Houzz Tours
My Houzz: Tim Ross's Mid-Century Masterpiece
When comedian Tim ‘Rosso’ Ross and his wife Michelle spotted a mid-century home in a Sydney suburb, they knew it was their dream home
Australian comedian and television and radio host, Tim ‘Rosso’ Ross, has long been passionate about mid-century architecture. His latest project is hosting Streets of Your Town, a two-part ABC TV series about modernism, in which he journeys across Australia and around the globe to showcase and celebrate design marvels of this era. Although this is a topic which is, in fact, very close to home.
Designed by architect Bill Baker, Ross’s 1959 home, which he shares with wife Michelle Glew-Ross and their children, embraces the finest modernist aesthetics. They purchased the three-bedroom home with a shapely pool in 2005. Its classic design features meant that it needed minimal renovations, but was the perfect canvas for their growing collection of mid-century furniture pieces.
Designed by architect Bill Baker, Ross’s 1959 home, which he shares with wife Michelle Glew-Ross and their children, embraces the finest modernist aesthetics. They purchased the three-bedroom home with a shapely pool in 2005. Its classic design features meant that it needed minimal renovations, but was the perfect canvas for their growing collection of mid-century furniture pieces.
Modernist homes characteristically embrace light and fresh air, and this expansive home with its bank of floor-to-ceiling windows facing the north-east is a stunning example of the style.
“On a warm day, you open the sliding door upstairs and let the breeze in. It’s this that seems to define why the house still works so well after all these years,” says Ross, who first became a celebrity when he teamed up with Merrick Watts to host the Merrick and Rosso radio show on Triple J. Today, he is also becoming increasingly well-known for his enthusiastic and regular Man About the House talks on arts festival circuits in which he extols the values of modernist architecture for residential living.
“On a warm day, you open the sliding door upstairs and let the breeze in. It’s this that seems to define why the house still works so well after all these years,” says Ross, who first became a celebrity when he teamed up with Merrick Watts to host the Merrick and Rosso radio show on Triple J. Today, he is also becoming increasingly well-known for his enthusiastic and regular Man About the House talks on arts festival circuits in which he extols the values of modernist architecture for residential living.
According to Ross, the home he and Glew-Ross fell in love with and eventually purchased, “was in very good condition because it was well built and had been well maintained by the three previous owners.” They renovated some of the basic service areas such as a small kitchen and bathroom, which had been changed and had “fallen apart over the years”. Otherwise, Ross says the house is mostly original.
Now that the couple have two youngsters, they also found that they couldn’t treat the house as just a mid-century masterpiece. “A house can’t be a museum,” says Ross.
European leather sofa: vintage circa 1979; art print: Stephen Ormandy
Now that the couple have two youngsters, they also found that they couldn’t treat the house as just a mid-century masterpiece. “A house can’t be a museum,” says Ross.
European leather sofa: vintage circa 1979; art print: Stephen Ormandy
It’s clear this house is meant to be a robust family home which welcomes other family members too. Ross is always thrilled when his parents visit from Melbourne. His dad, an antiques dealer, “enjoys being here and is always comfortable sitting in the lounge room reading,” says Ross. “He is of the generation who felt the change of modernism and I think he’s drawn to it.”
The Arne Jacobsen ‘AR’ table light seen here was a gift from Michelle to Tim.
The Arne Jacobsen ‘AR’ table light seen here was a gift from Michelle to Tim.
After moving in, Ross and Glew-Ross felt instantly at home – all that was needed was to position Ross’ collection of mid-century furniture pieces. One of his favourites is an original sideboard #26 by Danish designer, Arne Vodder. In fact, the design was first released in 1959 – the same year the house was built.
Ross has a simple motto when collecting: “Wait and tread softly. Don’t be in a hurry to update or modernise. I think you need to see what you can live with that’s original before you go making wholesale changes,” he says.
Vintage lounge chair with black upholstery: Found
Vintage lounge chair with black upholstery: Found
Between the open-plan lounge area and a small formal dining nook is an area filled with occasional chairs – many with serious design credentials. For example, the shapely aqua Womb chair, seen next to the windows, was designed by Eero Saarinen in 1948. It’s manufactured by Knoll Studio and available in Australia through DeDeCe. “I’ve had it for over 15 years and I absolutely love it. I got it from a vintage store in Surry Hills,” says Ross.
