Forever home A ’70s split-level is turned into a holiday-style haven

AFTER TWO YEARS SPENT TRANSFORMING A ’70S SPLIT-LEVEL HOUSE INTO THEIR DREAM HOME, THIS FAMILY COULDN’T BE HAPPIER WITH THE RESULT

On any given weekend there can be more than a dozen kids racing through Marnie and John’s Gold Coast property. With a pool in the backyard and a sizeable lawn out the front, their boys Charlie and Tom, along with a horde of friends from the street, divide their time between the prime locations. While the constant stampede is not ideal for the shimmering white hand-trowelled artisan Venetian plaster floors that link the two areas, Marnie isn’t fazed. “The floors show the sand and grubby footprints but it’s nothing a good mop and vacuum can’t fix,” she says. “We’re just so happy that the boys are having the kind of childhood John and I had, where you hang out with the neighbours and play till it’s dark.” When the couple moved in four years ago, they quickly realised how perfect the location was. “It was close to our favourite cafes, we could ride to the beach and we were welcomed by the neighbours, who had kids around the same age as our boys,” says Marnie. The split-level ’70s home was advertised as ‘the best house in the street’, but the couple joke it was one of the worst in terms of appearance. What it did have going for it, though, was solid bones and great insulation courtesy of its double-brick exterior. “We inspected it on a 35-degree day and noticed how cool it was inside,” says John, who is a builder. “It was far too good to knock down so we chose to renovate.” With John tackling much of the work himself, in addition to working full-time, the family decided they would live on-site during the renovation process. “Otherwise I figured we’d never see him!” explains Marnie. “For a while we showered with a hose attached to the hot water system and cooked with an electric frypan, but we just embraced the dust and chaos and got on with it.” The first improvement was adding a pool and also knocking out several internal walls to open up the lower level. Shagpile carpets were unceremoniously ripped out and multicoloured walls were freshened up with several coats of Builders White paint (ask your local paint store if they can mix this up; or try Dulux Lexicon Quarter). Space was borrowed from a balcony to enlarge the main bedroom and allow for a walk-in wardrobe. Bathrooms were updated with chic, yet timeless, finishes, and to boost airflow, every window was replaced with louvres. A new kitchen positioned to overlook the yard set the tone for the stylish monochrome scheme throughout. Layered with jute rugs, timber furniture and an abundance of greenery, the home exudes a laid-back, beach-loving feel, much like its owners. After a true labour of love to create their forever home, the pair couldn’t be happier. “It’s satisfying to have done so much of it ourselves,” says John. “We wouldn’t dream of moving,” adds Marnie. “The kids just love it so much here and so do we!”