• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Interiors Addict

Heart Your Home

@interiorsaddict on Instagram   @interiorsaddict on Facebook   @interiorsaddict on Pinterest  
Subscribe
  • Job Board
  • About
  • Before & Afters
  • RENO ADDICT
  • Kitchens
  • Bathrooms
  • Kids Rooms
  • Bedrooms
  • Living Room
  • Shopping
  • Expert Tips
  • Recipes
  • Parenting
  • Travel
Interiors Addict
  • Job Board
  • About
    • Our Story

      Australia’s largest interior design, styling and renovation blog for the everyday Aussie. By former journalist and magazine editor Jen Bishop, the original interiors addict!
      READ MORE

      We’re big on Instagram!
      @interiorsaddict

      • About
      • Contact Interiors Addict
      • Work with Interiors Addict
      • Advertise / Find a job in Interiors
      • Press
      • Get Your Free Ebook

        This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
    • bookcover-jens-reno
  • By Room
    • Browse by Room

      Where you can search for all our posts about a specific room. Only interested in kitchens and bathrooms? We got you!

      • Kitchens
      • Bathrooms
      • Kids Rooms
      • Bedrooms
      • Living Room
      • Home Office
      • Dining
      • Laundry
      • Outdoor & Exteriors
      • Renting
    • bookcover-jens-reno
  • Before & Afters
    • Before & Afters

      Who doesn’t LOVE a good before & after? If you want to be inspired by the whole reno process, and not just the shiny photos at the end, this is the place for you!

      View Articles

      • Before & Afters
      • Jen’s reno
      • Real Renos
      • RENO ADDICT
    • 1-AFTER-SHA15-ROSELANDS-0P9A4910Before & after: this week’s Selling Houses recap: Roselands, NSW
    • Will's favourite room in the homeBefore & after: rundown boarding house to beautiful heritage home
  • Reno Addict
    • RENO ADDICT

      Looking for reno inspo? Find it all here, from other people’s projects to the latest trends, tools and products, whether you’re DIY-ing or employing trades.

      View articles

      • Reno Products
      • The Block
      • DIY
      • Reno Trends
      • Before & Afters
      • Real Renos
    • 90018691_90018692_hr_02_web_900xBest of the 2023 home and renovation EOFY sales
    • Screen Shot 2023-06-05 at 1.02.09 pmWattyl release 500 new colours after Milan design fair
  • Shopping
    • Shopping

      Want to know where to buy the latest furniture, homewares, rugs, art and more? We’re always sharing our latest finds and telling you where you can buy them.

      View Articles

      • Furniture
      • Homewares
      • Art
      • Smart Home
      • Appliances
      • Reno Products
    • 90018691_90018692_hr_02_web_900xBest of the 2023 home and renovation EOFY sales
    • PH_21953Furniture that doubles as art, by former tradies FEARON
  • Inspiration
    • Inspiration

      While Jen’s a legitimate interiors addict, she’s no design professional, so she calls on an army of the country’s best to share their expertise with you. Be inspired by their stories too!

      View Articles

      • Decorating 101
      • Interviews
      • Expert Tips
      • Before & Afters
      • House Tours
      • Designers
      • Styling
      • Renovating
      • Real Renos
      • Covet my coffee table
    • 6X05UPXRZON-Nine-Square-Bondi-2-of-15-Photography-by-Anson-Smart-loresAustralian Interior Design Awards 2023 winners
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle

      We’re mostly about the home but Jen also likes to share other things she thinks you’ll love, like food and travel.

      • Recipes
      • Travel
      • Parenting
    • 20220823_Kanzi_0H6A4926-2Foodie Friday: Healthy apple pie smoothie
    • Airbnb-Rooms-Bangkok-Bedroom-2023-Summer-ReleaseAirbnb launches Airbnb Rooms, going back to its affordable roots
  • Jobs
    • Advertise on our job board
    • Job Board FAQs for advertisers

A surprisingly stylish trip to the NSW Central Coast

By Jen Bishop • 1 Comment

FacebookPinEmailTweet

Now I don’t want to get off on the wrong foot with the Central Coast residents, because I can assure you I’ve always been a fan, but I have to be honest and say I never considered it as a particularly stylish place or a foodie destination. My recent weekend there with the family proved to me that things are starting to change and I’m happy to share more than a handful of places you must visit and eat at if you’re planning your next minibreak. Because let’s face it, it’s not exactly beach weather right now.

Norah Head Lighthouse

The Central Coast is a great option for our family. We live on the right side of Sydney for it to take no more than an hour to get there and it’s different enough to feel like you’ve really got away from it all and had a change of scene. Since Charlie came along, we haven’t been too keen on domestic breaks that involve flying. If you’re not going a long way or for a decent amount of time, it really doesn’t seem worth the hassle with a four year old and a baby. So the Central Coast is a no brainer and, after our most recent trip, I’m sure we will be back there again.

