Il Delfino Brings European Charm to Yamba with Locally Crafted Touch

Designer Sheree Commerford has transformed a 1948 seaside inn in Yamba into Il Delfino, a self-check-in boutique hotel that seamlessly blends Mediterranean style with Australian craftsmanship.

Named after the Italian word for the dolphins that frequent the nearby waters, Il Delfino comprises four suites and a freestanding bungalow, all overlooking the South Pacific Ocean.

GALLERY

Drawing inspiration from guesthouses along the Riviera and Amalfi Coast, Commerford has brought a relaxed European elegance to the New South Wales coastline. Whitewashed stucco walls, crazy paving, terracotta and travertine tiles, and landscaping featuring bougainvillaea and cypress trees create a distinctly Mediterranean atmosphere. Each suite is named after an Italian coastal destination—Cinque Terre, Ravello, Portofino, Ischia and Scopella—highlighting the thematic influence.

Collaborating closely with local artists and makers was key to the project. Ceramic artist Elise Eales of Di Lunedi created bespoke signage, including room names and wayfinding tiles. Artist Heidi Middleton painted a mural in every suite, while ceramicist Lisa Lapointe contributed custom interior objects, including pendants, stools and mugs. In the Portofino suite, Lapointe worked with designer Monica Robinson on a unique pair of ceramic wall sconces.

When Commerford set out to preserve the inn—one of the last original structures on the Yamba oceanfront—she moved in with her family to better understand the building. “I took a crash course in knowing the space intimately,” she said, referencing the building’s quirks and charms. She collaborated with local trades and a landscape architect to retain character while modernising function. The roof was replaced with curved French terracotta tiles, and custom white balustrades were made by a local blacksmith, modelled on a Puglian guesthouse memory.

Finishes were selected with purpose: raw terracotta tiles from Jatana Interiors for the terraces, Moroccan Zellige tiles for benchtops and splashbacks, and tumbled travertine for bathroom floors. Original Australian Brushbox floorboards were restored and sealed using a natural finish.

With thoughtful design decisions—like striped Portuguese cotton curtains dividing bedroom alcoves, and mirrors positioned to reflect ocean views—Commerford has created a space that captures both nostalgia and elegance, all grounded in the local context.

Images by Anna Pihan via Dezeen