Pretty Beach Barn: A design-led coastal escape

Property with potential

Set just 500m from the ocean and with Murramarang National Park quite literally at the gate, Sita’s Kioloa property purchase was a smart investment from the start.

But it wasn’t just because of the location – a 3.5 hour drive south of Sydney that offered the best of both the beach and the bush – but because of what it could become.

The generous block didn’t just include a little cottage. It came with something far more valuable: the space and opportunity to build.

Because Sita’s vision was for more than a simple coastal escape – she had dreams of building a beautiful barn-inspired beach house. One that was special enough to regularly draw her and the family down the coast for weekends and holiday breaks. One that they would be proud to share with guests. One that was every bit as memorable as its location.

The brief

For Sita, two other factors were as important as the outcome. And these were the reasons why she ruled out a traditional build from the start.

“Cost and speed were the primary drivers for us in exploring prefabricated modular options,” she tells us.

Prefabrication offered clear advantages. With this method, most of the building is manufactured off-site in a controlled workshop environment, so construction can progress regardless of the weather, while costs are controlled by reducing both on-site labour and material waste.

But with cost and speed only part of the equation, not just any prefab supplier would do.

Sita wasn’t just looking for a quicker, more affordable way to build. She wanted a high-end home that felt architecturally considered. One that would earn its place in such a spectacular setting, delight paying guests, and become somewhere her own family couldn’t wait to return to, time and time again.

Architectural collaboration

It’s a difficult balance for any building project. But it’s exactly the kind of brief a Cedarspan is designed to answer.

So, when Sita set about finding the right company to meet all of her needs, there was a clear standout.

“We conducted extensive research and ultimately felt that Greenspan was the best fit for our needs,” she says. “It was a reputable family-owned business, your building designs aligned closely with our preferred style, and we were impressed by the flexibility you offered as well as the overall value for money.”

A specific vision like Sita’s naturally takes time to perfect. There were planning requirements to satisfy, design ideas to explore, and plenty of fine-tuning along the way. Throughout it all, Greenspan’s Solutioneers worked closely with the family to shape a design that balanced their aspirations with local council requirements.

“The process involved multiple iterations and a fair amount of back-and-forth,” Sita recalls. “However, it was a highly collaborative experience, and the Greenspan team was consistently responsive and supportive in helping refine our design to achieve planning requirements and the aesthetic we were looking for.”

A showcase of light

And this is the result.

A beautifully designed Cedarspan 3090, that is every bit the barn-inspired beach house Sita had imagined. With an all-white exterior – from the painted board and batten, to the doors and windows, to the roofing – it provides a striking contrast against the blue of the sky and the green of the surrounds.

But it’s inside, the moment you step through the doors, that the design truly reveals itself.

It’s not just that it’s impeccably styled in calm coastal tones. Nor is it the sense of space and height. It’s the abundant glazing that allows filtered light to fill every corner of a perfectly curated floorplan.

At its heart is a generous open-plan living space that sits under the full height of the Cedarspan’s signature cathedral ceiling. To one end of this area is the lounge, where the wall is a striking focal point of design features – triple gable windows, sliding doors to the outside, timber-encased beams and a wonderful wood-burning stove with a flue that soars to the ceiling. Centrally positioned is a spacious dining area, and beyond is a fully equipped kitchen fitted along the rear internal wall.

Two sets of stacking doors span the width of the open plan living area allowing for a seamless connection with the wide outdoor deck – a thoughtful post-installation addition that allows control of its own light and shade through its louvred electric pergola roof.

Considered, floor to ceiling

The rest of the layout is just as carefully considered.

Beside and beyond the kitchen runs a light-filled breezeway that leads first to a laundry space, which in turn provides access to the main bathroom.

Next door is the second of the property’s two bedrooms, and above these combined spaces is the really clever part of the design – a generous square loft overlooking the living area through a frameless glass balustrade. An area that is reached via an ingenious Bcompact fold-away staircase in the hallway that disappears neatly when not in use.

By positioning the loft in this way, the master suite, set at the far end of the barn, is free to enjoy the full height of the pitched roof, creating a sumptuous retreat with its own ensuite and outdoor access. It also thoughtfully overhangs the kitchen to conceal its ducting and services and ensure a neat and considered finish.

The same contemporary coastal aesthetic runs throughout. Soft white walls and ceilings meet polished concrete flooring, soft hues, woven textiles and light timber furniture, cabinetry and trim. It’s elegant without feeling formal, luxurious without being overstated, and immediately warm and calming from the minute you walk through the door.

A journey worth taking

Just seven months after completion, Pretty Beach Barn is everything Sita and her family wanted and more. Design-led from the start, it’s a place they love returning to whenever they can, and one where guests can enjoy a memorable experience at other times. It’s a purchase that fulfilled its potential and will retain its welcoming beauty for decades to come.

But it’s not just the end result that stands out.

It was the journey to get there.

Building a home is rarely a simple process. It takes decisions, collaboration and trust. For Sita, the experience proved every bit as rewarding as the finished result.

“Overall, the process was very positive,” she tells us. “Your team was personable, responsive, and genuinely enjoyable to work with throughout the entire process, which made a significant difference.”

But perhaps the greatest endorsement of all is that she’d do it all over again.

“We want to build another one.”

If you’d like to experience Pretty Beach Barn for yourself, Sita has generously offered Greenspan customers an exclusive 20% discount on bookings. Simply quote PRETTY20 when booking directly through Mollymook Milton Holidays.

All measurements are approximate.