Design and Renovation | 4D Renovations
Stone Mason |Custom Stone Solutions
Photography | Tanika Blair Photography
STONES USED:
Calacatta Vagli Marble
Kitchen Island, Splashback, Benchtops | Butlers Pantry
Carrara Marble
Bathroom vanity and bath
There are homes that feel like holidays.
Not because they have a pool or a view, but because of the way they make you slow down. The light, the materials, the colours, the feeling of being somewhere else entirely.
For Del Mar, that somewhere was the Mediterranean.
The brief given to 4D Renovations was to create a true home away from home — a place that captured the warmth and ease of a European escape while still working beautifully for everyday life on the Gold Coast.
As the renovation took shape, the clients were travelling through Italy and Greece, gathering inspiration along the way. Colours, textures, architectural details and the relaxed rhythm of Mediterranean living began finding their way into the design.
The result is a home that feels less like a recreation of a particular place and more like a memory of many places. Sun-washed, tactile and relaxed, with enough personality to make it feel lived in rather than themed.
It takes a surprising amount of restraint to make a home with so many materials feel calm.
Del Mar incorporated 17 different tiles, alongside natural stone, timber, metalwork, joinery and a considered collection of finishes. On paper, it sounds like a lot.
In the finished home, it makes perfect sense.
The variation is part of what gives the renovation its European character. Rather than relying on a single material or finish to carry the design, 4D Renovations allowed each element to contribute something different – texture here, warmth there, a little pattern, a change in tone.
Together, they create the feeling of a house that could have been gathered over time, perhaps somewhere along the coast of Italy or Greece, rather than designed all at once.
That was the intention.
The clients wanted to feel as though they were on holiday without ever having to leave home.
In the kitchen and butler’s pantry, natural stone brings a quieter kind of presence.
The chosen material was Calacatta Vagli Marble, selected for its character and enduring appeal. Its natural movement introduces a sense of depth to the spaces, while its softer, expressive pattern sits comfortably alongside the Mediterranean-inspired palette.
The kitchen was designed with entertaining very much in mind.
The island stretches three metres, deliberately free from a sink or other interruptions. It gives the room a generous central surface for preparing food, serving dinner or gathering around with family and friends.
And, importantly, it gives the marble room to be appreciated.
There is something particularly satisfying about a kitchen island that isn’t trying to do everything at once.
Here, the simplicity of the uninterrupted surface allows the Calacatta Vagli to become part of the architecture of the room. The movement in the marble catches the light differently throughout the day, adding another layer to a space already rich with texture.
It feels considered without feeling precious.
Which is important in a home designed to be lived in.
The Mediterranean story continues into the master suite, where Finestone Carrara Marble was used across the vanity and splashback, as well as beautiful detailing around the bath. Its soft veining and natural variation complement the old-world charm of the space, sitting comfortably alongside the layered textures and considered finishes. There is something quietly European about the result — elegant without feeling formal, and timeless without losing the warmth that makes the master suite feel like a retreat.
Behind the relaxed finished spaces was a renovation that demanded considerably more from the team than might first be apparent.
As work began, several issues from previous works came to light, including structural concerns, roof alignment problems and areas of deterioration to the external walls.
These discoveries are rarely part of the original design brief.
They required careful planning and plenty of collaboration between the design team, trades and suppliers to restore the integrity of the home without losing sight of the vision that had brought everyone there in the first place.
For 4D Renovations, this is where the value of an integrated design and construction approach becomes particularly apparent.
The company manages projects from initial design and planning through to construction and completion, allowing decisions to be considered in context rather than handed from one stage to the next.
And for a renovation of this scale, there were plenty of decisions to make.
Every finish had to earn its place.
Projects like Del Mar don’t come together through one person or one trade.
They are the result of a long list of people who understand the bigger picture and know how their part fits into it.
4D Renovations has built longstanding relationships with its trades and suppliers, and describes collaboration as essential to achieving the quality of work expected on its projects.
That collaborative spirit is evident here.
Tanika Blair captured the finished home through photography, while Custom Stone Solutions brought the natural stone elements to life. Behind them was the broader team of trades and suppliers responsible for turning a detailed design into something real.
Finestone has worked with 4D Renovations across a number of projects, making the relationship a familiar one. The proximity of Finestone’s factory to the 4D design studio is also a practical advantage, allowing the team and their clients to visit, explore materials and make decisions together.
For projects where materials play such an important role, those conversations matter.
Stone is rarely just something chosen from a sample. Its character can change the direction of a room, and seeing it in person — understanding its movement, scale and relationship with other materials – is often where the right decision becomes clear.
Del Mar began with a simple idea: to create the feeling of being away while remaining completely at home.
Perhaps that is why the finished house feels so inviting.
The Mediterranean influence is there in the warmth of the materials, the layers of texture and the relaxed approach to design, but it never feels like a set. The home has its own identity.
The 17 different tiles, the timber, the joinery, the metalwork and the Calacatta Vagli marble all play their part. None needs to shout.
Together, they create something more difficult to achieve: a home that feels effortless.
And perhaps that is the real luxury of Del Mar.
You don’t need a plane ticket.
You just need to walk through the door.
Come and explore our full range of slabs in person. Our team of experts is here to guide you every step of the way – from design inspiration to installation advice. Contact Us today.
