We asked photographer (and beach shack lover) Ming Nomchong to walk us through her recently renovated shack on the NSW coast.
Have you ever wanted to renovate an old coastal gem? Well, the Sailor Shack is FULL of inspiration!
I was looking for my first house to buy in 2018 and I’d always loved Yamba. I couldn’t afford to buy where I lived and worked so the next best option was the next surf town down the coast.
My partner and I saw the house come up for sale one Sunday evening and we went down to look at is the following day. My partner is a carpenter, and he took one look at the original sweet, tiny two-bedroom shack with "good bones" and hardwood floorboards that were hiding under the 30 year old carpet and said “Ming, make an offer now”.
Two weeks later we started a mini facelift.
We painted and sanded, removed old doors and windows, and converted one of the double garages into a studio apartment downstairs. Stage one of renos were done and she was ready for holiday bookings as a cheap and cheerful rustic beach shack.
Then in 2021 we embarked on a major renovation of the little shack, doubling her size, adding two more bedrooms and bathrooms, a custom hand-built retro kitchen and a new indoor/outdoor entertaining deck and more recently a pool.
She’s now a proper house, with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, a pool and two decks!
Situated a short stroll from the inter-coastal water way and only a few minutes' drive into town, her name comes from the streets in which she sits, Cook & Endeavour. Plus, her surroundings being across the road from Yamba’s marina and boat yard. It was only fitting to call her The Sailor Shack.
I’m a lover of all things vintage, all things nautical, having lived on boats for years in my 20’s. My style is definitely a reflection of my time on the open ocean. When I was designing the interior the shack, I wanted to keep the nostalgic feel of the house.
I’ve collected many treasures during my time on the water and you can see bits and pieces of those things throughout the house. We’ve mixed vintage with some select new pieces; while always keeping in mind we want to create a space for whoever stays to feel like they’ve stepped back into a beach holiday house from when they were kids.
I’ve kept coming back to Coastal Vintage for inspiration or to buy pieces to fill the house. From buoys to life rings, to oars and flags, there’s a lot of Coastal Vintage in the Sailor Shack!
Ming xx @thesailorshack
