An Australian Bush Modern Sanctuary on the Currumbin Creek

 

On the southern Gold Coast, where raw bushland meets shifting coastal light, a carefully considered home has taken shape. Nestled along Currumbin Creek, the project is defined not by excess, but by restraint, material honesty and a commitment to longevity.

 

The exterior of Jack Tarrant’s home on the Currumbin Creek, Gold Coast

 

For Jack Tarrant, Director of Sandbox Properties, this was never a speculative development or market-led exercise. It is his family home and the first opportunity in his career to design and build without compromise.

More than three and a half years in the making, the result is a refined yet rugged expression of Australian Bush Modern architecture. The home prioritises disciplined detailing and materials selected to weather, patinate and age gracefully rather than follow short-term trends. Products were chosen not only for their aesthetic contribution, but for performance, reliability and long-term relevance.

 

Natural materials used with intention to create an Australian Bush Modern Sanctuary

 

A design philosophy shaped by place

Growing up in Kiama on the New South Wales South Coast, Jack was surrounded by weatherboard and corrugated iron workers’ cottages and modest farmhouses. These were buildings shaped by necessity rather than embellishment.

That influence is clear throughout the Currumbin Creek home. Materials are left raw and honest, allowing their inherent character to come forward. Spaces respond directly to the surrounding landscape, with the architecture sitting lightly within its setting rather than imposing on it. The overall composition is designed to feel grounded and enduring.

 

The overall composition is designed to feel grounded and enduring

 

This philosophy mirrors Sandbox Properties’ broader ethos. With design, development and construction managed in-house, the studio keeps tight control over quality and execution. By intentionally delivering fewer projects, the team can protect design intent and craftsmanship at every stage.

As Jack explains, it’s not about scale, it’s about doing fewer projects, exceptionally well.

 

The kitchen, dining and living spaces are flooded with natural light and overlook the Currumbin Creek

 

Specifying products that perform across every tier

Across more than a decade of residential work, ranging from investor housing to bespoke, architecturally designed homes Sandbox has consistently specified Phoenix products.

That consistency is deliberate. Jack first learnt about Phoenix while working with a large-scale developer on the Gold Coast, where reliability was non-negotiable. Products were installed across hundreds of dwellings and performed without call-backs. This is an essential consideration for builders and developers managing complex timelines and multiple stakeholders.

 

Vask SwitchMix® Wall Basin / Bath Mixer Set in Brushed Nickel

 

What stands out, he notes, is versatility. Phoenix collections translate seamlessly from entry-level projects through to premium residential architecture, showing that considered design and engineering can coexist with scalability and commercial realities.

 

Tapware that complements rather than competes

The Australian Bush Modern language of the Currumbin Creek home called for tapware that would sit quietly within the palette by complementing natural textures and tones without becoming visually dominant.

The Vask collection was selected for its restrained geometry and softened profiles, which align with mid-century modern references seen throughout the home. Its clean lines and organic form echo the sculptural furniture and joinery, allowing fixtures to integrate seamlessly into the architecture rather than compete with it.

 

The Vask collection integrates seamlessly into the architecture rather than competing with it.  Also featuring Phoenix Heated Towel Rails

 

Beyond form, Vask offered futureproofing through its lead-free construction and SwitchMix® compatibility, supporting long-term flexibility without requiring invasive change. Available in four contemporary finishes, Brushed Nickel was chosen for its ability to sit comfortably against timber, stone and muted finishes. The collection’s mixer range has since been recognised with a 2025 iF Design Award which is an endorsement of its considered design and engineering.

 

The Vask Sink Mixer in Brushed Nickel

 

When performance reshapes perception

Specifying Phoenix in his own home was not an automatic decision for Jack. This project was intended as a personal retreat, removed from the routines and associations of his professional life.

That perspective shifted after a chance product demonstration, when he was given a LuxeXP™ handheld shower to trial. The experience reframed his expectations. Advanced spray technology delivered a finely balanced combination of pressure, mist and movement, transforming a daily routine into an experience.

 

The LuxeXP™ Shower Rose coupled with the Vivid Slimline Microphone Hand Shower in Brushed Nickel.

 

“Since that day, I can’t go past the technology,” Jack recalls.

In that moment, performance became as influential as form. This reinforces the idea that well-designed fixtures contribute not just visually, but experientially, to how a home is lived in.

 

Reliability that simplifies complex builds

Operating a fully integrated design and construction practice, Jack makes hundreds of decisions on every project. Trusted specification partners reduce friction across that process.

With Phoenix, reliability extends beyond the product itself. From rough-in to fit-off, supply is coordinated, timelines are supported and dedicated account management ensures issues are resolved early.

 

Vask SwitchMix® Wall Basin / Bath Mixer Set in Brushed Nickel

 

Designed to last, by design

At its core, the Currumbin Creek home is a case study in long-term thinking. From architecture and interiors to fixtures and finishes, every decision was made with durability, usability and timelessness in mind.

It’s a philosophy shared by Phoenix, where Australian design, engineering precision and dependable performance support homes built to endure well beyond design cycles.

Luxury, here, is not defined by excess.
It’s defined by confidence in materials, in detailing, and in choices made to last.

 

Video and Photography by Joey Bailey