Byron Bay’s heritage listed Assistant Lighthouse Keepers’ Cottages, nestled within Walgun Cape Byron State Conservation Area, are steeped in history and quiet beauty. When NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service set out to refurbish these storied cottages as premium holiday retreats, their vision was to honour the past preserving each building’s narrative with meticulous care and authentic respect.
Designer Rugs was engaged to create a bespoke Axminster carpet that not only met stringent heritage requirements but also enriched the cottages’ interiors, drawing inspiration from Australian native flora and fauna for an elegantly understated design that honoured the site’s storied past.
From the beginning, sensitivity guided every aspect of the project. Honouring the cottages’ heritage status was paramount, with inspiration for the Axminster carpet drawn from images supplied by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to set a To comply with heritage guidelines and maintain the cottages’ integrity, the Axminster carpet was designed to be loose laid in each room and hallway rather than installed wall-to-wall.
This approach required precise site measurements, ensuring each loose-laid piece connected effortlessly through living spaces and hallways, creating a visually seamless experience throughout the cottages.
True heritage success is found in the details responding not only to the aesthetic, but to the site’s demands and regulations. The custom Axminster design achieved both elegance and function, thoughtfully tailored to the cottages’ unique requirements.
With Louise Walsh’s refined touch, the cottages achieved a seamless, historically respectful finish where the custom carpet became an essential thread, uniting the interiors with understated elegance and honouring the site’s heritage at every turn.The carpet serves as a subtle unifier, lending softness and seamless continuity to the interiors. With refined nods to native flora and fauna, its gentle palette strengthens the cottages’ heritage character, ensuring the spaces feel luxuriously considered yet true to their history.
The Byron Bay Lighthouse project is a reminder that the most compelling interiors are often those that listen closely to place. At the Assistant Lighthouse Keepers’ Cottages, the custom Axminster carpet was designed not only to meet heritage requirements, but to support a broader vision of restoration one that balanced history, hospitality, and design integrity with uncommon grace.For Designer Rugs, it stands as a beautifully resolved example of bespoke flooring contributing something far deeper than finish alone: atmosphere, continuity, and a lasting sense of belonging.
Designer Rugs is Australia’s premier destination for luxury custom rugs and bespoke carpets. Founded in Sydney in 1986 by the Tal family, the company has built a legacy of design excellence across residential, hospitality and commercial sectors worldwide. With an in-house design studio, handmade production and an unparalleled global reach, Designer Rugs delivers extraordinary, tailored creations for the world’s most discerning interiors. Showrooms are located in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Beyond the studio, Designer Rugs has long been committed to nurturing emerging design talent through the Evolve Awards and educational programs with TAFE and UNSW. The company has also supported Australian charities for over 30 years, donating to organisations including OzHarvest, Fred Hollows and the Royal Hospital for Women.
Contact your nearest showroom to view the Axminster collection Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane
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