Modern Coastal retreat on Dobbie Avenue, East Corrimal

Nestled just 10 houses back from the shoreline of East Corrimal, New South Wales, the Dobbie Avenue project perfectly encapsulates the appeal of Modern Coastal design. Designed by DeBu Studios and constructed by H + S Building, this stunning two-storey home blends effortless coastal luxury with the durability and versatility of Hardie™ cladding products.

Designed as the ultimate forever home for a couple in their 70s, the house exemplifies how traditional coastal elements can be elevated with contemporary design for a timeless yet modern result.

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What’s more, this home illustrates some of the key design trends presented in the James Hardie Modern Homes Forecast report for 2025. Firstly, it is a home that aims to restore the homeowners’ sense of wellbeing; Dobbie Avenue is filled with natural light and ventilation, thanks to a large void and a luxurious open-air entertaining sanctuary, which brings the outside in.

It’s also a resilient home, built to withstand the coastal environment, another key trend in our research. And finally, this coastal abode showcases how you can achieve more for less by altering some design choices, such as more costly timber, and replacing them with more durable yet cost-effective materials.

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The evolution of Modern Coastal design

Modern Coastal style takes its cues from Australia's iconic beach shack heritage, infusing it with minimalist sophistication. The Dobbie Avenue home encapsulates this approach with its open-plan layout, expansive glazing, and crisp white facade.

As Sam Lambert, Director of H + S Building, remembers, the clients were very familiar with the area and wanted to build their “last home” that would reflect East Corrimal’s coastal vibe while also feeling like a tranquil retreat. In other words, a place where they could entertain, relax and soak in the surroundings during their golden years.

The home features a striking gable roof, an expansive void, raked ceilings and an incredible open-air entertaining space on the second floor, which looks out over the facade. White cladding, large archways, and seamless indoor-outdoor transitions boost its airy, laid-back aesthetic, while minimalist landscaping adds a resort-style touch.

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Bringing the facade to life with exterior solutions by James Hardie

A cohesive facade was a must for achieving a true Modern Coastal look, and Sam and his team decisively landed on three Hardie™ cladding products to make the design work.

Hardie™ Brushed Concrete Cladding was used across the ground-floor facade. The owners and builders agreed the panel texture was just right and made a last-minute change to conceal the garage using Hardie™ Brushed Concrete Cladding overlaid with battens to achieve a concealed and luxury finish.

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Hardie™ Oblique™ Cladding installed vertically on the right-hand side of the house introduces a sleek and modern element. Its alternating board widths evoke the clean lines of standing seam cladding and give it some depth and rhythm. Sam highlights the ease of installation: "Hardie™ Oblique™ Cladding is so straightforward – its easy installation helps save time."

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Linea™ Weatherboard was applied to the balcony area on the upper storey. Its deep shadow lines and smooth finish add a modern twist to the classic coastal weatherboard look, which allows it to blend seamlessly with the home's overall aesthetic while at the same time making Sam and his team’s job so much easier.

"With Linea™ Weatherboard we know the installation process is going to be quick and easy," Sam says.

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Overcoming design challenges

Integrating three different Hardie™ cladding products into a single cohesive design demands plenty of careful planning ahead of time. Sam says that collaborating with local designer, Joel Etherington from DeBu Studios, was a match made in heaven.

"Joel specified where each product would go. He put it all together from the clients’ inspiration and then he put his little spin on it,” Sam says, adding that the varied textures and finishes give the facade layers of interest while still keeping a unified look overall.

Sam and Joel both love leveraging the myHardies™ platform, which provides on-the-go technical support and news and information about Hardie™ products and projects to help facilitate a smooth installation process.

The harsh coastal environment of the Dobbie Avenue Modern Coastal home played a big part in influencing material choices. Being just a few steps from the ocean, the home needed to stand up to salty air, humidity and strong winds. That’s why fibre cement products from the Hardie™ Architectural Collection are great.

A major consideration for Sam in the build involved the structural steel components. These were required to achieve the dramatic raked ceiling with open voids, which the homeowners set out to achieve. Sam and Joel were confident that the pairing of exterior solutions by James Hardie – a bright white colour palette and a dramatised roof line and ceiling – would achieve a dreamy and quintessential Modern Coastal home.

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Another design challenge for the home was faced in the garage. The homeowners originally wished to install an American oak timber garage door, yet this became too costly, and the clients needed a durable product for their coastal home given their close proximity to the beach.

“The clients wanted a low-maintenance look, so we came up with the option of using Hardie™ Brushed Concrete Cladding on the garage door with Hardie™ Axent™ Trim,” explains Sam. The result was cost-effective, durable and low maintenance, with Hardie™ Axent™ Trim providing the perfect finishing touch and adding a fresh and playful touch to the home’s exterior.

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Achieving effortless Modern Coastal elegance

The Dobbie Avenue home is more than just a functional build – it’s a head-turner. With its crisp white palette, pared-back landscaping and sophisticated use of textures, the house can strike a true balance between traditional coastal charm and contemporary design. The thoughtful integration of Linea™ Weatherboard, Hardie™ Oblique™ Cladding and Hardie™ Brushed Concrete Cladding elevates the facade to give it a timeless appeal.

Whether you're starting a new build yourself or renovating an existing property, blending the right materials is key to achieving a durable, visually stunning Modern Coastal home that can stand up to the elements.

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Project details

Project: Modern Coastal Home

Location, Dobbie Avenue, East Corrimal, NSW

Building Designer: DeBu Studios

Builder: H+S Building

Products:

Hardie™ Brushed Concrete Cladding
Linea™ Weatherboard
Hardie™ Oblique™ Cladding
Hardie™ Axent™ Trim

Photography: Adam Wallis Creative

Architecture & Design Team

James Hardie Australia

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