Homes

A Serene Treetop Home In Noosa

Many people dream about moving to their favourite holiday locations, but for author, speaker and self-help guru Melissa Ambrosini and musician husband Nick Broadhurst, Noosa visits became a Noosa life.

The couple converted a 1970s unit into this lofty treehouse home, which they share with Nick’s son Leo (13). This beachside sanctuary overlooks the most incredible ocean sunrises, and is a hop-skip-and-jump away from the surf. When can we come visit?

Written
by
Lucy Feagins
Supported by Dulux

The lounge room overlooking lush tropical foliage in the Noosa home of Melissa Ambrosini, Nick Broadhurst, and son Leo. Low set couch to create ‘a very relaxed look’ from CLO Studios. Coffee table, cushions, object on table and books all from CLO Studios. Photo – Nikole Ramsay.

The living room looking through to the master bedroom. Photo – Nikole Ramsay.

Artwork by Melissa’s friend, artist Vicki Lee. Photo – Nikole Ramsay.

‘We don’t have curtains or blinds on our windows so each morning you wake up with the sun and the birds singing – it really feels like you’re living in a tree house’, Melissa tells. Photo – Nikole Ramsay.

Nick, Leo and Melissa. Photo – Nikole Ramsay.

Looking out from the living area to the balcony. Nick surprised Melissa with an outdoor daybed he had made (which she loves!). The planters outside are made with leftover white marble from the bathroom. Pillows and rug by CLO Studios. Photo – Nikole Ramsay.

Original shiplap in the living area. Vase, books and candle holders from CLO studios. Photo – Nikole Ramsay.

The kitchen, with brass features and a hidden fridge/freezer. The couple had to ‘get creative’ with installing an air conditioner, opting to make a design feature out of it by installating a grill above the kitchen cupboards, which broke up the tall charcoal cabinetry. Photo – Nikole Ramsay.

Timber joinery detail designed by Melissa and Nick’s architect Dirk Anderson and executed by Juro Design. Timber dining table by Wes Mollenhauer. Photo – Nikole Ramsay.

Print by Stuart Cantor from CLO Studios. Photo – Nikole Ramsay.

The master bedroom through to the ensuite. The family wanted to keep the house minimal to allow pops of greenery and timber detailing to feature. Photo – Nikole Ramsay.

One of Melissa’s favourite details in the house are the brass accents and the ‘stunning’ chevron marble walls in the bathroom. Photo – Nikole Ramsay.

Leo’s bedroom. Cushions and furniture by CLO Studios. Photo – Nikole Ramsay.

‘We weren’t looking, the universe just put our dream house in our lap’, says Melissa. Photo – Nikole Ramsay.

Photo – Nikole Ramsay.

Writer
Lucy Feagins
19th of February 2019

Melissa Ambrosini and husband Nick Broadhurst have a home in Bondi, but have spent all available holidays visiting Nick’s family in Noosa. The lure of the north became irresistible, as Melissa explains stepping off the plane and being ‘immediately engulfed’ by the relaxed energy of Noosa. The couple decided to make the move, and enlisted Nick’s parents, who work in the property sector, to help. They pored over real estate listings over the kitchen bench, until they stumbled across a property that seemed to have the potential to become their dream home – the Tree House.

While the ‘location, size and potential’ were all winners, the renovation process was slightly more complex. Enlisting Melissa and Nick’s good friend architect Dirk Anderson to head up the process, the three of them got to work on creating their dream home. The apartment is the penthouse in a three unit complex, or ‘essentially a house built on top of two units.’ The entire space had to be reconfigured, and Nick reveals that at the beginning of the demolition process an auspicious note literally fell out of one of the internal walls, which read ‘this wall is f*cked!’. This emphatic statement led to closer observation of said walls, and it quickly became clear that an entire internal rebuild was necessary.

The primary agenda for the reconfiguring of the space was to adapt the mezzanine space for Melissa’s office and Nick’s music studio, and to insert a large window overlooking the ocean. Nick explains ‘this window opened the entire space to northern sunlight, and the game changer was going from a home with limited views, to sweeping views of Noosa.’

In addition to those magic views, the interiors also offer plenty to catch the eye. The pair worked with the team at local Clo Studios to source all of the internal elements, settling on a palette of natural stone (*that* marble bench top!), white oak and brass details. Melissa highlights the timber detailing, and artwork as her favourite elements. In the lounge room hangs a painting by Vicki Lee, and the work in their bedroom is by local artist Kristian Hawker.

Beyond aesthetics, though, it’s the location and connection to nature that makes this house so special for its owners. Melissa explains ‘it is a 30-second walk to the beach, up in the trees… and each morning we wake up with the sun and the birds singing, it is so peaceful.’ The couple describes the space as warm and natural – the perfect base for their conscientious approach to life, wellness, and work, all under one roof.

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