Having said that there is some wood that I may consider painting if mine and that is the skirtings and narrow Cornice timbers and internal doors

Wow lots a great feedback which I didn't expect. I really thought I would be hearing to paint it all white. You have all given me plenty to think about!! At least I think we are all in agreement that the Chandeliers need to go :)

What style lighting do you replace them with though ? While not a huge fan , anything different mightn't gel -- even the dining room doesn't look quite right with the downlights IMO -- the beams sort of carry it -- without the beams it would be pretty meh with just a flat ceiling and downlights .

Stunning House, I wouldn't paint anything, Replace the coloured leadlight with plain Bevelled glass, it's an expensive door and has an amazing matching screen, the glass allows light into the entrance. If you hate the door and don't need the light, a large , (width and height) pivoting timber door would look amazing

New lights, and I imagine the furniture isn't yours, so add furniture with simple lines.

WOW love that house

The scale of lights in living are great, the place just needs less bling to allow the simple wood to star. A smaller light in foyer and lovely large wooden pivot door in matching timber to the beams. The simple brown couches are fine it’s the ornate furniture and mirrors that are not modern

I'am sure the previous owners love their furniture and have taken it with them, sell the chandeliers and have a Beacon Lighting consultant look at new lights to suit the house

The flooring looks good, the tiles have a terrazo appearance? and laid in a simple grid pattern, and the parquetry flooring upstairs is beautiful

I fully agree with the others. Furnish with lesss blingy furniture.

I think what dates the house is not the architecture but the interior styling. It's a bit of a pastiche, the ornate faux victorian furniture and chandeliers look tacky. Once that is all removed have another look, you will be sure to notice what doesn't fit the style. Keep it mediterranean, but ditch some of the nouveax riche 80s decor. I even think the glossy tiling is not quite right, but its a big thing to replace and with the right furnishings won't be so noticeable. Update the lighting and appliances, and go for a more international bold decor , chunky linen sofas, comfy textiles like colourful kilim rugs and interesting contemporary art will help it look much more contemporary. If you want to change something some more interesting artisan tiling would really look great with the mediterranean style. check out tiles of Ezra, for some inspiration
https://www.tilesofezra.com/blogs/profiled

I also think styles in general are just a lot more laid back and relaxed. Elegant furnishing that are understated are definitely the key. This house looks great, check it out for inspiration
https://www.houzz.com/magazine/mediterranean-style-kitchen-gets-a-bold-makeover-stsetivw-vs~129905127

I found one with kilims. textiles with rustic textures and bold patterns will bring warmth and vibrancy. its a big space so be bold!

I agree with the posters above re leaving the interior woodwork mostly untouched, (that raked timber ceiling is spectacular!).
Would you consider a spanish style tiled fireplace? And I'd also vote for changing out the blingy chandeliers. Maybe some black wrought iron?

Some fireplace inspo.

I am loving this thread! I too just bought a house with a whole Tuscan or Spanish theme! I actually love some elements- terracotta tiles outside black wrought iron stair railings, timber windows all to stay. But I wanted a modern Mediterranean style.
Before we moved in just before Xmas 2020 we had every light fitting replaced ( no more heavy chandeliers) and the walls were painted a very white white. I removed all the inside window blinds too. I put in white ceiling fans in bedrooms. (Eglo Noosa) Down lights throughout except over the stairs where I chose a simple 3 clear glass spheres hanging over the void.
Our furniture is more modernist MCM in style and I have a lot of plants and contemporary art. We have beautiful timber floors upstairs and white tiles downstairs. Together it is looking great although I still need a dining table and a new kitchen island. I love how it is looking. I am also wanting a fireplace.

I love your new house too. I would look at replacing the tiled floor in whole or part. For me it is too shiny. At least get some rugs. I got a large Kilim from shoparug-the Moroccan or Turkish styles work well. Also natural jute styles.

Take away all the disco chandeliers! Don’t put in too much heavy furniture and slowly add pieces but don’t let it get crowded. Think natural earthy Matt tones and colours. It will be fab!

This is our staircase. We kept the black wrought iron but updated the light fixture and added a contemporary art work. This is how we are melding these styles. 💃🏻

Hi All,

Thank you all you your feedback, I love hearing everyone's opinions on what will and won't work in this place. If it was left just to me, I would be struggling on what to do :) I feel this place has so much potential with the right pieces. Please keep the recommendations coming I am learning so much from you guys.

In my mind this is what I have

1) Leave the raked timber ceiling as is. i.e. Don't paint it white.

2) Swap the Chandeliers with black wrought iron lighting.

3) Investigate Spanish/Mediterranean tiles around the fireplace .

4) To emphasize the timber, paint the skirting, skinny ceiling cornaces, and doors in white.

5) Keep the furniture simple and the spaces de-cluttered

A big thank you again.

Reza.

That sounds like a plan! If you are removing lighting and fixtures but don't have an idea of a feature light, its okay to just put in something doesn't have to be a feature. I'd add 6) invest in big statement rugs and pieces of art bring interest to the empty spaces. but only later once you have done the basics.