The coffee table is a custom Australian piece made in the 1950s and bought from Shapiro auction house.
The coffee table is a custom Australian piece made in the 1950s and bought from Shapiro auction house.
In this small dining area, which sits next to a half-height wall over which guests can see a modest white kitchen, Ross and Glew-Ross entertain close friends. The half-height wall (seen here to the left of the frame and draped with a pot plant) contains a bookcase that includes dozens of books on architecture and design.
So how does a comedian end up talking about such serious stuff as architecture and town planning? And why modernism? “I was very much inspired by the houses in my local area as a kid,” recalls Ross. “In suburban Mount Eliza [on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula], we had a richness of domestic architecture designed by some of our great Australian modernists, like Grounds, Boyd, and Chancellor and Patrick – and also some outstanding project home builders like Merchant Builders.
“Television was certainly part of my upbringing too, and modernism loomed large on TV in the ’70s, whether it was Hawaii Five-0, The Brady Bunch or even Skippy.”
“Television was certainly part of my upbringing too, and modernism loomed large on TV in the ’70s, whether it was Hawaii Five-0, The Brady Bunch or even Skippy.”
There is also another eat-in area that the family use for everyday meals. It is positioned to the back of the house and directly behind the lounge area. It features a retro dining table surrounded by plastic shell chairs and is serviced by another mid-century sideboard.
Eames fibreglass side chairs: Herman Miller; 1972 turntable: Bang and Olufsen; Australian 1960s sideboard, customised to be a stereo cabinet: 68 May Interiors
Eames fibreglass side chairs: Herman Miller; 1972 turntable: Bang and Olufsen; Australian 1960s sideboard, customised to be a stereo cabinet: 68 May Interiors
As a long-time collector, Ross is happy to name some of his favourite haunts: “In Sydney I love 68 May Interiors [in St Peters]. The owner, Patti, has a great eye and is well priced. I’ve loved popping in and buying things off her over the years. We have four dining chairs by Sydney designer John Duffecy from the 1960s that we picked up a few years back and Michelle and I absolutely love them.
“The guys from Grandfather’s Axe in Melbourne have great taste and always have things that bring you to the brink of getting the cheque book out big time!”
Ceramics, circa 1976: Val Sinclair
“The guys from Grandfather’s Axe in Melbourne have great taste and always have things that bring you to the brink of getting the cheque book out big time!”
Ceramics, circa 1976: Val Sinclair
When it comes to the bedrooms, Glew-Ross has introduced her warm, organic style. As Ross says: “Michelle does the boys’ rooms; I’m not allowed to!” Here, Bugsy’s bedroom features a navy-blue theme that complements the timber elements and tactile floor rug.
It’s easy for a dedicated collector to have a ‘look but don’t touch’ attitude. For Ross, however, that concept needed a rethink when his two kids were born into a house with so much historical value. “We moved certain things, like sculptures, up high for a while but we pretty much let the guys learn that certain things aren’t play toys. We’ve had mixed success,” he says. “My youngest Bobby made a mess of a vintage turntable – which wasn’t exactly joyous.”
Quirky touches appear throughout the family home, such as the vintage finds pictured here, but after fossicking for many decades, Ross feels like he’s achieved his goals now. “I feel quite content with what we’ve got,” he says. “I’ve reached a stage in my life that I don’t need much more stuff.”
Since the house is nearly 60 years old, a few repairs are occasionally required. Ross and Glew-Ross’ master bedroom, for example, is currently being repaired due to some water damage, so the couple have temporarily moved into son Bobby’s bedroom. The pair of leather stools seen here were bought by the couple in Bali.
Although Ross and Glew-Ross have slightly different tastes, they usually meet in the middle. “Mostly, we really only purchase things that we both love, and that has been a godsend,” explains Ross. “We have similar taste in many ways, but I’m definitely less interested in cushions!”