First off, where did we stay? We had two nights at Kyal and Kara Demmrich’s (of The Block fame) Airbnb (The Coastal Retreat at Toowoon Bay) which is effectively the most high spec, stylish, two-bed granny flat you’ve ever seen! It was gorgeous, well equipped and styled to perfection. Thoughtful touches like wine, cheese and chocolate went down a treat too!

Before we even got there however, we stopped in Gosford on the way up and had a delicious early lunch at The Bon Pavillion, a Sean Connolly restaurant which opened in the heart of town earlier this year. What a great start to the trip that was! I loved the dark and moody interior, the impressive staircase (come on, I’m an interiors person!) and the fact you could see into the kitchen where the action was.

Damian declared his steak to be the best he’d had all year and my chicken and prawn pie was mouthwatering. Sebastian polished off the fanciest fishfinger sandwich he’s ever had from the kid’s menu (nothing from a freezer box there, I assure you!) and we had a lovely relaxed meal with nice service. The less formal front of the venue was packed with locals enjoying brunch and coffee and you can even grab a takeout from another section. The Bon is a project of the John Singleton Group, run by Karina and Brian Barry, who also run Bells Of Killcare. Oh, how we used to love that place before we had kids (who aren’t allowed!).

En route to our Airbnb, Damian and the boys dropped me at Glow Beauty Space in Wamberal, which I already knew from Instagram! I mean, look at the place! The beautiful interior is by design duo Stewart + Highfield, who appear to be behind almost every cool space in the area! With a couple of hours of child-free pampering ahead of me, a glass of wine in hand, and lots of beautiful design details to look at, I was in heaven.

I had a pedicure and the Glow Facial (which included an eyebrow and lash tint) and left feeling like a new woman! The staff are all beautiful (inside and out) and make you feel so relaxed and looked after. I will be back, even if just as part of a day trip with a girlfriend. Best. Facial. Ever! Plenty of locals (clearly regulars) were enjoying getting their hair and makeup done for their nights out and the atmosphere was so relaxed and friendly. Owner Jade Pentony is all about incorporating beauty into the everyday, for busy women who want to enjoy these treatments but don’t have hours of time to spend. I hear you, Jade!

We spent a quiet night in at the Airbnb (yup, we have two young kids and the previous weekend had been spent in hospital with Charlie and a bad case of bronchiolitis so it was just what we needed!). We had a great sleep and the next day we were excited to explore some more. We took a drive though hip Long Jetty and can see why it’s being touted as the Newtown of the Central Coast.

We continued on to Avoca Beach where we had a beautiful lunch at Bombini. This is definitely somewhere we would have missed if we hadn’t been told about it, and I’m so glad we didn’t.

Situated on a leafy two acres in one of the Central Coast’s oldest homesteads, Bombini (Italian for bumblebee) by Cameron and Hayley Cansdell offers modern Italian cuisine with an emphasis on fresh produce selected from Australia and Italy. With a focus on sustainability, the property includes on-site vegetable gardens and we even saw chickens in the car park! We had traditional woodfired pizzas and, being in holiday mode (AKA greedy) couldn’t resist a side of wood roasted pumkin with gorgonzola, honey and walnuts. Well, you can imagine! Food coma! Seb enjoyed his pasta from the kid’s menu while Charlie happily made his way through the bread basket (although I’m sure bread that good is wasted on a baby!). We sat in a cosy, sunny corner of the covered veranda and could have sat there for hours, it just felt so relaxing and comfortable! The service was friendly and the kids were made to feel welcome too.

Clearly still hungry (ha!) we headed to The Fragrant Garden at Erina for ice cream (for Seb, of course). What a gorgeous little spot which has recently expanded to include the Bar Botanica garden café, a gelato kiosk by Mr Goaty and Distillery Botanica (they’re speaking my gin-loving language!) as well as the popular café and lovely gardens themselves. This place is worthy of a day trip all by itself too.

Oh, and the gelato was amazing but we couldn’t even finish half of it. Top marks for effort though.

Bar Botanica

We were so lucky with the weather and after all that food and sunshine another night on the couch was in order! The next day, after checking out of our little haven, we had a look at the stunning beach down the road (literally). Toowoon Bay itself is a cute little place too with a handful of cafes and shops. And then it was off to our last dining experience of the weekend, Saddles at Mount White. Run by the same couple as Bombini (and another John Singleton project), our expectations were high! What an amazing spot. It is literally half an hour from our house, just off the M1, but you could really be anywhere. Again, we’d never heard of it, but to be fair, we have been living in newborn land (how long can we use that excuse?) and it only opened a year ago.