Hi Rinnia - Love what you have done with your staircase. Beautiful.

Hi All,

Just a couple more images of the home. I think again I need to focus on the lighting :)

I have an 80's Modern Architect designed house ,raked timber ceilings, brick and plaster wall's,the same classic timber doors and skirting's, It was amazing how many suggested painting everything white as everyone has gone Hampton's crazy,

Try to sit on your hands like we thankfully did and kept the natural timber, bricks and plaster walls, most of the plaster walls were painted white from suede effects pink, blue and yellow except for one large gallery wall we painted matt black.

The entrance double lead light doors where changed to plain profile painted ones, (the timber ones I wanted were a lot more expensive) with large wide matt stainless rectangle handles on both sides of one of the entrance doors.

We have uplights to highlight the timber ceilings along with numerous lamps plus track lighting, with plans to add an open mezzanine level above the dining.

They are great houses and love it when the integrity of the house is worked with and kept as much as possible You have bought in a great part of Adelaide

I should add that it would be very worthwhile employing a proffesional like Dr Retro to help you, he is in Victoria, that's not too far away!, and does Zoom consultations, Retro houses are his speciality

hi Reza I watched the video and if you replace all the light fittings as the first thing it will make a huge difference- I would look at and consider suspended ceiling fans, modernist light fittings as well as the simple traditional black ones. (Any of these would be better than what there is now!) You can sell the chandeliers on Facebook Marketplace. Other than the lights its mostly just new furniture and some rugs - have fun shopping!

Hi Guys,

Attached are some photos hopped images with the timber painted white. Are we still all of the opinion to stay with the timer?

I think the furniture is making it harder to imagine what it will look like.

The horrible floor and furniture from real estate photos, are taking away the beauty of the timber.
Replace floor with Matt tiling, replace furniture with a contemporary stream line, simple look. Replace lighting with more structured contemporary lighting. The whole home in photos is toooo bling bling. It needs to be toned down and become earthy and full of texture.
I would love to have a home like yours, i would be so proud of the timber architecture. Do not cover it up.

The previous owners may have liked the bling, English manor furniture, but it just, in my opinion, let the home down.
Embrace the home for the era and architecture that it is.

You are obviously handy with photo shop so do the same with the owners furniture and remove it along with the chandeliers , keep the character of the home and don't do the white thing, I have great timber ceilings and would never consider painting them, this is an old photo

Sirius · More Info

I agree with others. lights first, then floors and then think if you really need white beams. But you should embrace this home for what it is rather than try and make it something it isn't.

I'm imagining conversations in modernised homes where something feels lacking and the idea eventually comes up, it needs more warmth, hey, what about some timber features?

I've seen some lovely examples where the overly woodsy log cabin look was successfully toned down, but timber is a value-add material so be careful before covering it all to make it blend with regular old plasterboard. Your ceilings work well with the large spaces and large windows and the style of the house. I like what Dreamer said "Embrace the home for the era and architecture that it is".

The photoshopped white version is nice enough but I really feel that it would be taking something away rather than adding an improvement.

Hi All,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your opinions. A couple of you have mentioned I should consider replacing the granite tiles with something else. If I were to keep the timber, what type of flooring would you think could work here?

Sit on your hands, the tiles are small and a bit shiny but they are laid in a smple grid pattern so with new furniture and a couple of rugs they will look great, unless you have buckets of money to throw around. Your house has great quality and these tiles will also be quality tiles

Granite is very popular again

The furniture makes it look 'heavy' .

Even though it sounds counter-intuitive , I would go more 'modern' and lighter with the furniture -- the brown leather couches and black cabinets with brass and gold should suit the style , but don't any more , so go for long slim white gloss cabinets , 2 or 3 of those polished stainless 'seaside' spotlights on wooden tripods , maybe wheat coloured couches with big square arms and yellow cushions -- pretty much the opposite of everything that is there in the pictures now .

Imagine the Wow factor of say a clear glass table top on black legs , with those clear chairs ( reproduction presumably ) or even those chairs with 4 or 5 white vertical slats up the back -- I know they've been around 30 years , but still more modern in philosophy and design than the existing furniture .

Basically , instead of painting the wood white ( when 50% of people would love to get rid of their white sameness and have warm timber ) and dark timber and dark leather ; go with warm timber and the classy tiles and lighter furniture .

That furniture is going Pottsy, it belongs to the previous owner and has a European style which I'am guessing is what the the previous owners Heritage is,

That has lovely bones for a laid-back, coastal Mediterranean vibe.

I'd paint the timber white, change the floor to wood/wood-look vinyl or even polished concrete. id also update light fittings to brass/woven types.

externally, I'd get rid of that roof as it sticks out, and paint light grey/beige. I'd also paint/replace the garage door and either clean up the path leading to the door or lay agregate/large stepping stones with pebbles/ground cover.

