Byron Bay’s Saint Helena guesthouse blurs the line between hotel and home — Byron Bay, Australia

The latest guesthouse to land in Byron Bay, the darling of Australia's beach towns, is Saint Helena, one of four residences that make up the Joints in Byron property.
Designed and operated by Jimmy Lyell, one half of the Australian electronic producer duo Flight Facilities, alongside his wife Chelsea Wadell, a fine arts consultant and brand developer, Saint Helena, blurs the line between hotel and home and offers both a personal and communal style of accommodation.
Following Byron Bay's laid-back vibes, the pair rather beautifully navigated the merger of an effortless, local feel with a sophisticated aesthetic appeal.
The architectural and hardwares concept was headed by Jimmy alongside the local Backspace Building Co team. The brief, Puglia-style farmhouse meets New York industrial warehouse, was executed flawlessly. Dark timber sets the structure apart from its white-washed curb-side neighbours while cement floors, simplistic furniture, and carefully curated accessories dictate the less-is-more tone inside.
Minimal design features are however, no indication of Wadell’s attention spent on detail. Windows and lighting are part of a high-functioning system while curtains were custom cut on a bias to accommodate hanging from the structure’s slanted roof. Care was even taken to select differently weighted bed pillows for top and bottom cushions to ensure optimal sleep.
Each residence on the Joints in Byron property is designed to be private but with access to an outdoor communal space and garden, designed by Fig Landscapes, intended to draw both guests and hosts together.
ADDRESS
20 Bangalow Road
Byron Bay
Australia
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