Coastal chic meets modern luxe in Adelaide’s west
Hand-built by its owner with “blood, sweat and tears” this luxury Gold Coast-inspired home near Adelaide’s coastline is turning heads as the family sells to fund their next building project.
Owner-builders Josh McInnes and Stephanie Gibsone are selling their boutique two-storey home at Semaphore, located less than a kilometre from both the beach and Semaphore Road.
The couple previously lived in Burleigh Heads and decided to move to Stephanie’s hometown of Adelaide for a change of pace.
“Gold Coast’s real estate prices grew out of control, and we loved the relaxed lifestyle by the beach in Semaphore. We felt that we could create a good life here,” Josh explains.
The couple purchased an old weatherboard home on over 500 square metres on Swan Terrace.
They worked with THINK Architects’ Adam Cavuoto to design a new home that prioritised entertaining and family living.
Josh – a carpenter-turned-builder who works in commercial development – built the entire home’s framework himself.
“We took inspiration from homes I had renovated on the Gold Coast over the years, and bits and pieces from builder friends and the homes they’d worked on,” Josh says.
“We are very proud of it.”
The couple even travelled to Melbourne to meet with a lighting architect who designed the ambient lighting features – there are no downlights in the main living spaces.
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“The biggest thing was sourcing trades in a new city, but we are very happy with the result considering we’d never worked with anyone in Adelaide before.”
Josh says the design of the home carries a modern Queensland influence, with a coastal exterior and bold luxury interiors.
“I love to cook so we’ve set up the kitchen with two ovens and the gas cooktop which we take advantage of nearly every night,” he says.
A 4.2-metre long island bench is the statement piece of the kitchen, topped with marble that is also used on the splashback and bar cabinet.
Burnished concrete, bold matte-black cabinetry and sheer curtains complete the modern feel.
Having worked together on everything from the floorplan to the interior design, Stephanie says the couple is incredibly proud of what they’ve created.
“The project was a team effort and Josh and I were on the same page when it came to architecture and colour schemes,” Stephanie says.
“Josh put his blood, sweat and tears into every bit of this house. A lot of work that’s gone into the construction was by his hands alone.”
Stephanie says the home is designed for entertaining but is also a functional family home with all four bedrooms, main bathroom and en suite located upstairs.
“We created the open plan living and kitchen so that whoever was preparing food in the kitchen felt that they were still part of the occasion,” she says.
“We can have all of our friends around if we want to socialise, but it’s also nice to just sit out in that backyard and just enjoy the tranquillity.”
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The home faces east, meaning the back rooms and garden receive the western sunsets each day.
“Having those floor to ceiling windows gives it such a nice atmosphere. When you’re sitting there at golden hour and the sun’s setting, it’s just such a beautiful time of day in the home.”
An outdoor shower near the plunge pool is perfect for washing off after days at the beach.
Since moving from the Gold Coast, Stephanie has come to appreciate the more relaxed coastal lifestyle of Semaphore.
“Semaphore gives me that old coastal vibe where life slows down, but you’re still near the hustle and bustle of the city,” she says.
“It reminds me of what Burleigh Heads was like 10 to 15 years ago; it feels like you’re on holiday here every day.
“Our block is walking distance to the beach and the main street. You don’t need to drive anywhere – everything you need is at your doorstep.”
She believes significant changes are coming to the suburb in the near future.
“I think the new owners will see the area progress in the coming years.”
Josh says that given that many of the suburb’s 1900s cottages are protected by planning laws, their luxury home is somewhat of a rarity.
“The agent told us this property has given them something they’ve never had to sell in this location before,” he says.
“There are definitely some nice renovations coming through, but anything of this size and style is rare.”
Having become parents since they completed the home, the couple is looking for a different type of property that might suit their next project.
“We’ll definitely be in the market to do another one,” Josh says.
The sale is being handled by Kate Smith and Ryan Chester of Ray White Semaphore.
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