Banjo's beach retreat Interior Designs Masters

When Interior Design Masters winner Banjo Beale beat off his fellow up-and-coming designers to take the Series 3 crown, he was also awarded a contract to redesign a holiday home in Cornwall.

The career-transforming prize offered him the chance to transform a luxury Beach Retreats property in Watergate Bay. Banjo’s beautifully designed self-catering property, Winnow, has now launched for bookings.

Interior Design Masters winner Banjo Beale redesigned this beautiful beachside retreat. Photo: Elliott White Photography

Beachside vibes

Banjo, crowned winner of Interior Design Masters with Alan Carr in the final episode of Series 3, built on Winnow’s beachside location, existing architectural features and abundance of natural light to create a holiday destination where families and friends can relax.

The budding interior designer brought a touch of his native Australia to Cornwall, combining natural, vintage and reclaimed pieces with a healthy dose of biophilic design, weaving real plants throughout the property to improve air quality.

Charred timber cladding, typically seen on the exterior of buildings, has been brought inside to create a natural, textural element, with a colour palette of orange, blue and green that similarly reflects the wild Atlantic coast.

Sustainable design

Working within Beach Retreats’ environmentally-friendly ethos, Banjo has given a lot of thought to sustainable design. From a lampshade made from an old Hungarian chicken coop suspended over a custom table from Galvin Brothers, to wicker parasols from an Ibizan beach, reclaimed and repurposed pieces are sprinkled throughout the spacious apartment.

Foraged finds such as driftwood, barnacle bottles and an old lobster pot also feature alongside bespoke elements, including wallpaper from fellow Interior Design Masters’ contestant and print designer, Amy Davies, and kitchen cupboards in a rough-sawn oak from a local carpenter.

Living room chairs are made from Pinatex, a pineapple leather made from discarded pineapple tops, and other seating is made from recycled plastic bottles.

The kitchen-dining space in the Beach Retreat property designed by Banjo Beale. Photo: Elliott White Photography

A characterful space

‘Interior Design Masters was a rollicking rollercoaster around the country that ended in gorgeous Cornwall,’ says Banjo. ‘Transforming Winnow to reflect the beauty of the county was an incredibly exciting challenge and I’ve loved working with the Beach Retreats team.

‘I believe design doesn’t have to take itself so seriously, so I wanted to make a characterful space for colourful characters,’ he continues. ‘Anyone who has watched the show knows I create an eccentric personality for each design, and Winnow was inspired by a cool artist and marine biologist couple who travel the world, collecting art and ephemera before landing back in Watergate Bay in their large seaside abode.

‘Winnow is a place for their children, grandchildren and dogs to reunite and share seafood feasts at long tables, before reading in pillowy armchairs and relaxing in daybeds.’

The coastal-chic bedroom. Photo: Elliott White Photography

Elegant design

‘It’s been incredible to watch Banjo’s design aesthetic, which sits so perfectly with our own ethos, be applied to Winnow,’ adds Andrew Easton, Managing Director of Beach Retreats.

‘All of our retreats are within walking distance of a good beach and to see Watergate Bay’s stunning coastline reflected in such elegant design is wonderful. We are so excited to see our guests experience the beautiful home away from home that Banjo has created.”

Winnow has four-bedrooms and sleeps ups to 10 people, plus it’s dog-friendly. Three-night stays start from £1,888 during the summer season. For further information and to book, see beachretreats.co.uk.

The bathroom also takes inspiration from its coastal location. Photo: Elliott White Photography

MORE ABOUT INTERIOR DESIGN MASTERS

• The inside track on the Interior Design Masters final
• Interior Design Masters: Meet 2022’s contestants
• Interior Design Masters winner to redesign suite overlooking the Lake District

About Interior Designs Masters Winner Banjo Beale

Interior Designs Masters Winner Banjo Beale is an Australian living on a cheese farm on the Isle of Mull, Scotland. His relaxed and warm style combines clever design with vintage finds, transforming unexpected objects into designer pieces. Head judge and former Editor-in-Chief of ELLE Decoration magazine, Michelle Ogundehin, crowned him winner of Interior Design Masters Series 3 because of his style and unique storytelling. He beat off competition from nine other design hopefuls by transforming spaces including a cafe, hotel room and shepherd hut. Prestigious guest judges included Matthew Williamson, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and Mary Portas.

Banjo Beale on Interior Design Masters. Photo: BBC/Darlow Smithson Productions