What a gorgeous ceiling. Resist painting it and definitely do not paint the beams. Keep the flooring light to avoid making the house darker. You sure you don’t want 70’s shag pile :)

Love it, I have a house from the same period, that timber ceiling is amazing please don't do the white Hamptons that everyone is doing. A timber floor would work large herring bone. The white walls appear not to go up to the ceiling?, would love to see more photos

The best results always come from celebrating the character of what something inherently is, rather than working against it and trying to make it something that it isn't. If you've bought a 70's/80's home work to preserving what's unique about this and if in doubt less is more and you'll find the less you introduce the better the result. Think about textural and tonal balance. there's enough of this already in the brickwork and timber feature so if anything work towards simplifying the flooring and depending upon how far you want to take the whole project arguably darker/black windows would be a more sophisticated aesthetic.

Congratulations on your new home - it has so much character and interest compared with the greige boxes that are built today. You may be lucky and find treasure under your carpet like Tasmanian oak floorboards that just need a clean and polish. I would also be looking at some uplighting to make the most of that gorgeous feature ceiling. I think a light timber floor may seem too contrasting and contemporary. I would consider an engineered cork floor tile like I used for this client's new kitchen that was installed in a home of similar vintage, and looks right at home.

Pettit and Sevitt 1970's kitchen revisited · More Info

If you need any more advice please feel free to contact me directly as I understand the style and character of your home (many other design professionals just don't get it).

Best of luck,

Dr Retro

of Dr Retro House Calls.

Thank you everyone! I love the look of the cork tile. Your enthusiasm has made me feel much less daunted. For now I think we’ll rip up the carpet; replace with something temporary and live in the house for a while before we make any changes.

Nicole, I tell my clients that have purchased new homes to live in their home for at least 12 months before spending big money on renovations. You need to know how it performs thermally through the year, and this understanding will help guide you with your planning.

Best of luck,

Dr Retro

of Dr Retro House Calls.

Our house which also has beautiful timber ceilings but I think yours is even better, we used an inexpensive light carpet until we decide what to do, the floor is rough concrete so would need screeding or such if we were to go with polished concrete, so for now the carpet is great, any more photos

Sirius · More Info

And it does have a little bit of original cork flooring- in the kitchen. It really is a bit fabulous; just needs some love. Once we’re moved in I’ll bombard everyone with more questions and photos ;)

And Siriuskey- your house looks gorgeous!

Thanks Nicole we love it and like you when we first bought some 10 yrs ago we were considering painting everything white until I thankfully came to see it for what it was, a beautiful architecturally designed one off house, can't wait to see more of your stunning house after you move in. Am I right in thinking that some of the white walls don't connect to the ceiling, ie are the cubes

Yes; it’s two storey with a concrete slab. Upstairs we will be able to play with floor plan a bit. Downstairs interior walls are mostly structural. Additionally it’s built in the shape of a hexagon...

sounds extremely different and very special. our house is all on one level, what state are you in