I'd also replace the black bathroom cabinet with a wooden one.

as for furnishings, organic materials and colours will be gorgeous in there, I.e. linens. add lots of greenery and texture. you can add a "wow" factor with some glazed tiling in the kitchen, bathrooms or around a fireplace even. warm colours are popular and go well with this style - terracotta, warm greys ("greige"), as do greens. and you can't go wrong with a white/neutral base!

good luck! ps. please plant a bougainvillea ☺

Thanks Siriuskey -- sorry I didn't make it clear , but I did realise the furniture was going ( I did say 'existing furniture' , but admittedly that didn't make it clear I knew it was going ) -- I just wanted to get across that instead of painting the timber white or light , I'd go that route with the furniture , and obviously when one person is moving out and another moving in is the logical time to 'sort through' furniture to keep , and which to replace .

When I look at photos posted of someone's new purchase I focus on the house and not the furniture as that isn't usually included or wanted, the question is most often "What should I do with the house",

I'm the 'opposite' -- I look at what I don't like of theirs , and think 'Okay , I won't go with that style/colour/combo in that area' haha .

Wait until final decision on timber before deciding in floor. Timber floor and ceiling likely to be too much so only worth it if you whiten the timber (which I'm not recommending you do at least not until living with it for a good year). The existing house style would suit large format terracotta tiles which have only recently come back into fashion again after being terribly unfashioned for the past 20 years!

just don't add anything shiny to the mix!

The furniture isn't theirs so it doesn't matter if we like or dislike it as it isn't going to be part of the decor that needs consideration

Reza. As said before the lights just gotta go! If you were going to paint any timber beams I’d just do the ones in the dining room that weirdly have the downlights in them. It makes the lights less obvious. You should definitely keep the beautiful sloped timber ceiling as is. The white is ok but not as striking.
I am not a fan of the shiny tiles (slip hazard?) but at least they are neutral. I love the timber floors you already have.
Not sure if more timber or different tiles would be the answer. Perhaps terrazzo? I wouldn’t do a cheap option such as vinyl or fake wood as it would lower the quality of finishes in the house. Currently all looks very high end. I suggest you invest in some gorgeous Turkish or similar rugs and had neutral furniture (cream, tan etc) with simple lines. Classic but also on trend and would suit the house. Some big pots or baskets with tall palms to add some height too!

Perhaps it’s not the timber but the colour of the stain that says 80s. Painting over that ‘golden syrup’ tone can be difficult. Even after sanding back and using a stain blocking primer, I found our similarly stained door and window frames still leached stain through white paint. It took 4 or 5 coats to cover (some stubborn areas even more). So, in comparison, sanding and stripping the existing stain may not be as arduous as it sounds. The original timber colour may be the ‘modern‘ you’re after. ???

The dining area ceiling I would do in a different white to the walls BUT keep the timber beams -- a more honey yellow on the ceiling may reference the warmth of the beams , but it breaks the oneness of the walls and ceilings . Just be careful you don't go too yellowy as that will get the 70's bumblebee brown and yellow vibe , and no-one wants that haha .

A blue tinge will look clean , but maybe too cold with the tiles ? A warmer pink tinge may work , but risky . I guess it depends on the rest of the colours you intend to introduce there -- curtains , table cloths , chairs , art , etc .

This is a really beautiful house & no expense appears to have been spared. I believe the amount & style of the furniture is so overwhelming, that it’s hard to visualise what the first step is with the interior. To remove the flooring would not only be incredibly expensive but unnecessary. Breaking the areas up with rugs would help, but at the moment perhaps having spent a large amount of money on the dwelling, you may need a professional to look at the interior. This allows for a different perspective on how to capitalise on the beauty of your home. You are indeed most fortunate!

The parquet-type floor areas are amazing. I wouldn't take up the floor tiles till you've made the other adjustments and put in your own furniture and rugs. Replacing the tiles would be a big expense and you may decide you like them. You could always try a matt/satin sealant if you think they are too shiny.

Hi All,

I really do appreciate all the advice and opinions on this thread. Clearly there is lots of experience on this forum. I think for now, I will be moving in with a plan about sorting out the chandeliers as a priority with the rest of the works to be carried out in slower time. Settlement is 2 months away so that gives me some time. I have concluded that I do want to find a way to embrace the timber.

Can anyone recommend an interior designer based in Adelaide that could take on this project?

Regards,

Reza

Why don't you consider Dr Retro and video conferencing, these houses are what he specializes in and handles any work with sensitivity to work with you and the style of that stunning house

Hi Siriuskey,

I think Dr Retro would be a possible good fit and I am keeping it in mind. I guess my preference would be for that person to be local so that can walk through the home and get a real feel before making suggestions/recommendations.

Also keen to find a designer that understands/has experience in Mediterranean homes. Does Dr Retro have that?

I would suggest contacting your Real Estate agent, for a recommendation for several interior decorators or stylists. This is their area of expertise. Something that occurred to me, when looking at the photos, is they are taken by the agent to highlight the property, hence the excessive use of lighting. All the hard surfaces appear too bright, the colours exaggerated. Good luck

I highly recommend you take a look at Canadian designer Sarah Richardson. She did a project called “Retro Ranch Reno” that shares some features with your house - raked timber ceilings, levels etc. Her videos of the renovation are available on her Youtube channel.