One of the things we love most about the building industry is that each and every project is different, with unique challenges and individual requirements. It keeps us on our toes and makes every day interesting here at Cunningham Constructions!
Our latest project in Surfers Paradise was no different…This project involved the complete overhaul of one of the city’s most iconic backpackers – Surf Inn Hostel, just one kilometre from the beach. We oversaw the renovation of this entire space, transforming it from an old and outdated hostel into a bright and modern accommodation offering.
With consideration given to privacy and cleanliness in what we knew would be a busy hostel once complete, we created a stunning result for our clients on Peninsular Drive. Keep reading to learn more about how we approached this unique project and how our team transformed the space…
Transforming the dorm rooms…
The old dorm rooms in this hostel needed a complete overhaul. Each room was small and dark, due to a grey colour palette, limited windows and cold tile flooring, while plastic bunk beds were well and truly ready to be replaced.
Our team oversaw a completely new fit out of the accommodation offering, painting the walls in a crisp white, installing lino flooring and adding a selection of new windows, which allow plenty natural light into each room. We also added stylish timber bunk beds, which wouldn’t date too quickly and, more importantly, would be hard-wearing for many years to come. The result is a selection of clean, spacious and bright dorm rooms which carefully flow, even when completely full.
Next, we took the bathrooms from dingy to delightful…
For the hostel bathroom design, we wanted to create something that would be easy to keep clean despite the large amounts of foot traffic these rooms would see. We opted for a crisp and simple colour palette with grey floor tiles and white walls, which wouldn’t date like the previous design had.
We chose frosted glass shower doors to offer privacy to showering guests without cutting out precious natural light. Fixtures and fittings were also selected carefully to ensure they would last for many years, with minimal maintenance required. These were then expertly installed by the team at Macklin Plumbing.
Creating the kitchen…
Being a busy hostel, we needed to create a functional and durable kitchen at the Surf Inn Hostel. We partnered with the team at Celtic Design Cabinet Makers who designed and fitted stylish benchtops from Laminex Classic Oak. Featuring four cook tops, three ovens and plenty of bench and storage space, this communal kitchen was designed with functionality in mind – to ensure many people could use it at once.
A hostel is all about the communal spaces…
While clean dorms and bathrooms are imperative in a busy hostel, arguably the most important part is the communal spaces. We wanted to create calm and stylish communal areas where guests of the hostel could relax after a busy day exploring the Gold Coast.
We added a covered outdoor area with tables and chairs, a lounge room with bean bags, TV and air conditioning for all-day comfort, as well as an outdoor pool, barbecue and a bar with fridges and tall bar tables. Each of the communal spaces continues the light and bright theme of the space, with plenty of green grass adding interest and natural appeal to the design.
A final addition… the cafe!
Our team also added the Surf Inn Cafe to the hostel, a bright and open space where guests can come for a morning coffee or an afternoon pick-me-up. The cafe features a predominately white colour palette with a soft blue feature wall, paying tribute to the nearby ocean guests come to enjoy.
We used timber-look lino flooring and cabinetry again from Celtic Design Cabinet Makers in this space to ensure it would be durable and hard-wearing even despite regular use.
We are extremely proud of the renovation our team has completed at Surf Inn Hostel and we hope future guests love it as much as we do! A huge thanks to all the partners, suppliers and contractors who helped us bring this exciting commercial project to life.
If you’d like to book a night at the coolest hostel on the Gold Coast, visit the Surf Inn Hostel website. If you’ve got a similar commercial construction project in mind, get in touch with Michael and the team at Cunningham Constructions!
