Modern Coastal Home Brings the Hamptons to the Gold Coast
Behind the Design
Inspired by the cluster of wealthy seaside towns and villages on Long Island’s South Fork, Hamptons-style homes have become synonymous with coastal elegance, relaxed living, and timeless design.
This aesthetic was a guiding principle for Corinne and Shane Wynhoven, founders of Homes by Hoven, when designing and building their dream family home, The Sanctuary.
Tucked away in the waterfront suburb of Mermaid Waters on the Gold Coast, this Hamptons-style home is a modern coastal haven that emanates sophistication and tranquillity.
We go Behind the Design with owner-builders Corinne and Shane to discover how they combined their specialised skills to design and build this impressive waterfront home.
“Our appetite has never been to renovate but to do a new build from scratch. So, we came across this particular space and were able to build to it,” says Shane.
“The characteristics we were looking for were north to water, a large, wide footprint on the canal, and something we can really build to.”
“We love the suburb because it’s still close to the beach, yet it’s got that real neighbourhood vibe — it’s got the best of both,” adds Corinne.
An oversized black front door stands out against the home's impressive exterior, clad in pristine white VJ panelling. The foyer boasts grand, 3-metre-high ceilings and a large curved staircase leading to the second floor. On the left is a generous, hotel-style guestroom with a large walk-in robe and ensuite.
“As far as our personal style, I lack style completely,” Shane admits. “I’m good at building the blocks, whereas Corinne’s very good at styling.”
“We didn’t really go too trendy, we just kept it really neutral,” Corinne explains.
“We followed a bit more of the Hamptons style with the VJ panelling and the oak floors. We just kept whites, creams, and beiges, with pops of accents of the brushed brass, which I feel really elevated the space. We just wanted it to be really calm and serene.”
When designing the heart of the home — the combined living, kitchen, and dining area — Corinne wanted the space to feel open and inviting while providing the flow and functionality her busy family of four required.
“I love the kitchen,” she says. “It’s so open, and it’s got this giant island we can all sit around. The kids love it, and I feel like we can both cook at the same time and not get in each other's spaces — it’s just a dream.”
In true Hamptons style, the space boasts elegant blonde oak flooring, white Shaker cabinets, and classic brushed brass tapware and fixtures throughout. Everyday appliances are hidden away within the cabinetry to maximise counter space and enhance aesthetics.
“When you come through our open-plan living, there’s a grand curved entrance which gets us into what was meant to be a study, but we added a bar — we’ll call it a multipurpose room,” says Shane.
Off the kitchen is the laundry, a perfect example of where aesthetics meets ergonomics. Thoughtfully laid out to make completing everyday tasks a breeze, it features our Henley Double Fluted Farmhouse Sink and brushed brass Elysian Commercial Pull-Out Kitchen Mixer for ultimate functionality.
To create a seamless indoor-outdoor flow, Corinne and Shane installed large stacker doors that lead from the open-plan living, dining, and kitchen into the outdoor entertaining area overlooking the water.
“We’ve got two young girls, and we wanted to have a large entertaining area, both for the kids and for when we have our friends and family around — it’s a great space that we’ve built bespoke for us,” says Shane.
The winding internal staircase leads upstairs to The Sanctuary’s second living area — designed as a teenager's retreat — the children's bedrooms and the master suite.
“We’ve got these large rake ceilings which flow out onto our balcony, and that’s to the north and it’s got views of the Gold Coast. We built to that particular view,” explains Shane.
The palatial parent’s retreat shares the same uninterrupted view of the Broadbeach skyline, offering a relaxing space for Corinne and Shane to unwind and admire all their hard work.
“The main bedroom is such a beautiful space,” says Corinne. “It’s got a bay window you can sit on, and that leads into the his-and-hers walk-in robe and then into the bathroom.”
The spa-inspired master ensuite features our Odelia Solid Surface Freestanding Bath and an indulgent walk-in double shower with a feature wall of gold-veined marble herringbone tiles.
Natural light flows into the space through classic white plantation shutters, illuminating the elegant brushed brass tapware and hardware throughout.
“We love the look,” says Corinne. “You can really elevate your space with the brushed brass, and we found the quality is amazing.”
With its modern, coastal allure and elegant, Hamptons-style interiors, The Sanctuary more than lives up to its name. Designed with relaxation and functionality in mind, this timeless family home will be enjoyed by Corinne, Shane, and their children for many years to come.
“We’ve certainly gone above and beyond what our initial expectations were,” says Shane.
“It’s such a beautiful home, and we love having friends and family over. We couldn’t hope for anything else,” Corinne agrees.
For further inspiration on creating a coastal, Hamptons-style home, read our blogs:
The Modern Hamptons Aesthetic of Eden
