Querida Villa, Dromana
A full-scale coastal renovation transforming a dated 1960s home into a luxury villa and high-performing holiday rental
Project Overview
Querida Villa in Dromana is a full-scale transformation of a tired 1960s home into a refined, resort-style coastal residence designed to function equally as a private home and high-performing holiday rental.
Positioned high on the hill with sweeping bay views, the original property was stripped back to studs and subfloor, with much of the home rebuilt and extended to support an entirely new way of living. DMP Creative led the project end-to-end, taking full creative control across exterior design, spatial planning, interior detailing, and landscaping.
What started life as something affectionately described as a “Pizza Hut on a hill” is now a calm, layered, and highly considered coastal escape.
The Brief
The goal was twofold. Create a beautiful, functional home for two owners, while also designing a property that could generate strong returns as a holiday rental.
This meant balancing warmth and personality with durability, flexibility, and broad appeal. The home needed to feel elevated and cohesive, but also intuitive for short-stay guests.
The client came in without a defined aesthetic direction, which allowed for complete creative freedom. A rare and very welcome brief.
The Before
The original home was a largely untouched 1960s build. While the overall footprint was workable, the house was dated, disjointed, and lacking any real sense of identity.
Finishes were tired, the structure required significant upgrades, and the home simply didn’t align with its location or potential. The decision was made early to fully gut the property, including replacing the roof, and rebuild with intent rather than compromise.
Design Direction
The design leans into a modern coastal language, grounded in warmth and restraint rather than clichés.
Natural stone, limestone, lime-washed timber, and soft, muted tones create a palette that feels relaxed but elevated. The aim was to create a space that feels calm, soft, and textural, with just enough detail to hold interest without overwhelming the architecture.
A subtle hotel influence runs throughout the home, particularly in how spaces transition and how private zones are experienced.
Key Design Moves
• Full internal and external renovation including structural rebuild and extensions
• Reconfiguration to create four bedrooms, each with its own private bathroom
• Rear extension to accommodate a new master suite
• Retention and reinterpretation of original arched architectural elements
• Recycled original brickwork used to form a feature arched wall in the pool area
• Venetian plaster arched hallway designed as a transition between living and bedroom zones
• Curved, limewashed panelled dining wall with concealed door to powder room and storage
• Statement powder room with encaustic tiles and fully rendered walls and ceiling
• Full landscape design including pool, cabana, poolside powder room, and rooftop terrace
Design Story
A defining move within the home is the arched Venetian plaster hallway. More than just circulation, it was designed as a moment. A transition that separates the social zones from the private retreat spaces.
There’s a quiet drama to it. Soft curves, filtered light, and a material finish that absorbs rather than reflects. It shifts the mood of the home as you move through it.
That same thinking carries into the dining area, where a curved, limewashed feature wall conceals functional elements behind it. It keeps the visual language clean while allowing the plan to work harder.
Each of the four bedrooms was treated as its own suite, reinforcing the hotel-like experience. The bathrooms share a consistent design language but are distinguished through individual colour palettes, giving each space its own identity without breaking cohesion.
Early Concept Renders
Challenges
Time was a major factor, with extended council delays pushing the project timeline out significantly.
There were also coordination challenges during documentation, where alignment between design intent and drafting became an issue. Maintaining design integrity required firm direction and client support, which ultimately ensured the original vision was delivered.
Budget pressures emerged toward the end of the project, leading to a number of elements being value-managed out. These included a wood-burning fireplace, raffia joinery detailing, and some feature lighting selections.
Outcome
The result is a home that feels calm, soft, and quietly luxurious.
Querida Villa now operates exactly as intended. A beautiful shared residence that also performs strongly as a holiday rental, delivering consistent returns for its owners.
From a financial perspective, the transformation has been significant. The completed value of the home is estimated to be roughly double the combined purchase and renovation cost.
More importantly, it demonstrates the power of a clear design vision carried through from start to finish.
Building & Trades
Darling Builders • m.o.d.a.e. • MV Tiling & Stone • Edison Electrical • Carafa Co • Westernport Plaster
Suppliers
Perini • Porta Timbers • Beacon Lighting • Intrim • Polytec • Godfrey Hirst • Signorino • Laminex • Dulux • Nood Co • Warwick Fabrics • Fisher & Paykel
Testimonial
“As a builder, Dave at DMP is a genius in his field. He’s passionate, thoughtful, funny, meticulous and the ultimate pro. I couldn’t speak more highly of him and recommend him to all my clients and family.” - Leigh Darling, Darling Builders
Before Images
If you’re planning a renovation, building a new home, or looking to create a property that works just as hard as it looks good, let’s talk.
Whether you have a clear vision or no idea where to start, DMP Creative helps bring it all together into a cohesive, buildable design that delivers both aesthetically and commercially.