Step into Villa Coco with Steph: A Journey of Design and Inspiration

Written by: Arcaa

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Published on

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Time to read 2 min

Steph, a passionate lover of interior design and lifestyle, welcomes us into her serene family home, Villa Coco, nestled on the picturesque Southern Gold Coast. Known for her minimalist yet warm aesthetic, Steph has recently transformed Villa Coco into a modern haven, where every corner reflects her unique approach to blending elegance with everyday functionality.

Wearing pieces from our Alda collection — the Ezra Sweater and Pant in Grey Marle — Steph walks us through the inspiration behind her recent renovation. Drawing from natural materials and earthy tones, her design choices evoke a sense of calm and connection to the surrounding coastal landscape. With a focus on sustainability, balance, and timeless style, Villa Coco serves as a perfect reflection of Steph's personal ethos: that home should be a place where design meets comfort, where beauty meets everyday life.

In this intimate conversation, Steph shares her renovation journey, her design inspirations, and what "home" truly means to her and her family.

Ezra Sweater & Ezra Pant, Grey Marle

Home can be such a personal and intimate space. How would you define what home means to you?

My home is my sanctuary, the place I feel most comfortable and a special place to create memories with my family.

That’s such a beautiful way to describe home. Every space usually has a key feature that makes it feel even more special. What would you say is the centrepiece of your home?

Our kitchen, it is the heart of our home. The kitchen island is one our most loved designs in our home. 

At Home with Steph Smith
Ezra Sweater and Ezra Pant, Dark Grey Marle

The kitchen truly sounds like the hub of your home! Now, moving from the kitchen to the overall design, could you tell us more about the architectural style and design elements that shaped your renovation?

We knew when we purchased the original 80’s home that it needed a pretty big renovation. We decided to have a few key design elements with a modern mediterranean feel. We came up with a list of a few non negotiable designs we wanted in the house. That being the arch timber front door, kitchen island with hand made tiles, Italian marble bench tops, bathroom feature tiles to have a mediterranean feel and timber floor boards throughout the whole home. 

At Home with Steph Smith
At Home with Steph Smith

It’s incredible how intentional design can create such a warm and inviting atmosphere. With such a beautiful home, we imagine your weekends are special. How do you typically spend your weekends at Villa Coco?

Living in sunny Queensland most weekends are spent in and around the pool. Lots of BBQ’s and time spent with family.


Ezra Sweater & Ezra Pant
Ezra Sweater

That sounds like a wonderful way to relax and recharge! Balancing home life and motherhood can be challenging. What’s one piece of advice you’d give to other mothers based on your own experiences?

Enjoy and be present in those little moments, because they are big moments for them. 


At Home with Steph Smith
At Home with Steph Smith

Such heartfelt advice! After creating this beautiful design space, we can’t help but wonder—do you have any upcoming design projects or future plans in the works?

No projects in the works at the moment, but we are keeping an eye out for our next renovation or new build. 

Ezra Sweater
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