There’s just something about being by water isn’t there, and eating by water is so relaxing, especially when it’s outside on a wraparound veranda. The inside area was super gorgeous too though, with a really luxe comfortable feel.

This trip really changed my ideas about the Central Coast and also made me realise it’s an awesome place to go in cold weather too. I might have to go back again without the boys to discover the shopping, which I didn’t really get a chance to touch on (too busy eating, frankly) but I’ve heard there are some real homewares gems!

For more Central Coast inspo

Love a well designed eatery as much as I do? Check out more stylish Central Coast eateries by stylists Stewart + Highfield

Disclaimer: Our accommodation and meals were paid for by Visit Central Coast and some of the venues in exchange for an honest review of our experiences.

FacebookPinEmailTweet

July 16, 2019

Primary Sidebar

Popular This Week

  • Tiny house living Australia: stylist finds it cosy & affordable
  • Australian kitchen dimensions: standard sizes for every last detail
  • Man behind stylish Sydney bars applies magic to apartment reno
  • Palette Cam 15 apps to help you build your dream home
  • Australian Interior Design Awards 2023 winners

Follow us on Instagram

Two little dancers in the family now🪩 Two little dancers in the family now🪩
I don't regret the extra expense of my bathroom li I don't regret the extra expense of my bathroom lighting for a minute.

Although at the time I may have been a bit "HOW MUCH?" 😂

Thrilled to have our bathroom shared in an article about lighting on @bhgaus where I talk about 2 things we chose in particular.

Firstly the LED light in the bath niche which is the PERFECT relaxing bathing light (and you know I have one every single night!).

Second, (swipe) a sensor light under the vanity which makes it easy for the kids and visitors who aren't familiar with the light switches, to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night with ease! 

Do you have either of these things in your bathroom or would you consider them?

Read the full Better Homes & Gardens article via link in bio now. 

Pix by @jacqui_turk

#bathroomlighting #bathroomlights #timbervanity #bathniche #bathroomniche #smartbathroom #bathroomlights #bathroomlight #bathlover #bathlove #interiorsaddictbathroomreno2 #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #interiorsaddictfamilyhomereno #jenbishop #heartyourhome #realhomes #brassshower #brasstrim
Brothers Jack and Mark Fearon, of Australian desig Brothers Jack and Mark Fearon, of Australian design and fabrication company, @__fearon__ first started their business in 2019 as a creative outlet and antidote to their more commercial work.

Their pathway to design was somewhat unusual. Jack, a plumber by trade and Mark, a boilermaker, worked as industrial fabricators making large-scale water trucks.

Jack says he’s conscious of making pieces that are sculptural, but also very usable. “We don’t think our pieces are there just to look good,” Jack says. “We love seeing our pieces in people’s homes and in galleries, restaurants and hotels, with things all over them. They’re for real life.”

FEARON’s handmade pieces are aluminium and designed for longevity. Jack says the material choice means pieces are lightweight, easy to sculpt and entirely recyclable.

Read more on the blog now, via link in bio.

#aluminiumfurniture #australianfurniture #australianfurnituredesign #australianfurnituredesigners #sculpturalfurniture #furnitureasart #modernheirloom #modernheirlooms #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #fearon #aluminiumart #funfurniture #careerchange
Known for his stylish bar and shop fitouts, @jform Known for his stylish bar and shop fitouts, @jform__ this year turned his hand to an apartment reno and created something really special!

Come and tour this beautiful one bed warehouse conversion in Sydney's Surry Hills on the blog today via link in bio.

Currently for sale though @bresicwhitney

#apartmentinterior #apartmentlove #apartmenttour #mezzaninefloor #mezzaninebedroom #warehouseconversion #factoryconversion #surryhillslife #surryhillssydney #surryhillslocal #shopfitout #barfitout #shopfitters #jform #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #heartyourhome #jenbishop #coolapartment #funkyinteriors #customjoinery
When her styling business took a hit, @vaultinteri When her styling business took a hit, @vaultinteriors decided to reduce her outgoings by moving to a tiny house. And we're not sure we've ever seen a more stylish one!

Although the move to a container home was motivated by financial pressures, Justine Wilson is loving her new simpler way of life.

Read her refreshingly honest, positive interview on the blog now, via link in bio.

It'll make you want to downsize too!

