The Valle Casa: A mid-century 'Moditerranean' home now for sale
- The property: The Valle Casa, a Mediterranean-style build with mid-century and modern Australian influences
- Address: 498 Currumbin Creek Road, Currumbin Valley, Queensland
- Auction: 10.00am, November 15
- Agent: Amir Prestige Group, Christina James 0409 641 590
There’s a certain kind of light that lingers in Currumbin Valley – filtered through palms and gums, dappled across the ridgeline, carrying the hum of cicadas.
When Ellie and Alex Watson first stood on the land that would become The Valle Casa, they saw possibility in that light – a home grounded in nature yet open to creativity.
Designed in 2021 and completed in early 2024, this Gold Coast sanctuary has since become the heart of their young family, shared with children Bowie, 5, and Zimi, 3, and their dog, Oatly.
What began as a bare patch of land has become a living reflection of the couple’s shared aesthetic: part Mediterranean daydream, part modern Australian calm.
Working with designer Luke Holmes, builder Arluca Construction and interior designer Mi Zepp Studio, the Watsons fused sun-warmed European architecture with a relaxed, tactile palette.
Limewashed walls, microcement floors and travertine surfaces form the home’s foundation, balanced by sheer linen curtains, oak cabinetry and gentle curves.
“The design was inspired by European architecture – especially Italy and Spain – but with modern Australian and mid-century influences,” Ellie says. “We were really hands-on throughout the process – ordering samples, visiting the site and making final design decisions.”
Beyond a porte cochere-style entry and a circular driveway that embraces a lone olive tree, a soaring front door hints at the understated grandeur within.
“I didn’t realise how dramatic the front door would be until I saw it in person,” adds Ellie. “It’s a real statement as you walk in.”
As the founder of fashion label Juni and lifestyle brand The Wholesome Store, Ellie’s eye for composition guided every choice.
She wanted minimalism without coldness, form with feeling – a space as peaceful to live in as it is inspiring to create in.
“Our open-plan kitchen, anchored by a quartzite island, is one of my favourite spaces – it’s where I love creating cooking content,” she says.
“The full-length mirror in our living room is also a perfect photo spot for Juni, with the circular skylight above that lets in the most beautiful light.”
But for all its visual poise, The Valle Casa was never built to be a backdrop.
It’s a lived-in home that buzzes with the energy of family life. Inside, it has seen Easter egg hunts that tumble into the hallway, birthday bake-offs in the kitchen and Christmas mornings spent opening presents beside the double-sided fireplace.
“Our home has been perfect for entertaining,” Ellie says. “We’ve hosted all the kids’ birthday parties here over the past two years and I even had my sister’s baby shower at the house. It was a beautiful long lunch with all our girlfriends – we all used the big kitchen to cook, share food and host together.”
Those celebrations, big and small, spill outdoors, where landscaped gardens frame a chequered-tiled pool, a fire pit, an outdoor shower, and a terrace with all the trimmings of a second kitchen. Native shrubs and wildflowers adorn the edges.
“I’ve found so much joy in the garden,” Ellie says. “My favourite corners have everything from butterfly bush and seaside daisy to Swan River daisy, yellow buttons and star jasmine. Right now, the flowers are all blooming in spring and it honestly makes me so happy.”
Among birch trees and bowling-green lawns, a giant swing sways from the property’s feature tree – a nostalgic touch that keeps childhood simple and sweet.
“The kids love swinging from the big tree and summer days are spent by the pool – sometimes with a blow-up slide just for fun,” Ellie adds.
“There’s also a cubbyhouse at the front where the kids once had an outdoor movie night. It’s memories like that which make it special.”
Currumbin Valley adds its own kind of poetry. Encircled by rainforest and backing onto a small creek, the property feels both cocooned and connected.
“We love it because it captures the best of both worlds,” Ellie says.
“We’ve got Currumbin Alley 10 minutes away in one direction and the rockpools in the other. There’s no traffic and it’s only a short drive to the airport or border.”
As many creatives know, the joy of bringing something beautiful to life often sparks the desire to begin again.
“I didn’t realise how much I’d enjoy the design and construction process,” Ellie reflects.
“It became a whole new creative outlet for me. While this is our dream home, it feels like the right time to share that dream with another family and move on to the next project.”
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