Mount Martha Retreat is surrounded by native scrub and is less than a 10-minute drive from the beach. It counts kookaburras, lorikeets and cockatoos as regular visitors but don’t be surprised if the rogue seagull pops up too. Behind the Retreat’s fire engine-red front door, this two-storey house is hiding a design surprise.
Interior cues have been taken from Melanesiaand this influence can be seen from the breakfast bar stools to the wall hangings and outdoor furniture. The Retreat collects even more cool points for its outdoor spaces, especially for that sparkling swimming pool.
A stairway connects the upper deck with the garden and pool area, so there’ll be no dripping water over the floors if you have to dash inside to grab another book or refreshing tipple. Pets are welcome too with a fully secure rear yard and doggie basket with treats, ’poop’ bags, towel and bowls.