Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: Mid-Century Marvel for a Modern Family
Two households become one in an inspiring Edwardian renovation with a focus on repurposing
Helen Sheppard and David Cripps bought their house in Croydon, Adelaide for its size and ‘good bones’ but they weren’t crazy about the existing decor or layout. “The owners wanted to make it their own,” says Rebekah Cichero of One Small Room, the firm hired to rethink the home’s design so that it better met the family’s needs. On the homeowners’ wish list was an open-plan kitchen, dining and lounge area that made living and entertaining easy, and a new bathroom. They also wanted the home to have a stylish, timeless appeal and an individual aesthetic. “We had to bring in light and openness to the layout so that the inside worked with the outside,” says interior designer Cichero, who worked with architect husband Timothy to remove key walls and recreate the home in line with what the owners envisioned.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Helen Sheppard and David Cripps, daughter Claudia, 9, and their cat, Millie
Location: Croydon, Adelaide
Size: 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 2 toilets, 2 lounge/living areas
That’s interesting: The owners both had previous homes before buying this one and moving in together. “This meant two households of furniture, so a big edit was required to work out which furniture pieces should stay and be revamped and which should go, and which new pieces should be brought in to work with family heirlooms and treasured keepsakes,” Cichero says.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Helen Sheppard and David Cripps, daughter Claudia, 9, and their cat, Millie
Location: Croydon, Adelaide
Size: 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 2 toilets, 2 lounge/living areas
That’s interesting: The owners both had previous homes before buying this one and moving in together. “This meant two households of furniture, so a big edit was required to work out which furniture pieces should stay and be revamped and which should go, and which new pieces should be brought in to work with family heirlooms and treasured keepsakes,” Cichero says.
“The kitchen design had to be timeless with a nod to the past,” Cichero says. She chose marine-style hinges, dark sophisticated handles and simple door mouldings. A colour palette of biscuit, white and black ensures it will never date.
The flow from kitchen to dining and lounge is subtle: a step marks the line between zones … and serves as a stage for impromptu children’s performances!
The flow from kitchen to dining and lounge is subtle: a step marks the line between zones … and serves as a stage for impromptu children’s performances!
Cichero and husband Timothy split a Danish wall-mounted unit into four parts to add open shelving storage along with some concealed cabinets to both the dining/lounge area and kitchen.
“Claudia uses the lower section as her drawing desk and, as she outgrows her crafting and drawing years, this will become more display and storage shelving,” Cichero says.
Mid-century black stools: One Small Room
“Claudia uses the lower section as her drawing desk and, as she outgrows her crafting and drawing years, this will become more display and storage shelving,” Cichero says.
Mid-century black stools: One Small Room
A parquetry-topped table is a family treasure and sits comfortably with real Eames fibreglass side chairs. The mega floor lamp by Tolomeo makes a feature of an Ercol rocking chair, sourced by One Small Room, to tie in with the clients’ existing Ercol armchairs in the adjoining lounge room.
The original dining/lounge area had slate tiles, and their removal proved a manageable but challenging aspect of the project.
“We did have a slight panic when the old concrete floor under the tiles proved difficult to deal with,” Cichero says. “The clients were keen to reuse the old concrete floor under the slate tiles to avoid a new pour.”
After the tiles were pulled off and the grinding finished, the floor was pitted with holes. “At first the concreters filled them with a grey filler that looked terrible, so we insisted it had to go and something else be tried,” Cichero says. “It was resolved by using a type of amber-coloured resin fill, which worked really well and added a real point of interest to the flooring.” The homeowners added a lock of Claudia’s hair to one of the holes before it was filled to mark the house as theirs.
The Mid-century sideboard by English label G Plan adds streamlined storage to the dining area and displays some of Helen’s vintage crockery collection.
Wall light: David Trubridge; vintage industrial letters: One Small Room
The original dining/lounge area had slate tiles, and their removal proved a manageable but challenging aspect of the project.
“We did have a slight panic when the old concrete floor under the tiles proved difficult to deal with,” Cichero says. “The clients were keen to reuse the old concrete floor under the slate tiles to avoid a new pour.”
