Inside an Ibiza-inspired beach pad on the Gold Coast

Author:ahsan

MEET the Burleigh Heads mum who has built her dream home and turned it into the stunning backdrop for a successful photo shoot location business.

Interior designer Kelle Howard spent a year transforming her vision of an Ibiza-inspired beach pad into reality and is now being rewarded as big-name brands sign up to use ‘Bajo el Sol Beach House’ as the setting for high-end shoots.

Burleigh Heads mum Kelle Howard has built her dream home and turned it into the stunning backdrop for a successful photo shoot location business. Photo: Scott Powick.

Gold Coast house build Bajo El Sol.

City Beach, Michael Hill Jewellers, Sabo Skirt and an array of beauty, furniture and fashion brands have already hired the property, while Ms Howard has amassed more than 25,000 Instagram followers of her own as she takes people inside the incredible Burleigh Heads house.

The solo mother-of-two was able to create the four-bedroom, three-bathroom house after the team at Kingfisher Realty tipped her off about the sale of an older beach shack on a dry block in a popular Burleigh enclave.

Burleigh Heads mum Kelle Howard in her Ibiza-inspired beach pad ‘Bajo el Sol Beach House. Photo: Scott Powick.

Gold Coast house build Bajo El Sol.

Ms Howard said creating the perfect environment for photography had been at the forefront of her mind when designing Bajo el Sol, which means ‘under the sun’ in Spanish.

“I wanted every room to boast its own look and allow photographers to capture multiple shots and that decision has paid off,” Ms Howard said.

“Everywhere you turn there is a new angle or line to work with and I have also incorporated lots of windows and natural light.

Burleigh Heads mum Kelle Howard in her Bajo El Sol. Photo: Scott Powick.

Gold Coast house build Bajo El Sol.

“I even went as far as to pinpoint paint colours that would be great for photography.

“I’ve had so many different shoots at the house now and all the photographers say ‘wow, it’s perfectly designed for what we do’.”

Ms Howard bought the original Burleigh Heads house in January, 2019 through Kingfisher Realty before knocking it down a few months later to craft a showstopper house.

Burleigh Heads mum Kelle Howard beside the pool. Photo: Scott Powick.

The kitchen opens out to the pool.

The team at PJH Constructions brought Ms Howard’s dream to life over seven months.

“The brief was to design and family home with a resort feel with emphasis on raw locally sourced materials with texture and tone,” director Paul Harms said.

“Driving the aesthetics was the owner’s vision to blend architectural elements from the Greek Islands, Mexico, Spain and Palm Springs while sympathetic to fitting into the Australian coastal suburb of Burleigh Heads.”

Burleigh Heads mum Kelle Howard. Photo: Scott Powick.

Gold Coast house build Bajo El Sol.

Kingfisher Realty Sales Specialist Michael Witt said the agency was thrilled to have played a role in helping Ms Howard find the perfect location for her unique business.

“Kelle contacted me to see if we could help her find her dream home and she had a very clear idea of the property and aesthetic she was looking for,” he said.

“Initially she was looking to renovate an existing home but couldn’t find anything she liked. “When I realised the property she was looking for wasn’t out there, we changed our strategy to look for a knockdown where she could create her masterpiece.”

“Fortunately we had a strong relationship so when we saw this property, we knew it was exactly the location and style of block she was looking for.

“Kelle had a dream and it’s been amazing to watch her make it come true.”

Burleigh Heads mum Kelle Howard in her Ibiza-inspired beach pad Bajo el Sol. Photo: Scott Powick.

Gold Coast house build Bajo El Sol.

Ms Howard, who is also an interior designer and photo shoot stylist, added: “I really enjoy working with creative people so it’s been a blessing to build relationships with the various brands.

“As well as offering Bajo el Sol as a location for shoots, I photograph for brands that don’t want to source a whole crew.

“They simply send me the products and I photograph it for them in the house.

“My minimum shoot booking is four hours but I’ve had one that lasted 12 hours, while a Perth brand will be using the house as a location in coming weeks. I simply give the crews a tour, serve up some snacks and then head out for the day so they can let their creativity run free.”