Artwork by Paul Davies: Olsen Irwin Gallery
Artwork by Paul Davies: Olsen Irwin Gallery
Downstairs, there’s a quiet place that doubles as an office and guest bedroom. Pictured here, black slate floor tiles set the tone of the library, showing that materials matter in mid-century homes. “I’ve used stone tiles in random patterns on the walls in a couple of places, which has worked well,” says Ross, who snapped up the Tessa ‘T21’ leather chair and footstool at an op-shop in Richmond in Victoria, and bought the leather sofa from an early 2000 range from King Furniture.
In endeavouring to mix vintage pieces with contemporary elements in a modernist home, Ross suggests showing restraint in materials and finding inspiration in the past. “But don’t be heavy handed with cliches,” he says. “Simple wins every time.”
The camphor wooden chest was originally owned by Ross’ grandmother, and the chair was by Danish designer Finn Juhl, made in 1948.
The camphor wooden chest was originally owned by Ross’ grandmother, and the chair was by Danish designer Finn Juhl, made in 1948.
So, do mid-century modernist dwellings still work in the 21st century? “There is no question that a well-designed home from the 1960s can accommodate a 21st-century lifestyle,” says Dr Judith O’Callaghan, director of postgraduate research at UNSW Built Environment and the author of Designer Suburbs.
“People expect that the modernist house will be much smaller than the average home today, and normally they are. But usually a sense of space is maximised within that smaller footprint through open-plan living areas and the extensive use of glass, providing generous vistas to the outside. A bit of updating perhaps in the bathroom and kitchen, but that’s usually all that’s required.”
A vintage red Ericofon phone for Ericsson Company, bought from a city op-shop, sits on the desk in Ross’s home office.
“People expect that the modernist house will be much smaller than the average home today, and normally they are. But usually a sense of space is maximised within that smaller footprint through open-plan living areas and the extensive use of glass, providing generous vistas to the outside. A bit of updating perhaps in the bathroom and kitchen, but that’s usually all that’s required.”
A vintage red Ericofon phone for Ericsson Company, bought from a city op-shop, sits on the desk in Ross’s home office.
For his upcoming show, Streets of Your Town, Ross has interviewed the likes of Kevin McCloud, Alain de Botton and renowned modernist architects. With them, Ross explains how modernist homes were eventually overtaken by the rise of McMansions in Australia as homeowners desired more internal space. But why is he so negative about this development? “There are so many reasons,” he says. “The main one is the market driving value for money and size over design, where people think size is design!
“We have been sold the dream of big houses and it’s not making us any happier,” Ross says. “Sadly, Australians feel like they need to block out the outside world and create a bunker to protect their families. In many places, it’s strangling the sense of community.”
“We have been sold the dream of big houses and it’s not making us any happier,” Ross says. “Sadly, Australians feel like they need to block out the outside world and create a bunker to protect their families. In many places, it’s strangling the sense of community.”
At the rear of Ross’ wide home is an equally expansive terraced area for family meals outdoors. It’s also where his children play. Adjacent to this is an elevated strip of grass, just long enough for a small soccer patch or cricket pitch on which the two boys can also hurl or kick a ball.
While reasonably sized back (and front) yards such as the one on Ross’ property, were almost a necessity in the 1950s and ’60s, the trend slightly shifted in the 21st century. “Everyone’s free time is being spent locked to the screen of their mobile device or home computer,” explains Dr O’Callaghan. “But backyards – real backyards that are big enough to accommodate more than a blow-up pool and a Weber – are a rarity in new builds where the house can take up most of the block.
“Outdoor life is still encouraged, but it’s within a much more controlled environment where the back of the house opens up to an ‘outdoor area’ rather than a free-ranging backyard,” she says. The Ross family home luckily incorporates the best of both worlds.
While reasonably sized back (and front) yards such as the one on Ross’ property, were almost a necessity in the 1950s and ’60s, the trend slightly shifted in the 21st century. “Everyone’s free time is being spent locked to the screen of their mobile device or home computer,” explains Dr O’Callaghan. “But backyards – real backyards that are big enough to accommodate more than a blow-up pool and a Weber – are a rarity in new builds where the house can take up most of the block.
