Sun Ranch by Julia Ashwood and Jamie Blakey

Sun Ranch is a boutique hotel located on 22 sprawling hectares in Coopers Shoot near Byron Bay. Tapping into a variety of design influences – from 1970s Californian ranch houses and Spanish revival architecture to Spaghetti westerns and Hollywood glamour – it invites guests to kick back and bask in a blend of romantic, free-spirited fun amid the picturesque hinterland.

Sun Ranch is the brainchild of Julia Ashwood, Jamie Blakey and a circle of close friends whose collective backgrounds are rooted in the surf, fashion and hospitality worlds (Julia is a travel writer and Jamie founded fashion label One Teaspoon). As creative directors of Sun Ranch, the duo worked closely with sustainable building company Balanced Earth and landscaper Land Company to bring their ambitious vision to life. “The idea of creating a place where we could all come together and celebrate in laid-back luxury was always appealing, and that’s the vision you see today,” says Julia. “We really didn’t pivot too far from the initial sketches on the back of a coaster!”

“The idea of creating a place where we could all come together and celebrate in laid-back luxury was always appealing, and that’s the vision you see today,” says Julia.

Previously cattle-grazing land, the ranch embraces its context through a creatively charged lens. In an effort to restore the native flora and fauna, the team has planted 10,000 native species, and the ranch, which is solar powered and fed by rainwater, happily hosts local wildlife, including black cockatoos, galahs, wallabies and platypuses.

The existing homestead has been transformed into The Rambler Longhouse – a five-room, adults-only guesthouse – and there are six two-bedroom barns, each with Fisher & Paykel cooktops, refrigerators, single DishDrawers, rangehoods and Combination Washer Dryers.

This high level of amenity affords guests the luxury of staying in and cooking for themselves while at the ranch.

This high level of amenity affords guests the luxury of staying in and cooking for themselves while at the ranch. What’s more, though the barns – which overlook a 25-metre pool constructed from basalt rock found on the property – are relatively modest in size, the appliances are discreet and complementary to the design, making for highly functional and homey spaces.

As well as the various types of accommodation, there’s also a wood-fired sauna and an ice bath. “It was important for us to have spaces where people could come together, yet also breakout spaces that were more intimate for smaller groups,” says Jamie. “The common thread is to encourage you to have a good time.”

The design takes cues from a cluster of adjacent yet unexpected influences, culminating in something wholly its own.

The design takes cues from a cluster of adjacent yet unexpected influences, culminating in something wholly its own. Julia says that Californian ranch houses, rock’n’roll’s edginess and Quentin Tarantino’s cinematic oeuvre all had a hand in Sun Ranch’s dynamic visual tapestry.

Thankfully, these many stylistic influences have been synthesised into a design outcome that simultaneously jogs the memory and casts the mind somewhere more surprising.

“We often did a virtual vibe check of sorts – if the space didn’t feel fun, light, warm, welcoming or interesting, we’d mix it up, change the tone and add more colour,” reflects Julia.

“We often did a virtual vibe check of sorts – if the space didn’t feel fun, light, warm, welcoming or interesting, we’d mix it up, change the tone and add more colour,” reflects Julia. Vintage and contemporary furniture found on a sourcing trip to California add an extra layer to the interiors, and there is a gamut of bespoke pieces created in collaboration with local artists and makers, including lights by Lana Launay, vessels by Lisa Lapointe and artwork by Jedda-Daisy Culley, all of which hark back to the project’s Australian roots.

Much like the interiors and activities at Sun Ranch (there’s sunrise yoga, horseback riding and “other Cosmic Cowboy experiences including cacao ceremonies, sound healing and astrology”), the dining offering is both playful and deeply considered. Fireside feasts, sunset snacks and picnics utilise fresh and organic produce from the ranch’s own gardens and neighbouring farms, championing the region and satiating guests through a fitting farm-to-table concept. Feasting can be light and easy or long and indulgent, so suitably kitting out the kitchens was an important consideration.

“Everyone experiences Fisher & Paykel in some way, from the market-fresh eggs in the morning – cooked just the way guests like – and the straight-out-of-the-oven peach muffins delivered to the rooms, to the full-size fridges in the barns that host the minibar full of delicious natural wines, beers, Capi soda and kombucha.”

“We are entertaining on a mass scale here every day, so we needed great, reliable, high-quality equipment,” says Jamie, adding that her personal experience with Fisher & Paykel products led the team to specify its appliances across the property. “It was important for us to have the very best for our guests and the staff.” Julia echoes this sentiment, referencing the various touchpoints between guests and the appliances. “Everyone experiences Fisher & Paykel in some way, from the market-fresh eggs in the morning – cooked just the way guests like – and the straight-out-of-the-oven peach muffins delivered to the rooms, to the full-size fridges in the barns that host the minibar full of delicious natural wines, beers, Capi soda and kombucha.” Fisher & Paykel’s human- and design-centric values permeate these moments, enhancing guests’ experiences of the ranch and enriching the prevailing atmosphere of laid-back luxury.

The rooms are private retreats and, conversely, the various hangout spaces, which include The Lair and The Whiskey Lounge – a cosy spot replete with low-slung furniture and an alfresco dining space – make way for effortless communal gatherings. There’s also The Longhouse Kitchen, which, as Jamie says, is “the heart of the home”. Featuring an extensive selection of appliances, including an Integrated French Door Refrigerator Freezer, Integrated Double DishDrawer, oven, cooktop and rangehood, the requirements for this space were nuanced. Custom joinery crafted by local cabinetmaker Magicaxe champions the ranch’s well-honed aesthetic and helps to conceal the appliances (the panels double as doors for the Refrigerator Freezer and DishDrawer). “Luxury and integration were key for us, and Magicaxe’s recycled oak cabinetry and Fisher & Paykel were a match made in heaven,” says Jamie.

Fireside feasts, sunset snacks and picnics utilise fresh and organic produce from the ranch’s own gardens and neighbouring farms, championing the region and satiating guests through a fitting farm-to-table concept.

Sun Ranch is many things and herein lies its magic. The seemingly never-ending slew of activities and spaces are invitations to guests to immerse themselves a little or a lot. As Julia says, “I just love the look of pure excitement on guests’ faces when they arrive. We designed these spaces for good times and we certainly encourage it. Leave your worries at the door and let someone else take care of you for a while!”

Build by Balanced Earth. Project styling by Julia Ashwood and Jamie Blakey. Landscape by Land Company. Architecture by Balanced Earth Architects. Development by Rolling Thunder Group. Joinery by Magicaxe. Appliances by Fisher & Paykel. Tap fittings and fixtures by Astra Walker. Hardware by Pittella Design Studio. Timber by Ironwood. Tiles and marble by Artedomus. Crazy paving by Eco Outdoor. Lighting by Dunlin Home and Lighting Collective. Artwork by Jedda Daisy-Culley, Lana Launay and Nathan Pickering.