We transformed this shabby old beachside home into a spectacular Palm Springs inspired escape in just six months – and you won’t believe what it looks like now

An oceanfront property 200 meters from one of Australia’s most beautiful beaches has just hit the market – and its ‘magazine-worthy’ renovation is impressing anyone who walks past.

Rosie and David King, from Adelaide, had been looking for the ‘perfect’ holiday home since 2019 when they came across the Aldinga Beach cottage for $1.17 million in 2022.

They now hope to sell their newly created luxury abode ‘Casa Billie’ for $1.7 million.

“We went to Palm Springs and fell in love with the mid-century modern architecture. The landscape, the colours, everything about it,” Rosie told FEMAIL.

‘We wanted a blank canvas that we could transform. As soon as I saw the house, I knew this was it.”

The three-bedroom house on the Fleurieu coastline now transports visitors to the diamond beaches of California with the deep blue of the Mediterranean following in their footsteps, a gateway to another destination.

Rosie said the house had ‘great bones’ and the right character features to execute their vision – including the beautiful, arched windows and the amount of space in the front and rear gardens.

“It was originally sold as a knockdown, which broke my heart,” she said. ‘It had so much potential, it was in such good condition. I really enjoyed turning it into something completely new and giving it a new life.’

The house previously had a yellow brick exterior and standard fittings – which is a far cry from Rosie and David’s complete renovation.

The exterior is now moon-bright white, lending itself to the white buildings of Santorini.

The master bathroom is especially striking with floor-to-ceiling pink tiles, a curved shower alcove and a spacious bath.

At the rear of the building there is an outdoor shower that opens into the laundry room and the second toilet.

The kitchen is equipped with Bosch appliances and features warm, homely tones of walnut wood next to a curved island bench topped with custom terrazzo.

David is a builder and his expert background was essential to the space. Although Rosie is not a professional interior designer, her keen eye worked wonders on two previous renovation projects the couple worked on.

Rosie selected the home’s tiles, floors, wall colors and more, playing with different shades and textures.

They also completely flipped the floor plan of the house, forcing them to dig out the previously planted rose garden for an easy-to-maintain compound in the desert.

‘I really wanted to keep the rose garden, but we moved almost every interior wall. That was impossible,” she said.

The rear garden consists of a modern fireplace with a curved sofa.

There is still 300m2 of unspoilt outdoor space that could be transformed – perhaps adding a swimming pool, a vegetable garden or a granny flat.

Another aspect that makes the house particularly unique is the environment.

“We’re very close to the beach so there are several houses in the area, but ours is very different,” Rosie said.

The landscaper has expertly chosen native plants that complement the beach environment.

The house is peppered with aloe vera, wetland succulents, native grasses and a number of olive trees.

“I was worried it would stick out like a sore thumb, but it suits the area really well,” Rosie said. ‘The olive trees in particular make the place look very Mediterranean.’

While the couple originally purchased the house and converted it into their vacation home for decades to come, the renovation project shed light on a new dream for them.

‘We thought we would have the house forever, but we enjoyed the building process so much that we want to do another project. We had no intention of selling it at all, but it’s a bittersweet experience.”