A Beachfront Bungalow in Sorrento by Fiona Lynch

Fiona Lynch Sorrento House Photo Dave Kulesza Yellowtrace 16

Fiona Lynch Sorrento House Photo Dave Kulesza Yellowtrace 15

With a wheat-toned interior and Italian Rationalist hallmarks, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the Sorrento House is located somewhere along the Positano coastline. Instead, it sits quietly opposite Victoria’s Sorrento Sailing Club, matching it in style and spirit with its pale timber forms, open weave linen curtains, pebble-like colours and earthy textures—qualities you would have missed if you had visited even a few years earlier.

When Fiona Lynch jumped on board for the much-needed remodel, she was certain about one thing—it had to be gutted down to its bones. “I stripped out the all-white interior membrane, grey laminated joinery and intrusive open shelving elements—a hangover from a recent renovation,” she shares. In its place, she opted for a material palette of organic, porous elements. And so, travertine was trucked in for the surfaces, oyster grey limestone filled the joinery, and fuss-free benchtops and tables filled the empty spaces. “The original fireplaces on both levels were rendered to match the sage green plaster on the feature walls, enabling light to pool across their crushed velvet-like surface,” Fiona recalls.

Fiona Lynch Sorrento House Photo Dave Kulesza Yellowtrace 03

Fiona Lynch Sorrento House Photo Dave Kulesza Yellowtrace 06

It’s not long before you realise there’s something utterly old-world about the home. “Influenced by the scale and symmetry of Italian Rationalism, 20mm-thick limestone frames the horizontal ledges, replacing traditional mantels. And television screens were adhered to the surfaces of the rear walls to avoid digital distractions. In keeping with the Italian Rationalist philosophy, the owners made a conscious decision to minimise ornamentation and hang only a small selection of artworks so surface tactile details were fully appreciated.” Subdued it may be, but the home isn’t without a few surprises. “In addition to the study’s newly built timber and stainless-steel cabinets, the bar area downstairs features a custom bottle display unit—a refined rendition of vernacular speed rails,” says Fiona.

Fiona Lynch Sorrento House Phoot Dave Kulesza Yellowtrace 23

Fiona Lynch Sorrento House Phoot Dave Kulesza Yellowtrace 22

In a bid to bring the beach indoors, Fiona put together a bouquet of design applications that would mimic the surroundings. Up went wheat-toned raffia wallpaper (in the living space and sleeping quarters above and the entertaining area below), sage plaster surfaces akin to the thick scrub and shoreline, and woven wicker screens and doors that welcomed the sea breeze. The dining room was connected to the kitchen like a whooshing tidal wave—fitting you would think, for a seaside house. But despite the similar colours and finishes, the kitchen holds its own with oak-veneer joinery, limestone countertops, a monolithic island bench, and ocean-facing windows that hug the coastline. “The L-shaped joinery, the range hood and the cupboard door were sealed in bronze cladding. The metallic finishes highlight the structural elements, adding a subtle sheen to the matte surfaces,” says Fiona, adding, “Lighting selections were carefully considered to add aesthetic appeal with delicate, levitational qualities. Above the dining table, a pendant with a puckered fabric underside replicates the gills beneath a mushroom cap, whilst the satin brass elements of the Gabriel Scott Luna pendant above the island bench are like threaded beads.”

Make no mistake, the home’s beachiness doesn’t compromise on comfort—as proved by the cloud-like armchairs and sofas, and the speckled wool carpets that “ensure the lightest of touch-downs when entering the bedrooms”. But the real star(s) of the show? The potpourri of rugs, which, with their colourful gradients—“from the shallows to the rich indigo hues beyond the bay”—whisk you away, if only for a moment, to Sorrento’s sweeping coastline.