Take a Tour Inside a Beach Lover's Hideaway - Bruns Surf Shack

ele HOME heads to the laidback Brunswick Heads to chat to Karl and Gene, the owners of the charming coastal oasis, Bruns Surf Shack.

Tell me a bit about yourselves.

We’re Karl and Gene – We’re both from North America, although yonks and yonks ago. Karl works in fundraising for Australian Red Cross. Gene is an organisational psychologist and works for NSW Health.

How long have you owned your home and what have you done since purchasing?

We bought the house in early 2020, and literally took the keys in the early days when COVID was landing in Australia. At the time the living room was a converted carport with a concrete floor and there was an internal window to the front bedroom! But we loved the house and especially the garden. When we renovated, we didn’t want the final result to be too perfect so that we’d lose all the original details that made it so special.

Can you give me a bit of background on how you found the property? Are you originally from the area?

Karl may have a Canadian accent – but his family goes back three generations in the Northern Rivers. His Mum’s family ran pubs in Murwillumbah, Kyogle, Lismore and Casino – so welcoming a new generation of guests feels like the family history has run full circle.

Do you have design backgrounds?

We’re not designers ourselves, but we had a very clear vision about what we were looking for: a relaxed space completely designed around the moment when you come back from the beach, rinse off in the outdoor shower, and then settle into the outdoor deck for a relaxed chat and a barbecue.

How would you describe your style?

Relaxed and welcoming. We’re big advocates for local culture, so you’ll find local artists’ and crafts people’s work dotted around the house, including paintings, pottery and even basket ware.

What do you love most about your home?

The large and varied subtropical garden.

Who designed the exterior and interior of the home?

Jason Grant is a good friend who brought the interior design vision to life – he’s got great style, and a wonderful sense of colour.

Bill Uhrich (Karl’s brother) and his firm Table Architecture Collective were instrumental in the design work – which they did, during COVID, over Zoom, without ever setting foot in the house!

Who designed the garden?

Karl designed the garden with some help from his plant-loving friends. It’s a subtropical planting, with an emphasis on edibles, including bananas, paw paws and passion fruit.

Your best interior design tip?

Keep it simple and warm.

What designers inspire you?

Two stand out: Nina Freudenberger (who also wrote the book Surf Shack) for her relaxed, unfussy style– and Geoffrey and Bevis Bawa, the two Sri Lankan brothers who heavily influenced Tropical Modernism in architecture and landscape design. We visited (and stayed in!) their homes in Sri Lanka and it left a big impression on us.

What do you love about the Northern Rivers region?

Karl’s non-religious aunt (who’s family settled in Bangalow in the 1890s) calls this God’s Country. We have to agree! There’s something about the intense natural beauty of the place, plus the creative energy that the people bring to everyday life here. There’s nowhere else like it.

Favourite places to eat and shop in your region?

To eat: Mavis’ and Tweed River House in Murwillumbah (both for atmosphere), and Harvest in Newrybar (they have their own forager).

To drink: Wandana in Mullumbimby and Red Earth in Cudgen – both are micro-breweries.

To shop: Clem’s Cargo, Resould and Oscar & Keene in our very own Bruns – for pre-loved pieces and furniture.

Favourite pieces in your home?

We have a painting by Mullumbimby painter Heath Wae that we really love – he’s a philosophical painter whose studio is just 10 minutes up the road.

Biggest splurge?

A new hot water heater on the roof that we had to install when we burst a water main when we moved a big tree in the front yard.

Greatest budget buy or budget decorating tip?

We make no secret that we really like Kmart – they have a mustard 70s dinner set that takes pride of place in the kitchen!

What’s your favourite way to spend a day in your region/home?

A sunrise walk on the beach (yes, we wake up early, and so do a lot of folks in Bruns!); the Mullum market on Friday to pick up local coffee and bananas; on the weekends, a drive through the hinterland to do a hike or visit quirky little villages like Burringbar and Uki.

@brunssurfshack

www.brunssurfshack.com.au

Bruns Surf Shack is available for stays via Airbnb

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