Point Of View A boldly modern addition brings a 1920s bungalow in Melbourne’s south-east up to date.
A Melbourne architect took her bungalow’s 1920s features and melded them with a contemporary addition, creating a knockout family home that suits her fine.
The term ‘original condition’ can be a double-edged sword in the property game. That was certainly the case for this late-1920s California bungalow in Melbourne’s south-east. “It had been completely neglected – there was extensive water damage and it needed reroofing, restumping, rewiring and repainting throughout,” recalls architect Fiona Dunin, who purchased the three-bedroom home in 2012. “On the upside, I had never seen a place of this vintage with so much intact period detailing.”
Happily, Fiona’s husband Terry Goutzioulis, who is the practice manager of the firm she heads up (as well as project manager on some of their fitouts), needed little convincing that it could become a fabulous home for them and their daughter Tiggy, 13.
The renovation was conducted in three stages. Phase one involved a complete structural restoration; in phase two, Fiona and Terry extended into the attic space to create a retreat for Tiggy; phase three saw a 63m2 rear extension added to accommodate a new open-plan kitchen/family room, plus a new deck and garden makeover by Eckersley Garden Architecture.
Formerly a sea of cement, the front garden is now a verdant oasis with pretty spring-flowering Chinese redbud trees for impact at the entrance. Inside, the entry hall gives access to the formal living room on the right and the main bedroom and family bathroom on the left. A central corridor leads past the dining room on the right and two more bedrooms and the laundry on the left before arriving in the kitchen/family area.
Fiona and colleague Andrew Carija collaborated on the project, which sensitively combines the best elements of 1920s design with 21st-century style and comfort. Terry, a keen DIYer, did a lot of the work, including the plastering and painting.
DINING Fiona used a light hand here, restoring and making a feature of the original fireplace, decorative ceiling and timber trims. The dining table is a custom piece. ‘A9’ sound system, Bang & Olufsen. Moooi ‘Non Random’ pendant light, Space. Artwork by Robert Owen. Designer buy: ‘Chair 170’ American oak dining chairs, $420 each, Feelgood Designs. STAIRS Thoughtfully designed wine storage makes use of otherwise wasted space. Artwork by Bill Henson. KITCHEN opposite, top right and bottom left A mirrored panel on the island bench reflects light around the room, softening the visual weight of the dark joinery. Mirror, GM Glass. Polytec MDF joinery in Black Wenge Ravine. Benchtop and fascia in Dekton Sirius. Tiles, Artedomus. Fridge, Fisher & Paykel.
Star of the new family room is the five-sided feature window with deep window seat, which Fiona designed to better connect the interior with its newly landscaped surroundings. “I love the window seat; it’s one of my favourite elements,” she says. The surrounding wall is clad in Tasmanian oak that’s been stained a rich dark-chocolate colour in an effort to draw the eye toward the soothing green view.
The moody palette extends into the kitchen, which features black woodgrain-textured laminate joinery and charcoal-toned benches made from Dekton, a composite quartz, porcelain and glass surface that is super strong and scratch-resistant. The kitchen is linked to the dining room via a servery window, an original feature Fiona was keen to retain. “Retaining the servery was a practical way to connect the two rooms and provide a bridge between past and present,” she says.
The dining area is mostly original, apart from one striking feature: a wall of wine storage built into the stairs leading to Tiggy’s attic bedroom. Made from black-painted MDF, the storage unit ties in beautifully with the joinery in the adjacent kitchen. The wine storage works in tandem with a mirrored panel above, which also conforms to the shape of the stairs. “As well as bouncing light around, the mirror reflects what’s going on around the room – all the dynamic movement – and borrows views from the garden,” says Fiona.
All three family members are incredibly happy with their new-old home. “We bought it because we loved all the original features,” says Fiona. “And I think we’ve created something that honours them in a contemporary way.”
FMD Architects, Melbourne, Victoria; (03) 9670 9671 or fmdarchitects.com.au.
MAIN BEDROOM Simple decor allows the architectural features to shine. ‘Tolomeo’ lamp, Artemide. Artecnica ‘Grand Trianon’ pendant light, Dedece. Artwork by Callum Morton. STUDY NOOK The Hans Wegner ‘Wishbone’ chair from Cult is signed by Wegner himself. Hem ‘Drifted’ stools by Lars Beller Fjetland, District. Sashless slider window, Saxon Windows. Joinery, Laminex. Smart buy: Objekto ‘Eclipse’ table lamp, $240, Hub Furniture. MAIN BATHROOM This space was extended by almost a third to accommodate the luxurious freestanding bath. Stone wall and floor tiles, Signorino. Mosaic tiles, Artedomus. Bath sourced from eBay. Basin, Caroma. ‘Posh’ showerhead on rail, and Mizu ‘Drift’ tapware and ceiling rose, all Reece.