“Outdoor life is still encouraged, but it’s within a much more controlled environment where the back of the house opens up to an ‘outdoor area’ rather than a free-ranging backyard,” she says. The Ross family home luckily incorporates the best of both worlds.
Another commonplace outdoor feature in the mid-century modern home was the balcony. Back in the 1950s and ’60s, modernist architects pushed the boundaries in so many ways. But not only were the homes daring, they were often dangerous! The low balcony seen here is a perfect example, but Ross has managed to deal with this issue. “There were concerns with the kids falling over the balcony when they were super little. Fortunately, they have worked out that falling on your head isn’t a great life move, so we are sweet there.”
The indoor-outdoor feel of the home was one of the couple’s favourite elements. The original owners added the swimming pool after they won the lottery in the ’60s.
According to Lloyd-Jones, the most hotly contested mid-century listings sought by young families is the typical 150-square-metre home in a simple plan that blends indoor with outdoor.
“Quite often, these designs include beautiful, custom built-in furniture, which is a great space-saving trick, and a mixed interior material palette of brick and timber,” he says. “The result is as delightful today and perhaps even more relevant, given the alternative option of today’s obese project homes.”
According to Lloyd-Jones, the most hotly contested mid-century listings sought by young families is the typical 150-square-metre home in a simple plan that blends indoor with outdoor.
“Quite often, these designs include beautiful, custom built-in furniture, which is a great space-saving trick, and a mixed interior material palette of brick and timber,” he says. “The result is as delightful today and perhaps even more relevant, given the alternative option of today’s obese project homes.”
Ross and Glew-Ross bring a little bit of Palm Springs to the suburbs of Sydney with this sunny yellow colour burst. Michelle purchased two outdoor striped umbrellas online, then Ross brought them back after a trip to the US. To complete the look, they added the Knoll 1966 chaise by Richard Schultz, available from DeDeCe. And further along there are plenty of potted succulents and cactus.
Since Sydney’s North Shore has a wealth of mid-century homes, Ross used to be a regularly visitor at ‘open for inspection’ days. However, since his house is virtually completed, he’s managed to hold back. “But if there’s a cracker, I’m there,” he says with a laugh. “The agents often email and get me to come and have a look just because they know I’m a fan. Marcus [Lloyd-Jones] is very kind and is always happy to let me in to have a stickybeak.”
Although Ross has no plans to leave his modernist home, he often fantasises about future properties. If he had a block of land and money was no object he would still build a modest house, although he’d commission a contemporary designer that embodied some of the ethos of the modernists in their designs. “I’d put Paul Owen, Kennedy Nolan and Hannah Tribe’s names in a hat and then pull one out. There are so many great Australian architects doing good work today, it would be very hard to choose.”
Streets of Your Town will air on November 8 and 15 at 8.30pm, on ABC TV and iview.
TELL US
How do you like mid-century modern homes? If you live in one, we’d love to see pictures of it. Upload your photos or share your thoughts on Tim Ross’ home in the Comments.
Streets of Your Town will air on November 8 and 15 at 8.30pm, on ABC TV and iview.
TELL US
How do you like mid-century modern homes? If you live in one, we’d love to see pictures of it. Upload your photos or share your thoughts on Tim Ross’ home in the Comments.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Tim Ross and wife Michelle Glew-Ross, who runs My General Store, with their sons, five-year-old Bugsy and two-year-old Bobby
Where is it: Sydney’s lower North Shore, NSW
Size: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
According to Marcus Lloyd-Jones from Modern House, an estate agency that only sells architect-designed houses, design enthusiasts have always had an eye for well-designed mid-century houses and furniture. “Tim Ross, and others such as Karen McCartney [editor and author], are at the forefront of bringing mid-century design to a wider audience, which has created a much broader appreciation for the era,” he says. “While there are those who see the value of saving these designs, unfortunately we still continue to see many wonderful designs lost to the wrecking ball. Most recently, and most fortunately, we have seen an early Harry Seidler design, Thurlow House, saved when it changed hands and it is now undergoing a full restoration by Harry Seidler and Associates.”