After the tiles were pulled off and the grinding finished, the floor was pitted with holes. “At first the concreters filled them with a grey filler that looked terrible, so we insisted it had to go and something else be tried,” Cichero says. “It was resolved by using a type of amber-coloured resin fill, which worked really well and added a real point of interest to the flooring.” The homeowners added a lock of Claudia’s hair to one of the holes before it was filled to mark the house as theirs.
The Mid-century sideboard by English label G Plan adds streamlined storage to the dining area and displays some of Helen’s vintage crockery collection.
Wall light: David Trubridge; vintage industrial letters: One Small Room
This is the main living/dining area before the revamp. Removing the slate tiles and enlarging the windows to create three sets of glass doors have made the area feel more light and welcoming.
One Small Room specialises in upcycling vintage pieces. As a result, the family’s lounge room features a mix of vintage and designer pieces, along with items the owners already had. The cowhide is from Brazil, while the Mid-century Modern sofa is from Denmark and reupholstered in fabric from Mokum Textiles. The coffee table is also Danish with a reversible top, and the chairs are originals by Ercol, but have been reupholstered in Mokum fabric.
Asked what she and Timothy are most proud of about this project, Cichero says: “That we’ve created a bespoke home that the owners love living and entertaining in and can continue to evolve as their needs change.”
“It is their oasis but it feels welcoming to all. We’ve become friends too, so we get to enjoy the space and garden as well!”
Ceiling light and floor lamp: Artemide; cushions custom-made in Mokum fabric
Asked what she and Timothy are most proud of about this project, Cichero says: “That we’ve created a bespoke home that the owners love living and entertaining in and can continue to evolve as their needs change.”
“It is their oasis but it feels welcoming to all. We’ve become friends too, so we get to enjoy the space and garden as well!”
Ceiling light and floor lamp: Artemide; cushions custom-made in Mokum fabric
The newly laid flooring in the kitchen includes some reclaimed Baltic pine to tie in the hallway, bedrooms and formal living area at the front of the house as seamlessly as possible with the kitchen area. The floors were then sanded throughout and stained a dark chocolate to make them look as though they’d always been there.
Prior to the renovation, the kitchen was cosy but cramped. Walls were removed to open up the kitchen to the rest of the living/dining area.
The fireplace was repurposed by opening it out and removing the cupboards and the old hob to bring it into the 21st century.
The homeowners feel the home accommodates gracious living. “Above all, I love the way the home unfolds as you walk down the hallway, from a traditional Edwardian front to contemporary at the rear (and extending outside too),” Sheppard says.
Floor runner: Floorco; Bentwood originals: One Small Room; hall table: a repurposed bathroom cabinet; artwork: David Cripps; Coral pendants: David Trubridge
Floor runner: Floorco; Bentwood originals: One Small Room; hall table: a repurposed bathroom cabinet; artwork: David Cripps; Coral pendants: David Trubridge
Structurally the entrance hallway is the same. What a difference fresh white paint, a standout light fitting and a dark floorboard stain can make!
“We like to call the formal lounge the ‘Flounge’,” Cichero jokes. “It was to feel relaxing but sophisticated and act as a reading room and TV room but with no focus on the TV – it can’t be seen from the hallway.”
The homeowners also wanted the Flounge to incorporate book storage and embrace old pieces of furniture that the couple treasured (despite them needing updating and reworking).
Cichero sourced Danish Mid-century Modern bookcases to work with an old vintage drinks cabinet and contrast with the rounded lines of the revamped sofa and armchairs.
“Mokum Textiles fabrics were again used to bring life back to some very old but loved furniture pieces, giving them a new lease on life,” Cichero says.
George Nelson Saucer pendant; coffee table: Lex Stobie; ottoman: custom-made in Mokum fabric
The homeowners also wanted the Flounge to incorporate book storage and embrace old pieces of furniture that the couple treasured (despite them needing updating and reworking).
Cichero sourced Danish Mid-century Modern bookcases to work with an old vintage drinks cabinet and contrast with the rounded lines of the revamped sofa and armchairs.
“Mokum Textiles fabrics were again used to bring life back to some very old but loved furniture pieces, giving them a new lease on life,” Cichero says.
George Nelson Saucer pendant; coffee table: Lex Stobie; ottoman: custom-made in Mokum fabric
Cowhides have been used as rugs throughout the home, adding a soft touch to the timber and concrete floors. “Otherwise the floors are left bare and beautiful,” Cichero says.
