9 Palms
Can you tell us about your connection to Stradbroke Island and what it means to you both?
(Grason) Stradbroke Island - what an amazing place, you know? It feels a million miles from anywhere, but obviously it's very close to the mainland. Getting away here over the years, even prior to us beginning the 9 Palms project, was a relaxing experience. Getting back to nature and experiencing the marine life here is incredible. There’s such an attachment to nature - we’ve had koalas in the front yard, kangaroos at night time - there's a lot happening in the natural environment here.
Another great part of it is that a lot of the island is a nature reserve, so there's not going to be a great deal of expansion. What's here remains here and has been here as far as the three small communities - it's not likely to see a lot of development, so that natural environment will stay in place and we can all enjoy it, both visitors and locals. It's fantastic.
(Simone) We've been coming to Stradbroke Island for about 22 years. We originally started coming even before the kids were little, and we would go camping or stay with friends in cabins, and then we just absolutely loved it. Every time we went back to the mainland, we missed the island.
Being on the island is a real nature immersion, and it is so calming. It’s the kind of place that forces you to slow down and enjoy the little things, like just sitting with nature.
The island is actually the second-largest sand island in the world - it's just such a special place, and I think there's definitely an energy on the island and a sense of community - there's just a really beautiful sense of belonging. It reminds me a lot of New Zealand in the old days, to be honest, and thankfully, nothing's changed much or moved on here. 
Are there any design elements within 9 Palms that hold special meaning to you?
(Grason) I think the Moroccan tiles - because there are over 2,000 of them, and I laid them myself (laughs), so naturally, that holds a lot of meaning - there was a lot of time and effort that went into those.
Also, the design of the island bench - the cantilevered edges is one of those little things that make it different and a little bit more special. I also fabricated all of the steel windows you’ll see throughout the space in the Kira & Kira workshop, so it was great bringing that to life. They’re a bit more industrial, but I think it all fits together so nicely.
Can you describe the process of restoring the space from the original corner store?
(Grason) The restoration of 9 Palms started with its original bones. It was once a local corner store that many people remember - they’d stop in for a milkshake after school, and as we were renovating, locals would often walk past and share those stories with us. So the place clearly held a special spot in the community and in people’s hearts. It was imperative that we held on to that sense of community and retained the volume of the building and didn't knock it over or go higher or overdevelop the space.
We wanted to keep it true to its roots and be mindful of how it sits within the community and what it means to locals. There were some challenges along the way, but nothing we couldn’t overcome.
(Simone) The old building that was here was called Jack's Bar and Grill, which was quite prominent and famous to all of the locals on the island, especially a lot of the elder ones, because they used to come here and get their bags of lollies and burgers and things, so we really wanted to fit in with the community. We didn't want to come here and build big fences and be intrusive - we wanted to be inclusive, and during the whole project we made so many friends - they were so happy that after all the years of these buildings being derelict and empty, to see them come to fruition and something that we all enjoy and love and share with our family and friends.
Where did you draw inspiration from for the interior and exterior?
(Grason) The inspiration for both the interior and exterior came directly from the island’s natural environment. The hardwood rails and rafters, and the timber ceilings, all hark back to the bush, while the stonework on the floor and the Moroccan tile colours are reminiscent of the sand and the rock formations found on the island. We used a eucalyptus colour for the kitchen cabinetry, which ties back to all the eucalyptus trees found on the island. So together, these elements bring that theme to life, and that’s where much of the inspiration came from.
What are your favourite features of 9 Palms?
(Grason) One of my other favourite features in the property is taking away some of those sharper edges you typically see in a home, so if you look at the bedrooms, we don’t have any 90 degree angles on the ceiling, they’re all soft edges and in the lounge area, I created the extended door detail so that sort of differentiates it from everywhere else.
I also fabricated the mini library in the Kira & Kira workshop, so that sort of piques interest and is something we find people comment on if they’re visiting, or when we're here enjoying the weekend together. Those little bits there are special to me and become a point of conversation.
How would you describe the overall design style of 9 Palms?
(Grason) The overall style of 9 Palms was shaped by its location. We wanted to stay true to the history of the place and what the island has always been about. The idea was to reflect that beach lifestyle, whether it’s a boathouse, beach shack or kiwi ‘bach’ like the ones we stayed in on holidays as kids.
What does 9 Palms represent to you now?
(Simone) 9 Palms is definitely my safe space and my rest and reset. I've spent a lot of time on this island, especially times when I've been extremely tired, extremely burnt out, extremely tired of my 3 males that I live with, so I really enjoy coming here. I find it really restful and relaxing, even if it's only for a night. I enjoy coming over and spending time here with Grason or the boys, but also a lot of the time with my girlfriends.
Working on this home, I’ve also met so many amazing people locally. We now have a range of local Stradbroke makers that we showcase in our Miami Store and Showroom - from handmade ceramics to artists, soaps, honey etc. I love supporting local, and I’ve fostered such incredible relationships with so many amazing people.
I’ve filled 9 Palms with all my special pieces that I’ve collected over the years - items picked up from our travels, ceramics from our amazing artists, meaningful gifts from family and loved ones, so it’s become a real place of cherish for me.
