Turning up the heat

LUXURY Byron Bay guesthouse 28 Degrees has added five new villas to cater to growing demand.

Owner Deb Garske bought the neighbouring property in Marvell Street to build the new wing, which has increased the number of rooms from seven to 12.

Garske, who is also an interior designer, moved to Byron Bay from Sydney in 2012 with her husband Lyndon and two children.

She quickly identified the need for a boutique five-star accommodation offering that was walking distance to cafes, restaurants and shops.

At the time she was recovering from chemotherapy after being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma and wanted to design the guesthouse to be toxin-free, with organic towels and sheets and sustainable cleaning products.

She named the property 28 Degrees because it is the latitude of both Byron Bay and Norfolk Island, where she grew up.

As well as being surrounded by kentia palms, which thrive on the island, walls are adorned by works by a Norfolk Island artist.

Several rooms in the TV-free, adults-only property have their own plunge pools and some have views to Cape Byron Lighthouse.

They also feature antique clawfoot bathtubs, Iranian bathroom tiles, armchairs by Maker and Son, handmade rose marble cabinetry by local craftsmen, beeswax candles and ceramic cups by artist Madhavi Muncie.

Garske said the guesthouse was popular with both singles and couples.

“When we opened, I found a lot of women were coming after a divorce,” she said. “They felt really safe because we are gated.

“Then we started to get a following of people who wanted to get away and reconnect with their partners.

“It’s amazing to watch the progress of people walking through the front door during their two-night stay. They come in looking tense and walk out holding hands and their face looks different.”