Home Visit: An Inviting Minimalist Coastal House With Foliage-Filled Central Courtyards

Caroline and Andrew McGuigan lived in Bondi for a decade before they bought their family home in Clovelly, named Barefoot House. It’s above Gordon’s Bay and within walking distance of Clovelly Road’s excellent cafes, Madame & Yves and Tuga Pastries.

Caroline tells Broadsheet she was driving her daughter around, trying to lull her to sleep, when she spotted the property. “When our daughter was a baby she would only sleep in the car for her naps, so I would drive around to all the nearby suburbs and dream of what our forever home would be,” she says. “As soon as this place came on the market I knew it was the one.”

The couple bought Barefoot House in 2018 and later engaged Madeleine Blanchfield Architects to turn the space into a tactile, functional and inviting home. Its standout features are three central courtyards, each brimming with life. One of their fiddle leaf figs stretches to the sky, growing past the upper level of the house.

The architects focused on the concept of walking barefoot through the home (hence the name), and being child and pet friendly. It was one of a selection of homes selected for this year’s Australian Interior Design Awards shortlist.

Names: Caroline and Andrew McGuigan
Live: In a serene, light-filled family home in Clovelly
Since: 2018 (rebuilt in 2021)
With: Their two kids and dog

What first made you fall in love with the place?
We were drawn to the original home for its northerly aspect, land size and proximity to Gordon’s Bay and Clovelly Beach.

What do you like most about your house now?
We’re always overcome with a sense of calm when we arrive home. There’s natural light and a connection to nature in each room. Our home is always open to visitors, and the open layout allows us to entertain seamlessly. Now that we can work from home, we never want to leave.

What’s it like living in such a distinctive house?
We feel very lucky to be here.

Where did you buy your furniture?
We have a few pieces from Jardan, Worn Store, Palis Home, Vampt Vintage Design. They are all Australian-owned businesses, and I really like their commitment to sustainable practices. I would describe our style as simple and understated.

Do you have a favourite room?
The courtyards. New visitors to the house are often very confused when they have to bush bash through foliage to get to our front door. The central courtyard connects spaces in the house and you can see the sky and greenery from almost every room.

What do you love about the area?
Clovelly is an amazing place to live and to raise a family. We’re spoilt to be able to walk to stunning coves and beaches, three of the best croissant shops in Sydney (Madame & Yves, Tuga and Iggy’s), and be connected to a beautiful community of people.

Read more in our Home Visit series.