The spare room acts as a guest bedroom – a bed is brought in as needed. The rest of the time it is Cripps’ home office. The home office has a soft industrial feel with a vintage bus scroll, iron artwork and a photograph by Cripps.
Vintage desk, chair, light and Danish wool upholstered chair: One Small Room; log sidetable: Lex Stobie
The spare room acts as a guest bedroom – a bed is brought in as needed. The rest of the time it is Cripps’ home office. The home office has a soft industrial feel with a vintage bus scroll, iron artwork and a photograph by Cripps.
Vintage desk, chair, light and Danish wool upholstered chair: One Small Room; log sidetable: Lex Stobie
“The couple had a cabinet made on a whim, thinking they might update the existing bathroom, but when they decided to renovate the whole house it wasn’t going to work so we suggested it could be repurposed into a hall table instead by adding a wood top and staining it Japan Black,” Cichero says. “Now it has pride of place in the hallway, adds sleek storage and shows off artwork and special finds.”
The couple wanted the renovation to be as environmentally conscious as possible. Low-VOC paints by Porter’s Paints were used throughout, along with water-based floor sealant. Rainwater is plumbed throughout the house from a 37,000-litre tank that also provides water for the garden.
The couple wanted the renovation to be as environmentally conscious as possible. Low-VOC paints by Porter’s Paints were used throughout, along with water-based floor sealant. Rainwater is plumbed throughout the house from a 37,000-litre tank that also provides water for the garden.
The idea for the main bedroom was to create a luxurious boutique hotel feel. The custom-made bedhead is covered in Mokum Ficus and the resin pendant light is vintage. An old industrial-style safe serves as a bedside table on one side with an antique Chinese stool on the other. Two sizes of Type 75 Anglepoise lamps have been added for “asymmetrical quirk” and to provide good directional light for reading.
Cushions: made with fabric from Mokum Textiles; bedlinen: Sheridan
Cushions: made with fabric from Mokum Textiles; bedlinen: Sheridan
The entrance to the bathroom is off the foyer/entrance area that leads to the kitchen and open-plan dining/living area. “The door sits almost in the centre of the wall that leads in to the bathroom – it’s beautifully framed by a wall of decadent-looking wallpaper,” Cichero says.
The bathroom was functional but in need of an update …
… and a little more room to move.
The wall of the gutted original bathroom was knocked down and pushed out to allow for more space and a freestanding bath. “There was only to be one main bathroom, with a second powder room off the laundry, so it had to be a good one with some clever storage!”
The shower and freestanding bath tie in with the home’s Mid-century Modern theme, as do the classic pennyround floor tiles. The vanity mirror hides a cabinet that has been inset into the brick wall behind. A new louvred panel window floods the bathroom with extra light.
Tapware: Reece; mirror cabinet and vanity by Duravit: Routleys; pennyround tIles: Ceramica
The shower and freestanding bath tie in with the home’s Mid-century Modern theme, as do the classic pennyround floor tiles. The vanity mirror hides a cabinet that has been inset into the brick wall behind. A new louvred panel window floods the bathroom with extra light.
Tapware: Reece; mirror cabinet and vanity by Duravit: Routleys; pennyround tIles: Ceramica
“Claudia’s room was to have a fun element without being themed or too girly,” Cichero says. Nothing was built in to allow the room to evolve over time and change as Claudia grows and her tastes mature. “Bedlinen from Sprout Design and colourful wall art bring in a fun element, and practical storage is achieved by reusing some of their existing furniture including a wardrobe, chest of drawers from Transforma and an old bed that had been passed down in the family.”
The deck has a structural canopy designed by Yardstick Landscapes. Vintage industrial tennis court lights from One Small Room add another quirky touch.
The original home’s old fireplace has been reworked to house the oven, and an old walk-in pantry is now fitted out with the salvaged kitchen cabinetry from the original kitchen, which means appliances can be hidden out of sight but remain easily accessible. The walk-in pantry also conceals a bank of outlets to plug in mobile phones, laptops and iPads, keeping them off the benchtop and the kitchen looking far more clean and tidy as a result.
Mid-century barstools give the space a fashionable feel, and the crew from One Small Room gave the homeowners an original old-school clock as a gift when the project was finished.
Drawer handles: Mother of Pearl & Sons Trading; MHY Pendants by Muuto: One Small Room