tiles?” she laughs. “They are works of art, all sourced from Jatana Interiors.”
This home loves company. No wonder design-savvy brands responded when Janelle opened Bask el sol as a photoshoot location early this year. “It is an honour to welcome creatives into our space,” she says. “Seeing the magic they can create here is truly inspirational.”
Naturally one of the drawcards is the picture-perfect wonderland outside, including two acres of protected bushland that serves as a corridor for native wildlife. Though the home carries a global spirit, it remains connected to this local loveliness. And framing it all is the fabulous rendered Pool House, which echoes the home’s relaxing Modern Coastal Mediterranean aesthetic. You’ll definitely want to kick off your shoes here (if you haven’t already for a dip in the turquoise pool waters).
“The Pool House is pure escapism: a space to relax and find peace while taking in the views of our amazing property at every angle,” says Janelle. “Forever inspired by nature, the front arch entry faces the east and greets the morning sun as she rises — and bids her goodbye upon sunset at the rear. A symbolic ode to what we live for on the Sunshine Coast: the beautiful outdoors bathed in sunlight.”
Love what you see? Be sure to follow Bask el sol on Instagram for more home and design inspiration or to book your own photoshoot or creative workshop in this gorgeous abode!
WORDS: Nicole Deuble | PHOTOGRAPHY: Louise Roche, Villa Styling
