How a ’60s Gold Coast home got its groove back.

Much loved but in need of serious TLC, this 1960s abode on Queensland’s Gold Coast almost went the way of the dinosaurs. Then it got its groove back.

There’s something very special about a childhood home, the place where memories are created and stowed. For David Dodd, this riverfront property on Queensland’s Gold Coast is that place. But this home is no time capsule.

The three-storey, three-bedroom house was designed circa 1959 by well-known Brisbane architect Bill Conrad of Conrad Gargett. David’s parents bought it in the late 1960s and enjoyed many happy years there raising their family.

By 2013, however, the house was a shadow of its former self. “Mum had moved into a nursing home so no one had been living there for two years,” says David. “Everyone said I should knock it down but I couldn’t – the house has my family’s DNA in it.”

Having made the decision to revamp rather than rebuild, David contacted architect Paul Uhlmann, who decided that while there were serious problems to address, the home had plenty to offer. “The roof and side walls were made from asbestos, there were some tired additions and a lot of the original character features had been covered up over the years,” says Paul. “On the positive side, the house was well situated to take advantage of its river views and had an excellent layout with good cross-ventilation.”

David gave Paul three criteria: don’t alter the 250m2 footprint; keep the Modernist character and feel; and don’t enclose the pool.

After attending to the necessary structural repairs, Paul set about restoring and enhancing the home’s charm. The ground and second floors needed only cosmetic makeovers, but on the first floor, Paul decided to open the kitchen up to the adjacent sitting and dining areas, and create more space by extending the north-facing deck adjoining the living room, which is stepped down from the open-plan zone on a split level.

Paul’s colleague, interior designer Sarah Payne, took charge of reinstating the character. For the newly open-plan space on the first floor, she designed feature joinery with sharp contours; a nod to the home’s angular roofline. On the ground floor,

‘I love that we have been able to keep this wonderful house in the family as well as retain its character.’ David

original terrazzo flooring was repolished to bring it back to its best. For yet another mid-century touch, pine battens were affixed to the ceilings throughout the ground and first floors.

David then brought Penny Middlemiss of Anju Designs on board to solve the last piece of the renovation puzzle: selecting the furnishings. Fine design now abounds: mid-century icons such as Eames loungers and stools, George Nelson clocks and Bubble lights are teamed with future classics such as a sculptural Seito dining table by Wolfgang Mezger – all in the name of combining comfort with style.

In order to fulfill David’s wish that the pool not be enclosed yet comply with contemporary safety regulations, Paul designed a fence that runs the width of the property, separating the house and garden into two zones. “It was the perfect solution,” says David. “You would never know it isn’t original.”

With the project complete, David is certain the decision to renovate was the right one. “I love that we have been able to keep this wonderful house in the family, as well as retain its character,” he says. “That, to me, is priceless.”

Paul Uhlmann Architects, Tugun Beach, Queensland;

(07) 5534 1118 or www.pua.com.au. Anju Designs, New Farm, Queensland; www.anjudesigns.com.au.

MAIN BEDROOM A large mirror above the bed reflects light entering the room, making it feel larger and brighter. Cushions,

Kova Lifestyle. Tuscan Shabha sisal, International Floorcoverings.

ENSUITE A walk-in shower is a luxurious addition. American-walnut joinery ties in with that elsewhere in the house. Popham Hexagonal tiles in Elephant/Milk/Dove, Beach House Tile Studio. Alape Unisono basins and Milli Axon basin mixer, Reece.

Smart buy: David Moreland Design Pendant 45 light in Copper,

$515, The English Tapware Company.

GARDEN The rejuvenated front garden ensures a pleasant journey to the front door. For Where to Buy, see page 188.