Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: An Adelaide Modern Classic Welcomes the Family Home
A Mid-century Modern renovation delivers a seamless abode able to effortlessly accommodate visiting children and grandchildren
Sue and Ross had just bought their beautiful Victorian double-fronted villa, and loved it, but they needed help to personalise the interior and make it guest-ready for their children and grandchildren visiting from interstate and overseas. The house had already been extended before they moved in and the couple had decorated the formal living area and front bedrooms to their liking, but they asked interior designers Jaana Bithell and Julie Pieda from Adelaide’s Koush Furniture + Interiors to take on the task of transforming the back living spaces, main bathroom and study to better meet their needs. “We wanted help with furniture and lighting to give the inside of the house a more interesting feel,” says homeowner Sue.
The outdoor area was also dated and underused, so Sue and Ross requested a an outdoor kitchen, dining area and pool to make it more welcoming. “As the living room was completely open to the courtyard, it was critical that the exterior living area was completely integrated with the interiors, so the rear of the property was seamless,” says Bithell.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Couple Sue and Ross, with their visiting adult children and grandchildren who live interstate and overseas
Location: Unley, an inner suburb of Adelaide, SA
Size: 3 bedrooms, study, formal lounge, open-plan living/kitchen, 2 bathrooms and a cellar
The outdoor area was also dated and underused, so Sue and Ross requested a an outdoor kitchen, dining area and pool to make it more welcoming. “As the living room was completely open to the courtyard, it was critical that the exterior living area was completely integrated with the interiors, so the rear of the property was seamless,” says Bithell.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Couple Sue and Ross, with their visiting adult children and grandchildren who live interstate and overseas
Location: Unley, an inner suburb of Adelaide, SA
Size: 3 bedrooms, study, formal lounge, open-plan living/kitchen, 2 bathrooms and a cellar
The biggest challenge of this project was that all the decisions made for the unfinished rooms in the house had to be sympathetic to the home’s Modern Classic style, as well as the rooms already finished. The tables, lamp and artwork in this room, for example, belonged to the clients and had to be incorporated into the final design. “Existing fixtures, fittings and flooring surfaces needed to work in with our new designs and product selections,” Bithell says. “We needed to integrate the whole property design into a seamless Modern Classic feel from front to back and into the outside.”
In the living room, the experts at Koush Furniture + Interiors custom-designed these armchairs using Australian oak and linen upholstery, and cushions with black and white piping detail.
Bithell and Pieda custom-made the sofa using aniline leather, and made the contrasting black and white cushions. The floor rug, from The Rug Establishment, was made to Koush’s specifications using hand-knotted New Zealand wool based on a traditional tribal design.
The custom-made Grate Sideboard has a grey two-pack finish, with a perforated side for the sound system’s subwoofer.
The same colour theme ties the dining area in with the rest of the living space. The Hive [design by hive] MOLLY LAMP Suspension Lamp that presides over the dining table matches the one hanging over the kitchen bench to make the rooms flow easily together. The Croissant dining chairs feature sumptuous grey felt.
“We are thrilled with the result and the blending of what was already done to the house by the previous owner,” Sue says. “We wanted a modern edge to an old house.”
This ‘Before’ shot shows what the outdoor looked like when Sue and Ross first moved in.
Entertaining family and friends is easy with this versatile inside-outside area. “The back deck is now an extension of our living room,” Sue says.
“We incorporated light fixtures on the back fence of the outdoor area, which added a feature that can be seen from both inside and outside the house,” says Bithell. A retractable sail over the outdoor seating area means Sue and Ross can entertain no matter how hot it gets during the summer months.
The banquette seating creates a comfortable area for guests to relax and unwind day or night.
Shade structure: Shadeform; Banquette seating and cushions: Koush Furniture + Interiors
Shade structure: Shadeform; Banquette seating and cushions: Koush Furniture + Interiors
The couple wanted their outdoor living space to be low-maintenance, and for it to be able to neatly house the pool equipment out of sight. The space under the banquette seating fit the bill for storage.
Outdoor kitchen benchtop: Mintaro Slate; Butterfly chair (left): Angelucci 20th Century; custom butterfly chair cover: MuuMuu Design
Outdoor kitchen benchtop: Mintaro Slate; Butterfly chair (left): Angelucci 20th Century; custom butterfly chair cover: MuuMuu Design
This ‘Before’ shot shows just how different the back yard looked.
The previous owners had already obtained planning permission for a pool, so the couple went ahead and had one put in.
Bithell and Pieda selected the pool tiles, including the yellow lap pool stripe, to tie in with the other grey and green tones used in the outdoor area. “The lap pool fits seamlessly along the side of the house and looks fantastic,” says Sue.
More: Expert Tips for Designing a Small-Space Swimming Pool
More: Expert Tips for Designing a Small-Space Swimming Pool
The study area wasn’t functioning well as either a home office or a guest room, and needed storage to make it more functional.
“The study had to work as a guest room but it also needed to be an effective study when it wasn’t in use by guests,” says Bithell.
A custom unit of two-pack Queensland walnut veneer with two workstations and plenty of storage was incorporated. It also includes docking for a laptop, a pin board for notes, space for a multifunction printer and a filing drawer, all tucked away out of sight. Shelving for books and display items was a must, as was a sofa bed and hanging rail for guests’ clothing.
“The study had to work as a guest room but it also needed to be an effective study when it wasn’t in use by guests,” says Bithell.
A custom unit of two-pack Queensland walnut veneer with two workstations and plenty of storage was incorporated. It also includes docking for a laptop, a pin board for notes, space for a multifunction printer and a filing drawer, all tucked away out of sight. Shelving for books and display items was a must, as was a sofa bed and hanging rail for guests’ clothing.
The study before the experts at Koush started work on it.
The main bathroom had been split into a small bathroom and a powder room in a previous renovation, both of which had entries directly off of the lounge area.
Vanity: Hanex; tiles: Academy Tiles; taps: Astra Walker; showerhead: Hahnsgrohe; bath: Caroma
Vanity: Hanex; tiles: Academy Tiles; taps: Astra Walker; showerhead: Hahnsgrohe; bath: Caroma
Bithell redesigned the bathroom layout to create one large family-sized bathroom for guest use. “We moved the entry to this area to the opposite bathroom wall, which leads to a corridor containing the cellar access and laundry, and is out of the direct living area,” she says. “This created a clean wall for a custom sideboard, artwork and a TV, which was important as most of the living room walls are glass.”
“Combining the two existing bathrooms created a generous-sized bathroom, but left the proportions of the room long and narrow,” Bithell says. “We used a long run of mirrors above the vanity to make the room feel much wider than it is.”
The bathroom also features textured tiles and cove lighting to give an open, yet welcoming feel. “The floating vanity and freestanding fixtures add a sense of luxury, while leaving the bathroom as open as possible to maximise the use of the space,” Bithell says. The bathroom also has plenty of bench space for guests’ toiletry bags.