Before & After: A Dark & Dated Californian Bungalow Glows Up
This 1930s house was full of character, but it had dark rooms and rotting timber – see how it was brought back to life
Georgia Madden
1 July 2021
In this Q&A series, we turn the spotlight on one thought-provoking build or renovation each week. Here, Tennille Burnup, interior designer and principal at Tennille Joy Interiors, reveals how she breathed new life and functionality into a 1930s home that hadn’t been touched for generations.
Pictured: Tennille Joy Burnup
Images by Rachel Winton Photography
Answers by Tennille Joy Burnup, interior designer and principal at Tennille Joy Interiors
Who lives here: A couple with two children
Location: Moonee Ponds, Victoria
Number of bedrooms and bathrooms before works: Four bedrooms, one bathroom
Number of bedrooms and bathrooms after works: Four bedrooms, three bathrooms and one powder room
Size: Approximately 225 square metres
Interior design and styling: Tennille Joy Interiors
How did you use Houzz for this project?
We drew design inspiration for this project from the beautiful images on Houzz.
Images by Rachel Winton Photography
Answers by Tennille Joy Burnup, interior designer and principal at Tennille Joy Interiors
Who lives here: A couple with two children
Location: Moonee Ponds, Victoria
Number of bedrooms and bathrooms before works: Four bedrooms, one bathroom
Number of bedrooms and bathrooms after works: Four bedrooms, three bathrooms and one powder room
Size: Approximately 225 square metres
Interior design and styling: Tennille Joy Interiors
How did you use Houzz for this project?
We drew design inspiration for this project from the beautiful images on Houzz.
The original house plan
Describe the house
An original Californian bungalow that had been in the same family for generations. It was mostly in its original condition when the new owners purchased it.
Ready to renovate? Find a local interior designer on Houzz
Describe the house
An original Californian bungalow that had been in the same family for generations. It was mostly in its original condition when the new owners purchased it.
Ready to renovate? Find a local interior designer on Houzz
The kitchen before works
What condition was it in when you came onboard?
It was dark, damp and uncomfortable.
The original roof tiles and internal timber panelling were ready to be replaced, so we stripped everything back and started again. This is the nature of a home built in the 1930s. The challenge here was keeping the heritage charm while creating a clean, fresh and liveable home.
What condition was it in when you came onboard?
It was dark, damp and uncomfortable.
The original roof tiles and internal timber panelling were ready to be replaced, so we stripped everything back and started again. This is the nature of a home built in the 1930s. The challenge here was keeping the heritage charm while creating a clean, fresh and liveable home.
What wasn’t working for the client about the original home?
The client particularly wanted a playroom for the children.
The original living room and dining room were connected via glass French doors. We closed off these two rooms and turned the living room into a playroom and the dining room into a bedroom.
The client particularly wanted a playroom for the children.
The original living room and dining room were connected via glass French doors. We closed off these two rooms and turned the living room into a playroom and the dining room into a bedroom.
Brief
Our role was to modernise the kitchen, bathroom, hallway and laundry to be functional yet classic, while paying respect to the heritage of the home.
We kept the original elements such as the hallway timber panelling and replaced the damp-damaged sections with new panelling in the original style.
Our role was to modernise the kitchen, bathroom, hallway and laundry to be functional yet classic, while paying respect to the heritage of the home.
We kept the original elements such as the hallway timber panelling and replaced the damp-damaged sections with new panelling in the original style.
What were the client’s must-haves:
- Subway tiles to the kitchen.
- Natural stone for the kitchen island bench.
- A double vanity for the ensuite.
- A bright, airy and light-filled interior.
The hallway before works
What did you identify as the main issues with the house?
The main issue was how to keep the heritage style and balance this with a new contemporary extension. The solution was to keep the cornicing in the original rooms, with a square-set ceiling in the new spaces.
Everything in the house was original. It can be a sin to paint beautiful timber white. But the hallway timber was rotting, however, and we saw this as a sign to replace, restore and paint the hallway a warm white. The texture and character is there, yet the space feels much larger now the light bounces off the walls.
What did you identify as the main issues with the house?
The main issue was how to keep the heritage style and balance this with a new contemporary extension. The solution was to keep the cornicing in the original rooms, with a square-set ceiling in the new spaces.
Everything in the house was original. It can be a sin to paint beautiful timber white. But the hallway timber was rotting, however, and we saw this as a sign to replace, restore and paint the hallway a warm white. The texture and character is there, yet the space feels much larger now the light bounces off the walls.
The beautiful door was an original feature. The client is very passionate about restoration and spent a lot of time lovingly restoring and painting them.
Was this a decorative project or did you specify structural changes too?
This was more of a finishes specification, however we also gave advice on the layout and joinery.
