Tucked away on a sprawling acreage close to Geelong and the Bellarine Surf Coast, Bailey Smith’s home is both a reflection of his refined personal style and his desire for balance away from the footy. Known for his open conversations on life outside of football and the pressures of elite sport, Bailey recently collaborated with Outdoors Domain x Cabinex to create an outdoor BBQ kitchen and entertaining space at his Surf Coast home: One that perfectly blends sleek, minimalist aesthetics, functionality and the same high level of performance he strives to deliver on field.
We sat down with Bailey to hear how he leverages home & outdoors as a way to reset, reconnect, and unwind.
Q. Tell us about where you live and what makes this location special to you?
Bailey: Right now, I’m down near the Surf Coast, close to Geelong. It’s close enough to the club and away far enough to escape the noise that comes with professional sports. I need quiet places where I can reset after games and training, so having space and being close to the ocean grounds me.
Q. Did you build or buy your home, and what drew you to this particular property?
Bailey: I bought it. The moment I stepped onto the property, it felt right... Open, private, and heaps of space. It just felt like home and a proper escape where I could breathe and switch off.
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Q. How long have you called this place home?
Bailey: I've been here coming up on a year now. It feels like forever, though. After the injury and rehab, moving here was about starting fresh. I knew straight away that it was the right move—new club, new space, new outlook.
Q. What made you decide to upgrade or add a BBQ kitchen to your outdoor space?
Bailey: It’s pretty simple... connection to the outdoors. Footy’s intense, life gets noisy, and being outdoors is my reset. The BBQ kitchen’s become the perfect excuse to have people over, cook up a feed, and just slow down. Outdoors Domain made it easy really, with a clean design and the best range of appliance to choose from. It all just matched exactly what I was after.
Q. Could you describe the look, feel or atmosphere you wanted your outdoor kitchen & entertaining space to have?
Bailey: I’m an all-or-nothing person. Training’s intense, footy’s non-stop, so at home I need calm. I wanted a place to unwind and slow down.... to simplify living, without compromise. Enjoying good food, fresh air, having mates around. The kitchen Outdoors Domain built makes it easy to balance downtime and recovery while chilling in one area.
Q. Tell us a bit more about your Outdoor BBQ kitchen and your experience with Outdoors Domain?
Bailey: Clean. Minimalist. Comfortable but cool. Like everything I do, I’m pretty picky; simple lines, modern style, nothing flashy. Outdoors Domain nailed that vision. The space feels easy-going, relaxed, but still sharp, which is exactly how I wanted home to feel.
Q. What’s your go-to alfresco dish when entertaining guests? And is it different to when you’re flying solo at home and cooking for 1 on the BBQ?
Bailey: I keep it simple when mates are around: steaks, grilled salmon, heaps of veggies, and good salads. Nothing fancy, just quality ingredients cooked well. If I’m on my own, honestly it’s probably the same, just quicker. I love grilling because it’s easy, healthy, and tastes bloody good without too much fuss.
Q. Lastly, what are your absolute must-haves for creating the perfect outdoor entertaining space?
Bailey: #1 is a BBQ thats quick & easy to use... but a fridge with chilled bevi's is a close second... I really wanted top-notch appliances in terms of reliability & performance. I hate messing with stuff that doesn't work, so Outdoors Domain nailed it with options that suited perfectly and performance I've been stoked with. We ended up with a Gasmate Nova 6 Burner BBQ, Bar Fridge and Cabinex kitchen base – which all work beautifully outside and really add to the feel of quiet luxury and comfort for home.
Other than that, simple seating for the lads where you can just hang out is must.
© Outdoors Domain [photography Outdoors Domain]
