A Coastal Hideaway on the Mornington Peninsula
A quiet pocket of the Mornington Peninsula, St Andrews Beach is home to Onshore Retreat, an intimate stay shaped by considered design and a love of the natural coastal landscape.
Words HANDE RENSHAW Photos BROOK JAMES Styling POPPY BUNTZ
The property has gradually evolved, with a focus on natural materials, considered design and restoring the surrounding coastal landscape.
Light blue plywood and terrazzo features in the new open kitchen.
The open plan space means spaces are filled with more natural light.
The kitchen was reworked to create a functional and inviting space for guests to cook.
“It still feels like somewhere you can actually cook and settle into for a few days. We were drawn to really simple, honest materials like plywood and light terrazzo with the blue adding a little bit of colour.”
Large windows frame the surrounding coastal landscape.
A wood-burning fireplace brings warmth to the space during the cooler months
A collection of vinyl records invites guests to slow down, put on a record and unwind.
Ida’s Studio is an open-plan, one-bedroom guesthouse.
The light-filled bedroom space.
The Ida’s Studio outdoor bath.
A quintessentially Australian outdoor shower.
Nestled among the dunes of St Andrews Beach, Onshore Retreat is an intimate Mornington Peninsula stay where timber interiors, understated design and the natural landscape take centre stage.
At Onshore Retreat, the surrounding landscape is as much a part of the experience as the interiors. Set on a 6000-square-metre property near St Andrews Beach, the retreat has been gradually transformed by owners Poppy Buntz and Joel Van Den Eynden, with two guest accommodations, Ida’s Studio and The Lodge, each offering a different perspective on the setting.
Named after Joel’s late grandmother, Ida’s Studio brings a sense of simplicity to its one-bedroom layout. Rather than rebuilding, Poppy and Joel have reworked the existing structure, joining two smaller studios to create an open-plan interior with generous windows overlooking the native garden and nearby dunes.
Plywood walls give the interior a light, natural finish, complemented by terrazzo and subtle touches of blue. The material palette is pared back without feeling sparse, while a wood-burning fireplace, record player and collection of vinyl add a more personal touch. The kitchen has also been quietly reworked, creating a functional and inviting space for guests.
Beyond the windows, the garden is an extension of the living spaces. An outdoor bath, shower and spa are nestled among the greenery, with little separating them from the natural landscape. Rye Back Beach is nearby, close enough for the sound of waves breaking along the rugged coastline to be heard from the garden.
The grounds themselves have undergone a gradual transformation, with Poppy and Joel reintroducing locally sourced indigenous plants as part of their efforts to restore the landscape. The planting continues to develop, allowing the garden to become increasingly established around the property.
The transformation of Ida’s Studio is as much about what has been retained as what has changed. The original building, simple material palette and renewed native garden come together in a renovation that feels closely tied to its beach setting.
