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With chunky furniture and abstract prints taking up so much real estate in the design world right now, we welcome the occasional palette cleanser. Beauty editor and Gritty Pretty founder Eleanor Pendleton’s house in Sydney, Australia is just the bit of fresh air we need. Chock-full of natural textures and calming neutrals, her place is the picture of a zen seaside retreat. 

“Our home is our little sanctuary,” said Pendleton in an interview with House of Lita, a new Australian boutique and lifestyle website. It wasn’t always that way. She and her husband whitewashed the wood floors and gave the previously beige walls a new coat of paint to create the perfect base for layering in their favorite pieces. It’s basically the Scandi-meets-Aussie home of a minimalist’s dreams; no surprise, since it’s inhabited by one of the coolest women of the moment. It’s also brimming with design ideas. Here’s how to get a similar look in your own space:

Think Outside the Box (Err—Planter)

Fiddle-leaf figs and monstera plants aren’t your only options. Go for something more rustic and unexpected—like an olive tree, for example. “[The tree is] the perfect addition to our bedroom,” said Pendleton. “It creates such a calming effect, and because our room receives direct sunlight every morning, it doesn’t matter that it lives inside.”

Use Your Windows for Beyond Just Natural Light

“We recently had sheer curtains installed, which make our bedroom feel so dreamy,” shared the editor. A light gauzy material will create the illusion of more height and foster a spa-like environment. This tip is especially handy if your window frames aren’t the best-looking—you can mask pretty much anything with a panel of white linen. 

Create Cohesion Through Materials

“I wanted to pay respect to the coastal beach town that Freshwater is, so I chose natural timber pieces that felt light,” said Pendleton of her furniture picks. Here, her wood mirror and entertainment unit look like they were made for each other. When crafting a clutter-free space, matchy-matchy can be a good thing. 

See more tips on minimalist style: Every Minimalist Has This in Their Home 15 Must-Follow Instagrams for Interior Inspiration 6 Decluttering Strategies Minimalists Swear By