A Family of Five’s Tropical Retreat

Photography by Angus Rigby-Wild

It seems fate had a hand in securing the Orr family home on Trinity Beach in Far North Queensland. After sneaking a glimpse of the sloping Alpine roof online, interior designer & builder Rhiannon and her partner Matt (directors of namesake business, ORR MADE) knew it had to be theirs and bought it sight unseen. Moving from Melbourne to the tropics brought relief from chilly winters and saw the entire family, including kids Bobby, Jos & Silver and their pet Labrador Roy embrace the laidback lifestyle. Applying their extensive skillset to making careful tweaks to the 1990’s property, it's clear it landed in exactly the right hands — now bustling with the life, heart & soul it deserves.

“We purchased our home from Melbourne during Covid, sight unseen! We had travelled to Port Douglas for a wedding some 8 years prior, so Cairns and the Northern Beaches were unfamiliar territory. But when we were approached to complete a new build in Oak Beach for a previous Melbourne based client, (plus the timing of 2 years of lockdowns!) we jumped at the opportunity to chase the sunshine and the adventure of moving north.

“Moving to the tropics, we sought out a property that was unlike any home we had experienced to date, something quintessential Queensland, with great bones and the opportunity for us to renovate in the years following. When we came across this property, it was actually a google earth street view that showed a very overgrown and run down facade, but the steep Swiss alps like roof line had us jumping on a call to the agent immediately! The agent happened to be finishing up an open for inspection of the property, so divine timing took us through a virtual inspection and we placed an offer that afternoon!

“We still haven't tired of the lush green tropical treetops we are surrounded by, dining around the outdoor table for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and all the sounds of nature that continue 24/7.”

We still haven't tired of the lush green tropical treetops we are surrounded by, and all the sounds of nature that continue 24/7.

“The house was built by the previous owner, a Swiss Builder, back in 1998. Whilst the bones of the house were solid and undated, the finish selections and inconsistency (and lack of!) joinery throughout left it dated and lacking soul. So the design brief was quite simple and obvious to us both from the onset, which included improving the size and functionality of the kitchen and its connection to the living zone, increasing the usability and presence of the master suit to include robes and a more functional ensuite, and a finishes palette that felt natural, grounding and sympathetic to its existing timber walls and ceilings.”

The main bed is made with our heavy linen bedcover in Natural

“The existing Master Bedroom felt very underwhelming in size and presence given the scale of home. The loft style sloping roof line wasn't supportive of sitting up and reading in bed and being nightly readers, this was fundamentally a big issue for us! It also only had a 2 meter wide open style hanging robe. Through creating a timber bedhead box that streamed from window to robes, this afforded us the opportunity to bring the bed further into the space, allowing for adequate ceiling clearance for reading, and framing the bed within 2 floating bedside tables. By relocating the adjoining study’s entry door further along the hallway, we re-allocated a third of that large room to the Master Bedroom, which gave us a necessary walk-in robe hallway, with glazing above to steal afternoon light from the study.” 

“My love and appreciation for lighting runs deep. It is quintessential in every space we design and live within. A light fitting serves 2 purposes, it brings personality and sculpture by day, and warmth and ambience by night. My 2 favourite pieces are the Flos Illuminator light which was gifted to me by my fellow colleagues when I finished at Hecker Guthrie back in 2013, and the Atollo lamp which had been a wish list item from my early Interior Design study days.” 

In the bathroom are our organic cotton towels in Cocoa

“Orr Made grew from our desire to create spaces that feel deeply connected—to people, place, and purpose. After years in the design and building industry, we wanted to approach projects more holistically and in partnership: not only as builders or designers, but as makers shaping the entire experience of a home.

"The name reflects that. It’s ours, personal to our story, but it also carries the sense of a mark—something that stands for authenticity, origin, and the many hands behind each project. For us, it represents the collective effort of thinkers, makers, and crafters working in unison. It’s never just our work—it’s the shared expertise, collaboration, and care of everyone involved. It’s Orr Made.”

Orr Made grew from our desire to create spaces that feel deeply connected—to people, place, and purpose.

"SONATA will always hold a special place for us. It was actually one of the first properties we looked at when searching for a home in Far North Queensland—we almost bought it ourselves before shifting our search further south to the beaches north of Cairns.

"Fast forward two years, and life had a funny way of bringing it back around. Through new friends, we came to know their sibling—who, as it turned out, was the one who had purchased the very same property. They were ready to embark on a renovation and extension, with ideas remarkably similar to the vision we’d once imagined for it.

"We always say that we approach every project as if it’s our own—and in this case, we really did. What began as a home we had once dreamed of became an opportunity to bring someone else’s vision to life, with a shared sense of care and possibility. We were incredibly grateful to be entrusted with the interior design and build for SONATA, making it not only a favourite project, but also a truly full-circle experience.

"We have our sights on our next potential personal project, so watch this space!" 

The kid's beds are made with our European linen in Lake, Mist & Dove Grey

“[What drew us to FNQ is] the warmth, without a doubt. For nine months of the year it feels like living in paradise—28 degree days, balmy nights, and that sense of being surrounded by nature at its most alive. And I am still defrosting from all the cold Melbourne winters, so the summer steam here doesn’t bother me at all. The people are so friendly, grounded, and wonderfully laid back. There’s an ease to life here that we connected with straight away, and it continues to shape how we live and work." 

There’s an ease to life here that we connected with straight away, and it continues to shape how we live and work.

“We spend our time between the beaches and the nearby freshwater holes and creeks. Our street backs onto Earl Hill, a popular walking track that we love to explore. It’s a simple rhythm—water, walks, and a bit of local adventure—that makes living here feel so connected to the place. Of course, as much as we wish this was our every weekend, kids’ sports and commitments keep us busy—it’s the season we’re in!"