Builder transforms run down property into ‘wellness sanctuary'

The four-bedroom three-bathroom property at 88 Atkinson Road, Bli Bli is being marketed by Ray White Mooloolaba agent Kirstin Cowie and is set to go under the hammer on 25 October.

Ms Cowie said the three-level property was “one-of-a-kind” and had been thoughtfully designed for entertaining, and multi-generational living.

Designed by acclaimed architect John O’Rourke from Giles Architects, Mr Trinder said wellness was woven into every fabric of the design.

The property features an infrared sauna with chromotherapy lighting, a magnesium pool edged in glass pebble and solid limestone, complete with a waterfall feature.

The home also features a striking 25-metre wall garden of exotic blooms, and there is a guest retreat with its own deck - the perfect space for extended family or visitors.

Mr Trinder said the bones of the original house were solid, and the positioning was exactly what he was after.

He began mentally rebuilding the home from the moment Hayley convinced him to attend the open house and by that afternoon had already drafted plans to transform the property into the Sunshine Coast's most striking wellness homes.

Mr Trinder said he started the demolition before settlement even finalised, stripping back nearly every inch while preserving key architectural elements.

“I wanted to honour what the home was, but also give it a new life that felt calm, functional, and connected to the landscape,” Mr Trinder said.

“I extended the roof lines to continue the original parapet form, reshaped the internal walls and staircase, and converted what was once a cramped hot water system room under the main entry into a wine cellar.

“Every change was deliberate - to open up spaces, invite in light, and create better flow.”

(Pictured above is the house before renovations took place)

Mr Trinder described the challenges of renovating as “significant”.

“The lower pool terrace had barely 1900mm of headroom, making it feel claustrophobic,” he said.

“Once the upper deck was removed, I discovered the original builders had filled the slab with bricks, steel beams, and reo - a mess that took days of careful work with a small excavator and a jackhammer in hand to remove. In the end, it was worth every effort.”