Under the Gold Coast sun

Words Melinda Burton | Photos Kristian Van Der Beek, Brock Beazley

Designer Kelle Howard has captured the essence of several coveted coastal destinations with Bajo el Sol, the ultimate beachside pad boasting artistry and charm

Like a chili margarita, Kelle Howard’s designs aim to shake and spice things up.

Spanish for under the sun, Bajo el Sol’s owner and designer Kelle describes her signature style as raw, coastal, luxe.

The build and design of her Burleigh-based beach house helped carve out a unique niche that has appealed to big brands, a bevy of admirers and a significant Instagram audience.

While Kelle, a self-professed rule breaker, doesn’t feel the need to follow trends, there’s no denying Bajo el Sol’s ability to influence them.

The dreamy space could be a Mediterranean oasis, a deluxe Moroccan hideaway or a trendy Palm Springs bar.

Drawing elements from each location, Kelle has infused them into a potent cocktail of minimalist style and awe-inspiring energy.

Wanting Bajo el Sol to feel authentic rather than having the sterile feel of a new build, Kelle led with raw textures.

“There’s a lot of layered textures throughout the space, such as uncoated brass, venetian plaster, seamless architectural concrete, raw elements and an abundance of greenery,” Kelle says.

“With the right tones and textures, you can create a warm and inviting space and I prefer to layer textures rather than having lots of items and décor.

“The elements I used are all warm whites, so it feels homely, I tend to avoid yellow tones for this reason.”

The large picture windows frame the outdoor gardens as artwork, and with accents of warm timbers, aged brass and contrasting textures, the
result is breathtaking.

Initially planning to renovate, Kelle was unable to find anything that fit the brief, so instead built her dream home, tucked away in a beach side enclave.

“It was really important that the floorplan had no wasted space, areas flowed on from one another and each of the rooms were used regularly,” she says.

“I had an incredible team helping me with the build, and they acted more like a community who were really excited to see how it was coming to life.

“I paid close attention to the layout and made sure there was lots of
wow factors.”

I tried to source from as many local Australian suppliers as possible

Kelle says that while most people get caught up with the aesthetic, she likes to dive into the functionality of a space.

“To me, it’s more important to think about the purpose of each room rather than placing prominence on where the couch is going to go,” she says.

“We have one room in the entire house where you can watch TV, which is the cinema room and it’s prefect for lounging in.”

For Kelle, the design foundation of a room is rooted in its functionality
and feeling.

“I really like to capture how someone wants to feel in their space and I wanted every room to boast its own look,” she says.

“I’ve designed my master bedroom to feel like a suite and my wardrobe like a high-end boutique.”

Kelle achieved this look and feel with a built-in floating custom-made bedframe and rendered bedsides and curved shelves and brass fittings in her walk-in robe.

 

While undergoing the build and design process, Kelle documented the journey on Instagram, amassing over forty-two thousand followers.

“Social media was the perfect way to showcase the house, what I was about and what my aesthetic as an interior designer looked like,” she says.

“The other reason I documented the journey on Instagram was to share all of the suppliers along the way.

“I tried to source from as many local Australian suppliers as possible, so it was important to spotlight these sources.”

Always inspired by European architecture, particularly Ibiza, Kelle loves the rawness of the buildings, the tactile rendered walls and the minimal décor.

“For Bajo el Sol, I wanted to feel as though I were in a different location,”
she says.

With its cascading gardens, arched doorways and hand-crafted stonework, Bajo el Sol makes it easy to imagine yourself in a faraway corner of the world where you can lounge by the pool, sip a mojito, and enjoy a tasteful tapa.