#tinyhomes #tinyhouse #tinyhome #tinyhouses #tinyliving #livingbiginatinyhouse #tinyhousemovement #tinyhouseonwheels #tinyhouseliving #tinyhousenation #tinyhouseattractive #tinyhomedesign #containerhouse #containerhome #containerhomes #containerhouses #containerhomedesigns #interiorstylist #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #heartyourhome #jenbishop #smallspaceliving #smallspacedesign #downsizeliving #downsize #downsizingandminimizing #escapetothecountry #hawkesburyriver #hawkesburyriverlife
Appliance colour trends: They've certainly change Appliance colour trends:

They've certainly changed over the years. Remember when ALL fridges were white?! I remember the original BROWN wall oven in our 60s kitchen here pre-reno! I think the dishwasher was brown and beige (and it tripped the electrics every time we used it!) 😜

What do you think of this new dark stainless steel option (pictured) from Westinghouse as seen in @dnaofdesign_'s latest reno? Yay or nay? 

What colour do you like your appliances?

See the rest of this home and kitchen and laundry design tips from the ex Blockheads on the blog now via link in bio.

#kitchenappliances #walloven #wallovens #combioven #combioven #microwaves #builtinappliances #builtinoven #builtinovens #homeappliance #westinghouse #kitchentrends #ovens #laundryappliances #darkstainlesssteel #stainlesssteelappliances
SALE ALERT! Listen up Sydneysiders, one of my fav SALE ALERT!

Listen up Sydneysiders, one of my favourite home stores @shack.furniture.homewares are having their annual warehouse sale this week, from Thursday until Saturday.

HUGE savings on furniture, homewares and decor with 30 to 80% off. Wowsers!

I'm a big fan of SHACK and can never leave one of their stores without a few styling goodies for my place! It's just too tempting!

While you're at the sale, mention Interiors Addict for an extra 10% off!

Unit 16a, 1801 Botany Rd, Banksmeadow NSW 2019

Thursday 1st to Saturday 3rd June 2023, 9am to 4pm. Not online.

#sydneyshopping #sydneysale #sydneysales #sydneyfurniture #shackfurniture #shackfurniturehomewares #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome #comeshoppingwithme
A door to door continuous curved stone ledge in th A door to door continuous curved stone ledge in this bathroom is one of the cleverest designs we've seen in a while!

This mega ledge, made of Corian, even incorporates a sink, seamlessly.

Combined with venetian plaster on the walls, it's no wonder this Illawarra bathroom by @birdblackdesign feels like a day spa!

Come check it out via link bio.

Lead designer Stuart Gibson says: "One smooth curve, right around the room, from either side of the door opening. As it moves around, it creates a ledge for the bath: for bath oils, lotions, a book and a champagne glass. The ledge continues around and becomes the vanity, widening out to create a custom seamless basin."

#bathroomhappiness #bathroomdetails #bathroomshelves #bathroomshelf #venetianplastering #coriandesign #coriansolidsurface #spalikebathroom #spabathroom #sustainablebathroom
Catch the season finale of @sellinghousesaus last Catch the season finale of @sellinghousesaus last night?

We have all the before and afters for you on the blog now, via link in bio (and swipe for a taster).

#sellinghouses #sellinghousesaustralia #foxtel #lifestylechannel #beforeandafterkitchen #beforeandafterlivingroom #beforeandafterrenovation #realitytv #housetours #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #heartyourhome
Follow on Instagram
Visit Jen's profile on Pinterest.

Get Your Free Ebook

Ebook cover

Never miss the latest renovating and interiors products, news and inspo again! Sign up for our newsletter and we'll send you the best bits from the blog, direct to your inbox. Plus you'll get our latest eBook: What Made The Biggest Impact in Jen's Own Reno.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Avatar

About Jen Bishop

Jen Bishop is our owner and publisher and an experienced journalist and editor. Interiors Addict has been her full-time job for more than 10 years. She is mum to two young boys and lives in Sydney.

More Recent Posts

Best of the 2023 home and renovation EOFY sales

When should you repair, replace, or upgrade an air con unit? 

Furniture that doubles as art, by former tradies FEARON

Wattyl release 500 new colours after Milan design fair

Tiny house living Australia: stylist finds it cosy & affordable

A closer look at this year’s Dulux Colour Awards winners

Key fabric & furniture trends from Italy, by Marco Meneguzzi

Block’s Andy & Deb share kitchen & laundry tips from new reno

Gavin Harris still excited seeing sketches become real life rugs

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarLeanne Hall says

    July 23, 2019 at 1:07 pm

    It’s beautiful up here, so much to do and discover. A lovely review of a truly lovely location.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Footer

Interiors Addict

Interiors Addict

  • About
  • Contact
  • Work with Jen
  • Press
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure Policy

Browse

  • RENO ADDICT
  • Jen’s Reno
  • House Tours
  • Real Renos
  • Interviews
  • Styling
  • Designers
  • Bedrooms
  • Covet My Coffee Table
  • Expert Tips
  • The Block
  • Art
  • Furniture
  • Recipes

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RENO ADDICT

Copyright © 2011–2023 Addicted Media Pty Ltd
Website care by ClickWP · Log in

Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!