I selected colours and finishes, helped select furniture and installed new window furnishings.
Was this a decorative project or did you specify structural changes too?
This was more of a finishes specification, however we also gave advice on the layout and joinery.
I selected colours and finishes, helped select furniture and installed new window furnishings.
Gained
- A new kitchen.
- Two new bathrooms (including one in the new studio), a new powder room and the renovation of an existing bathroom.
- A new self-contained studio upstairs with a bedroom, storage and ensuite.
- A new alfresco entertaining area.
- A renovated laundry.
- New floorboards.
- New colour and materials palettes inside and out.
What exactly did you do?
The old house practically became a new house. It was a real labour of love.
Restumping, new floorboards, new panel work, a new first-floor self-contained studio addition, plus a new kitchen, alfresco entertaining area, three bathrooms and a powder room provided this family and their extended family with the modern comforts they sought.
The downstairs floor plan was completely reconfigured. The three original bedrooms were moved to allow for two new bathrooms (one of which is a powder room) and an ensuite. We added in a second living area and we created three bedrooms (one of which was the original dining room). The fourth bedroom is in the self-contained studio.
The old house practically became a new house. It was a real labour of love.
Restumping, new floorboards, new panel work, a new first-floor self-contained studio addition, plus a new kitchen, alfresco entertaining area, three bathrooms and a powder room provided this family and their extended family with the modern comforts they sought.
The downstairs floor plan was completely reconfigured. The three original bedrooms were moved to allow for two new bathrooms (one of which is a powder room) and an ensuite. We added in a second living area and we created three bedrooms (one of which was the original dining room). The fourth bedroom is in the self-contained studio.
What was your thinking behind the colour and materials palette?
The clients are of European heritage where things are meant to last for a lifetime. In Italy, some families take their stone with them when moving house, giving it a patina and richness for generations of pastry rolling. We drew on this sentiment to create timeless spaces that will last.
The clients are of European heritage where things are meant to last for a lifetime. In Italy, some families take their stone with them when moving house, giving it a patina and richness for generations of pastry rolling. We drew on this sentiment to create timeless spaces that will last.
What challenges did you have to work around during this project?
The builder was very precise, but took much longer than estimated. The roof tiling was held up by the weather and there were issues with the new brickwork.
The clients had lived in the house for several years before renovating, so they patiently waited for their dream home to come to life.
The builder was very precise, but took much longer than estimated. The roof tiling was held up by the weather and there were issues with the new brickwork.
The clients had lived in the house for several years before renovating, so they patiently waited for their dream home to come to life.
The main bathroom before works
What are the defining features of the house now?
What are the defining features of the house now?
- There are several areas for the adults and children to escape to and relax.
- A dedicated playroom for the children and a second living area and alfresco area that caters to the adults, entertaining and family time.
- A private studio upstairs that provides a comfortable and secluded space for the grandparents to stay for extended stretches of time.
The main bathroom after works
- The character and heritage of the home is still there, which gives me joy.
- Light-filled, inviting and luxurious spaces.
Why do you think the house works so well?
Each part of the house is generous in its proportions and multi-functional. There are spaces to be social and dine together and watch TV, as well as several areas to recharge and relax.
The timber floorboards throughout the house make it easy for the robot vacuum to do its work.
Each part of the house is generous in its proportions and multi-functional. There are spaces to be social and dine together and watch TV, as well as several areas to recharge and relax.
The timber floorboards throughout the house make it easy for the robot vacuum to do its work.
View through to the dining room after works
Key design aspects
Interior materials palette
Key design aspects
Interior materials palette
- Spotted-gum timber flooring.
- Super White dolomite to the kitchen island benchtop.
- CDK Stone Turco Argento limestone to the ensuite splashback.
- Kitchen splashback tiles and ensuite tiles from Tennille Joy Interiors.
- Ross Gardam Ora pendant lights to the kitchen.
- Polytec Sepia Oak to the ensuite joinery.
The ensuite features a double vanity
Paint colours
Paint colours
- Dulux Natural White throughout.
- Dulux Natural White half-strength to the kitchen cabinetry.
Your turn
Do you like this thoughtful makeover as much as we do? Tell us your favourite features in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Keen to see another sensitive renovation of a heritage home? Don’t miss this story: From Victorian Butcher’s Shop to Show-Stopping Contemporary Home
Do you like this thoughtful makeover as much as we do? Tell us your favourite features in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Keen to see another sensitive renovation of a heritage home? Don’t miss this story: From Victorian Butcher’s Shop to Show-Stopping Contemporary Home
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It makes me sad to see all that beautiful timber painted over with a stark white. But it does look brighter, I guess.
Great transformation! Making the hall white and bright was an excellent idea!
Amazing what a coat of white paint did to the hallway, well done.