There’s a relaxed warmth to Santana’s South Coast home, where thoughtful design and everyday family life come together effortlessly. What began as a much-loved 1970s beachside property has been transformed into a warm, considered family home, shaped by natural materials, earthy tones, timber and a strong connection to its coastal surroundings.
Designed around the way Santana, Jacob and their two daughters truly live, the home is welcoming, practical and made to be enjoyed. In this conversation, Santana shares the story behind the renovation, her organic eclectic approach to interiors, and how she has created a space that feels deeply personal, timeless and connected to family.
| Featuring our Terrain Flatweave in Burnt Umber
Tell us a little about yourself and your family.
Who do you share your beautiful home with?
In our family is myself, my husband Jacob and our two daughters. Our eldest Nora is 5 and our youngest Meya is 2. We also have a 10 year old Silver Tabby Cat named Albert.
What first drew you to the property, and what was your vision when you began the renovation?
We were on the hunt to buy our first home back in 2017. We knew we wanted a project, something we could put our own stamp on over time, and we wanted to be close to the beach. One afternoon, a listing popped up online with a price reduction. We emailed the agent that night, visited the property the next morning and made an offer that same afternoon. We both instantly fell in love with the house. It was in the most beautiful neighbourhood, two blocks back from the beach. It had original hardwood floors and a quirky 70’s charm to it. It needed a lot of work, but we could see the potential. Plus it had a studio in the backyard which we knew we would want to rent out eventually.
The renovation was a long time in the making. We started dreaming up plans four years ago, and our ideas have evolved quite a lot since then. Our original vision was to do a small extension at the back of the house, which would give us a new kitchen and an extra bedroom.
Having our second daughter during the planning stage made us rethink our ideas and how we saw ourselves living in the future. We knew we wanted our kids to grow up in this house and in this neighbourhood, so we redesigned the plans to suit our family not just for now, while they’re young, but for the years ahead as they grow up.
What started as a relatively humble renovation idea grew into something much more ambitious and bespoke, but we couldn’t be happier with how the house turned out.
| Featuring our Mendocino Rug in Latte
How would you describe your interior style?
I would describe my style as Organic Eclectic design. I love natural materials, warm timber and clean, functional forms. I like bringing in colour, art, books and eclectic pieces that reflect our family’s personalities and make the space feel collected and lived in. For me, it’s about creating a home that feels beautiful and considered, but is still warm, practical and genuinely works for family life.
Living on the South Coast has such a unique rhythm. How has the surrounding landscape influenced the way you've designed your home?
We love the quiet, relaxed rhythm that comes with living on the South Coast and we wanted our home to feel timeless within that environment and connected to the surrounding landscape. We chose finishes for the front of the house that would sit seamlessly alongside our bottlebrush tree-lined yard. The downstairs is painted a deep earthy green, while the upstairs is finished in charred-look timber. Pops of birch ply are also featured, creating a beautiful balance of light and dark tones.
At the back of the house, we used terracotta cladding. This side faces west and gets hit by the harsh afternoon sun, so we wanted a material that would not only complement the natural landscape but also stand up to the coastal conditions. Across the exterior, we were conscious of choosing finishes that were low maintenance, durable and able to weather naturally over time.
Inside our home, we wanted to maximise natural light and airflow while maintaining a strong connection between the interior and the landscape outside. Our colour palette was inspired by tones found in nature, creating a sense of calm and warmth throughout the home. We wanted the space to feel grounded in its surroundings, bringing some of the relaxed, coastal landscape indoors.
| Featuring our Etta Cushion in Ivory & Terracotta
As the owners of both a cafe and another Airbnb, creating welcoming spaces seems to come naturally. How has your experience in hospitality influenced the way you design your home?
Both Jacob and I have always worked in hospitality, so we’ve developed a strong understanding of how to create spaces that function well for people. We naturally think about flow, practicality and how people move through a space.
We’ve owned our café Pilgrims for almost 10 years now and completed a huge renovation on it a few years back. Having to completely redesign a commercial kitchen and dining space, while also being considerate of a Heritage listed building, gave us valuable skills and more confidence as we began planning for our home renovation.
For us the kitchen is the heart of the home. We designed it around the idea that the whole family could be in there together, cooking, talking, helping and spending time with each other without getting in one another’s way. Beautiful spaces are important, but they also need to work, feel welcoming and encourage people to gather.
| Featuring our Gaia Loop Weave Jute Runner Rug in Natural
What were the most important elements you wanted to preserve or introduce throughout the renovation?
The main thing we wanted to preserve from the original house was the cypress pine flooring. We love the warmth and character of real timber floors, so it was important to us to retain that part of the house. Thankfully, our builders were able to seamlessly match the existing floors with new cypress pine, which is now featured throughout the whole build.
In terms of what we wanted to introduce, it was really important that our home could evolve with us over time. We wanted the bones of the house to feel timeless, with a layout that would work for our family well into the future.
More than anything, we wanted the house to feel warm and lived in. That feeling was important not just for our own family, but for our extended family and friends too. We wanted people to walk through the door and feel instantly relaxed and at home, rather than feeling like they were stepping into a brand-new space that was too precious to touch.
When you're designing a room, where do you always begin? Is it the natural light, the materials, the layout, or the feeling you want the space to evoke?
