Highlife reveals $11 million Alexander &CO. beachfront penthouse at Blonde Bilinga

Highlife Property Group has revealed the first look inside the $11 million penthouse crowning its boutique Blonde development at Bilinga, where acclaimed Australian design practice Alexander &CO. has created one of the more distinctive new beachfront residences to come to the southern Gold Coast.

The penthouse sits atop the 19-apartment development, which has already secured more than $60 million in sales. Thirteen residences have sold, including the entire northern collection, with every buyer to date purchasing as an owner-occupier.

While Bilinga has attracted a growing number of boutique beachfront developments in recent years, Blonde is targeting the upper end of the market, with its newly unveiled penthouse bringing together expansive living spaces, a private rooftop swimming pool and a richly detailed interior designed around its absolute beachfront position.

Alexander &CO., the Sydney-based practice behind some of Australia's most recognisable luxury residential and hospitality interiors, has taken a slightly different approach to the traditional Gold Coast beachfront apartment.

Rather than relying on the familiar white-on-white coastal palette, the design introduces a more layered collection of materials, with pale oak flooring, French-wash walls and sheer curtains providing a softer backdrop to walnut joinery, heavily veined stone and sculptural architectural elements.

The result is a residence that feels more like a substantial private home than a conventional penthouse, with the Pacific Ocean providing a constant backdrop.

A sculptural concrete island forms the centrepiece of the kitchen, while a series of carefully designed transitions between rooms gives the apartment a sense of separation and privacy despite its open-plan living spaces.

That attention to detail extends into the main bedroom suite, where the dressing room leads through to the bedroom and ensuite, the latter wrapped in quartzite stone across the floors, walls and bathtub.

Above the apartment, the private rooftop terrace and swimming pool create another substantial entertaining space, taking advantage of the building's beachfront position and uninterrupted outlook across the Pacific.

Alexander &CO. Associate Aimy Dodge said the design was deliberately informed by Bilinga's more understated coastal character, which has remained relatively untouched by the scale of development seen in neighbouring southern Gold Coast suburbs.

"Bilinga is one of the few pockets of the Gold Coast that doesn't perform in the same way as other parts of this strip of coastline. It is grounded, authentic and deeply local.

"We designed the Penthouse around the instinctive rituals of the people who live there; ocean swims before work, coffee on the terrace, arriving sun-faded from the beach, long lunches that become evening drinks and the line between indoors and out quietly disappears," Dodge said.

Despite the scale and price of the residence, Dodge said the design was ultimately about making everyday living feel effortless, rather than introducing luxury finishes simply for their visual impact.

"For me, luxury isn’t about being excessive in finishes or design elements that are just for show; it’s about removing friction from the everyday, so living feels effortless," Dodge said.

The penthouse reveal comes as Blonde continues to attract buyers willing to pay a premium for absolute beachfront living in Bilinga, a suburb that has traditionally flown under the radar compared with nearby Kirra, Rainbow Bay and Palm Beach.

Highlife Property Group Co-Founder and Director James George said the development's sales performance reflected demand for larger, design-led apartments, particularly among buyers looking to move from substantial standalone homes into something requiring less maintenance.

"With more than $60 million in sales and every residence sold to date purchased by an owner-occupier, it's a strong indication that buyers recognise the appeal of this offering," George said.

Most purchasers have come from the local market, with a smaller number of interstate buyers also securing residences.

George said the penthouse had been conceived to appeal to a buyer seeking something beyond the typical luxury apartment offering, combining the privacy and proportions of a standalone home with the architectural detail and amenities of a purpose-built beachfront residence.

"Penthouse buyers have those same expectations, but they're also looking for something truly distinctive. They want a signature residence that makes an impression, with exceptional design, inclusions and quality, without sacrificing comfort or liveability. Working with Alexander &CO., we've created a one-of-a-kind penthouse that delivers at every level," George said.

With 13 of Blonde's 19 residences now sold, just six apartments remain available. The newly revealed penthouse, priced from $11 million, sits at the top of that remaining collection and represents Highlife's most ambitious offering within the development.