Written by Russ Benning

Welcome back dear readers, to another issue of Alive Magazine! This month we focus on the topic of ‘Style’.

Curiously the first thing that came to my mind when I heard the word was fashion, or more culturally accurate for my Melbourne friends in the industry; ‘fashun’. As I gave it more time to percolate, I realised that this topic is much broader than I initially thought.

Being a word nerd, I checked the dictionary definition. There were several but two stood out as the most common and I shared a little, “of course”, moment with myself. Style can be defined as both a noun and a verb.

As a noun; “A distinctive appearance, typically determined by the principles according to which something is designed.”

As a verb; “Design or make in a particular form.”

The couple I got to interview this month, and whom I shall introduce you to very shortly, embody both definitions of the word.

In fact, you could go so far as to say that they have a really unique style to the way that they style.
I constantly find it intriguing when interviewing new people, how often, clearly creative, artistic people fail to see these traits in themselves. More on that later.

Allow me to introduce you to local Wide Bay residents Jaime and Dave Hillhouse, a couple who seemingly fell into the world of home renovation and took it to the next level with their immaculate focus on style.

We meet at their current residence/project “Lagos” in Urraween. Each of their properties have a distinct theme that is reflected throughout in intricate detail. The theme for Lagos is neatly summed up in one word— ‘Mediterranean’.

Mentioning their first completed project in Urangan, “Bay Beach House”, Jaime shares;

“Our whole goal with the first one was to bring something different to the bay. We always like trying to think outside the box.”

I noticed quickly that the way they went about the projects, the style of which, you might say, was equally if not more important than the ‘what’ they did.

She continues, “We start with a big item and that drives our vision for the rest of the house.”

I ask how they decide on what that item is and I notice the answer is quite similar to how any number of artists might answer;

“It’s a feeling thing. The important thing with style is to go with your instincts.”

For Lagos, the big item is the arched shape of the entrance above the front door. Covered in a striking white paint, it gives off imagery akin to what you may find on the cliff-sides of Greece.
I notice another familiar feature and I ask if that is in fact an olive tree.

“Yep, we got that from an olive farm. It’ll still produce olives if you take care of it. We actually had to get it lifted in with a crane.”

Dave again, adds context to the ‘style at all cost’ approach to their work.

As the tour and the discussion continue, I feel it necessary to focus now, back on the Bay Beach House (BBH), as it was our couples first full renovation.

This property was also the one that created Jaime and Dave a solid following of home-renovation enthusiasts on Instagram. They share with me that they had no intentions of it growing so rapidly or to the extent that it has. They simply wanted to document their own journey and have a space to see the progress.

BBH was also the first location for the couples somewhat unusual style of renovation. Guided by circumstance during the Covid era, they ended up living in the house during the process.

They speak into how important that turned out to be as they realised how much more of an intimate feel they got for the home. Details like where the sun will be and when and what that means for the lighting come up.

Aesthetically the theme they went for was based on the beautiful Byron Bay area. Dave added a note on the intention for the layout of the property;

“For us it was, coming home and feeling like we’re on holidays.”

They share proudly (and rightfully so) that they did all of the work on the house themselves. One of the reasons for doing so was budget related and I found it quite impressive to hear they actually never took out a loan for it.

I wondered if Dave had always been so handy.

“Not at all actually. Jaime used to call me dodgy Dave!”

Dave always had an interest in landscaping from his childhood and is fantastic at seeing the vision for spaces.

“He’s the visionary for sure.”

Jaime goes on to explain the synergistic nature of their dynamic where she excels at knowing what works or not visually.

I enjoy the way they explain the process and how their respective skill sets yin-yang (used as a verb) perfectly.

“The styling and the furnishing is what creates the emotional connection. If it’s a beautiful house but it’s not colour matched or styled correctly, I don’t get that emotional feeling.”

Putting a full stop on her statement Dave adds;

“And that’s the difference between a house and a home.”

Once the theme is decided and the first big item presents itself, the gardens are the first thing to take form.

“We like to do the landscaping first because it sets the tone for the property and it’s also the part that needs the biggest machinery.”

Function is just as important as form and the live-in approach lends perfectly to perfecting this.

BBH is able to fully open to allow for that beachside, open air feel, yet can also be completely sealed as just one of many examples.

Jaime came into her own with the interior and the furnishing. Each direction you look makes sense and feels just right. The perfect balance of uniquity and uniformity.

With so much work, style, time, resources and passion poured into the piece of ‘Liveable Art’ it makes sense it was highly emotional when it came time to sell.

Of course the original intention all along, it was still a bittersweet time for the family, especially their two children who spent most of their childhood in the home.

Let’s return now to Lagos, as we sit on the elegant oversized timber table demanding attention in the open plan dining area.

We wind up the conversation and I still find it bizarre that they are both full time in the education industry. As I question what is in the future Jaime replies almost as a thought experiment;

“We both have long service leave owing. I wonder what we could do if we went full time into this for a while?”

I wonder this also as so do almost twenty thousand fans online. I guess we all better watch this space!

Upon reflection I see now that style is so much more than I had first thought. Style is feeling and style is art. Style can also be a lifestyle.

For some, like my new friends Jaime and Dave, style is even more than that—for them, style is home.
Follow Jaime and Dave’s renovation journey:
Instagram: @bay_beachouse