I usually start with the layout. I can get quite obsessed with it and like to spend a lot of time thinking through every possible way a room might be used. There were definitely a lot of nights when I’d wake up at 3am with an idea for a little tweak to the plans!
Once I feel like I’ve perfected the layout, I move on to the materials and start putting mood boards together. That’s when I can really see how everything is going to come together and make sure the finishes, colours and textures all feel cohesive.
| Featuring our Terrain Flatweave in Burnt Umber
Family life naturally changes the way we use our homes. How have you created spaces that feel both beautiful and practical for everyday living?
We wanted it to be a home where the kids could run around and be free, where everyone could relax, and where you didn’t have to worry about something being broken. We wanted to create a house that feels welcoming, comfortable and is made for everyday life.
We’ve intentionally left spaces throughout the home for play and creativity. There’s a natural flow between the living spaces and kitchen area, so you can be doing your own thing while still feeling connected to what’s happening throughout the rest of the home.
We also chose furnishings and finishes that are beautiful but hard working, things that can withstand the realities of family life, and are easy to maintain with little kids running around.
| Featuring our Gaia Loop Weave Jute Runner Rug in Natural
Texture plays such an important role throughout your interiors. What role do rugs, textiles and natural fibres play in creating warmth and making a house feel like home?
I think it’s so important visually to have a mix of different textures throughout the home. Our rugs add warmth, help ground the furniture and soften the rooms. They bring another layer of comfort and make the spaces feel more inviting and lived in.
But they’re not just there for looks. Our rugs have become spaces for our girls to play, have dance parties and spread out on the floor with books. We love having soft, natural fibres underfoot that can be enjoyed and lived on. Even Albert, our cat, has taken to the new rugs instantly and has very quickly claimed them as his own! 
| Featuring our Terrain Flatweave in Burnt Umber
What made you choose Rugs for Good for your home, and what do you love most about the piece you've styled?
Finding an ethical company that supports such an important cause made choosing Rugs for Good a no brainer for us. It was really important to us that something we were bringing into our home was made in a way that we could feel good about, and we love that our purchase also helps support ending child labour in the rug-making industry.
I was instantly drawn to the beautiful, rich earthy tones of the Burnt Umber Terrain Flatweave Wool Rug. The colour was perfect for our space, but the fact that it’s reversible and easy to clean really sold it for me. We knew we needed something durable for such a high traffic area with little kids and pets, so having a rug that could handle everyday family life was high priority.
For our bedroom, we were looking for something neutral that would complement the ply ceilings, timber flooring and bamboo and jute blinds. After trying a few of the sample colours in the space, we decided on the Mendocino Wool & Jute Rug in Latte. The beautiful jute edging is such a special detail, and it’s an absolute dream to step onto first thing in the morning when we get out of bed.
Finally, we chose the Gaia Loop Weave Jute Runner. It’s honestly the most comfortable jute I’ve ever had the pleasure of stepping on. It’s soft underfoot and the quality is exceptional. It’s such a beautiful, understated addition to the space. 
| Featuring our Mendocino Rug in Latte
Sustainability and investing in timeless, well-crafted pieces are at the heart of Rugs for Good. How important is it for you to choose pieces that will age beautifully and be loved for years to come?
Choosing pieces that will last is such an important part of how we live and how we can make more sustainable choices. A lot of the furniture in our home has been sourced second-hand, as I’m a big believer in buying used and giving things a second life. Our dining table, for example, was a local Marketplace find that I spent months slowly refurbishing whenever I had a spare moment.
When I do buy new, I always consider the quality and longevity of a piece, rather than being influenced by current trends. I want to make sure I genuinely love what I’m buying and that it’s something I’ll continue to love and enjoy for many years to come.
| Featuring our Terrain Flatweave in Burnt Umber
After completing such a significant renovation, what has been your favourite part of finally living in the finished home?
There are so many things that bring us joy in our home. Having the space to bring our whole extended family over for dinners, watching all the cousins play and run around, and cooking in our dream kitchen. We spent so much time planning and working on the renovation, so it’s lovely to look around now and appreciate all the hard work that went into creating a home that feels so beautiful, comfortable and completely ours.
| Featuring our Terain Flatweave in Burnt Umber, Sierra Striped Cushion in Terracotta &
Etta Cushion in Ivory & Terracotta
Finally, what advice would you give to someone renovating their own home who wants to create a space that feels authentic, welcoming and deeply connected to the way their family lives?
Think about how your family really lives, rather than how you think a beautiful home should look. Think about how you want to move through the house, what needs to be practical, what things make you feel at home. I think the most welcoming homes are the ones that reflect the people who live there. Spend time looking through inspiration to help figure out what really resonates with you, but don’t feel like you need to follow a particular style or trend. Take your time, be open to change, and allow for a few surprises along the way. Sometimes the best ideas come from things you never originally planned.
You can follow Santana on Instagram via the link here, or visit their café, Pilgrims, in Milton via the link here.
SHOP THE EDIT: 
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Terrain Flatweave Rug in Burnt Umber by Rugs for Good.
2. Etta Cushion in Terracotta by Rugs for Good. 3. Kyler Table Lamp by Freedom. 4. Comissioned Artwork by Nicci Bedson. 5. Gaia Runner by Rugs for Good.
