Friends of Città: Courtney Adamo invites us into her family beach house

Our summer content series continues. This week, we get to know Courtney Adamo, an Australian-based mother of five, author, and content creator. Courtney welcomes us into her stunning mid-century-inspired family beach house, sharing her summer plans, tips for defining your decor style, and how to curate a home you truly love.

Hi, Courtney! It’s been a pleasure working with you and seeing how you’ve incorporated our designs into your beautiful beach house. For those who might not know you, can you share a bit about yourself and what you do?

I’m a mother of five (with kids ranging from 19 down to seven years old) and live with my family in the small town of Bangalow, just inland from Byron Bay, Australia. We moved here eight years ago from London.

I’m an author and content creator in the family lifestyle space. I offer online courses, eBooks, and helpful guides for parents, and I also have a monthly membership program for mothers.

We recently built a beach house in a small fishing village down the coast, which is where we like to spend holidays and weekends away.

We loved watching your beach house come to life on Instagram @sandypineshouse. How did you weave your values of family and community into the design?

The design for this house was really influenced by my family’s mid-century beach house in the San Juan Islands in the US. It’s a beautiful home with original mid-century features… but more than that, it is a very special place filled with childhood memories.

Growing up, my siblings and I spent lots of quality time with my grandparents, cousins, and siblings—playing games, reading books, swimming in the cold sea, and watching the sunset from our spot at the dining table. I guess I was really hoping to give my children a similar experience here in Australia—a special place to slow down, connect with nature and spend time together.

In terms of the design, we knew we’d often be inviting friends to stay, so we wanted a big front deck to gather, sit, and watch the whales in the waves below. We designed a large built-in bench seat in the living room for maximum seating and a dining table big enough to seat 12 people, so there would always be enough room.

We also designed a bunk room that sleeps six kids for sleepovers with friends. It’s actually quite a small house, but it’s been well-designed to squeeze in two big families. We also wanted to feel as connected to nature as possible—from both inside and outside of the house. We have big windows that look out to the ocean and views of the pine trees in our yard. (Last week, we saw two tawny frogmouths nestled together on a big branch from our bedroom window.)

You have an effortless, confident touch when it comes to styling interiors. What advice would you give to someone looking to create a space they love?

I would just suggest being honest with yourself about what you love, so that you can create a space that feels like a true reflection of you and your family. If bold or bright colours make you happy, then incorporate those into your design. If you love a moodier space with different textures and layers in your home, then incorporate those colours and textures with blankets, cushions, rugs, curtains, and other accessories. Or if a sleek, modern space makes you feel more calm, then embrace that minimalist look.

It can be tempting to see beautiful spaces in magazines or on Pinterest and to be influenced by different design ideas, but if the space doesn’t feel like you or tell your individual story, it can sometimes feel disconnected or a bit soulless.

I love browsing op shops and salvage emporiums for treasures, and I always think it’s a good exercise in understanding what you love and what you don’t. There might be a funky mug, a colourful vase, or a vintage piece of furniture… and none of these things will be in a magazine’s ‘must-have’ pages, but if you love it, you love it. Take it home and put it in your space because it makes you happy, not because it’s trendy.

Do you have a favourite Città piece, and what do you love about it?

It’s difficult to choose, as I love so many of the Città products. I especially love the cushions. We have so many different ones on our big L-shaped bench seat in the living room, and they are so beautiful and comfortable. Plus, the quality is amazing! (They’ve really been put to the test with five kids and all sorts of cushion pile-ups and lounging.)

Summer is all about bringing people together. How do you like to entertain guests at your beach house?

We love cooking big meals and gathering around the dining table. I love when mealtimes merge into game time, and we linger at the table until late into the evening.

We also play lawn games like Cornhole on our front lawn and sit on the deck drinking cocktails. I can’t wait for summer to come, just thinking about it!

What are you most looking forward to this summer?

Every summer, I switch my phone off completely. It sits in a cupboard for a few weeks, and I don’t even switch it on for messages. It’s the best feeling being so completely disconnected from the online world, and really allowing myself to connect with nature and be present with my family. I look forward to this all year long.

And lastly, what are your top three summer must-haves?

A swimsuit, my surfboard (a McTavish Fireball), and a really good book (a good friend just recommended You Be Mother by Meg Mason).

You can follow Courtney Adamo on Instagram or visit her website to learn more about her online parenting courses and eBooks.