Houzz Tour: 1970s Home With a Cool Contemporary Look
A home renovation in Australia promotes indoor-outdoor living with an open plan that improves connections to the backyard
How do you reconfigure an older home’s floor plan and introduce modern finishes while keeping a retro style intact? The owners of this ’70s abode in Melbourne, Australia, wanted to blend the best of the house’s midcentury features while updating the living spaces to suit their lifestyle. The problem as they saw it was that the existing floor plan had no clear circulation flow and lacked connection to the outdoors. The family wanted to take better advantage of their property’s spacious backyard.
Nest Architects rearranged the upstairs living spaces into an open-plan design that takes advantage of the views. The designers also reshaped the house by moving the children’s bedrooms downstairs with direct access to outdoor play areas, and added upstairs balconies for adult outdoor entertaining with direct access to the kitchen. Then they connected them all with an open balcony and an external staircase. “We wanted to create a really social house,” says Emilio Fuscaldo of Nest Architects. “We didn’t want it to be precious or stuffy. It had to have a timeless feel about it.”
Nest Architects rearranged the upstairs living spaces into an open-plan design that takes advantage of the views. The designers also reshaped the house by moving the children’s bedrooms downstairs with direct access to outdoor play areas, and added upstairs balconies for adult outdoor entertaining with direct access to the kitchen. Then they connected them all with an open balcony and an external staircase. “We wanted to create a really social house,” says Emilio Fuscaldo of Nest Architects. “We didn’t want it to be precious or stuffy. It had to have a timeless feel about it.”
The extent of the renovation is best seen from the back of the home. A large, open steelwork grid organizes the different volumes into zones while expressing the house as a unified whole.
Fuscaldo’s design scheme allowed the owners to fully enjoy their backyard while providing space for entertaining outside on the deck or the upstairs balcony. In this way, a greater connection with the outside was achieved and, at the same time, zones were established so that everyone has a space of their own.
“It’s a really big renovation,” Fuscaldo says, “but it doesn’t feel big when you visit the house. Also, it doesn’t feel ostentatious or over-the-top. It’s subtle and timeless, which is what we set out to achieve.”
Fuscaldo’s design scheme allowed the owners to fully enjoy their backyard while providing space for entertaining outside on the deck or the upstairs balcony. In this way, a greater connection with the outside was achieved and, at the same time, zones were established so that everyone has a space of their own.
“It’s a really big renovation,” Fuscaldo says, “but it doesn’t feel big when you visit the house. Also, it doesn’t feel ostentatious or over-the-top. It’s subtle and timeless, which is what we set out to achieve.”
Upstairs, hints of the original retro style can be seen in the large open-plan kitchen and dining room with the bold color choices and the use of wood. The design team wanted the built-in cabinetry to leap off the white walls but were mindful not to make the space feel overdesigned.
Pendant light: Coco Flip; counter stools: Matt Blatt; Segmented dining table by Eames: Herman Miller via Luke Furniture; cabinet paint: White and Swedish Blue, Dulux
Pendant light: Coco Flip; counter stools: Matt Blatt; Segmented dining table by Eames: Herman Miller via Luke Furniture; cabinet paint: White and Swedish Blue, Dulux
Entertaining spaces flow from one to the other in an open-plan design, with views to exterior courtyards and patios. The openness invites in the natural light.
In the living room, opposite the kitchen and across from the stairs, a bluestone hearth provides seating, and houses an entertainment unit for the TV and AV system. “We always try and incorporate as much open shelving as we can into all of our projects so that clients have the means to decorate and display their lives,” Fuscaldo says.
The living areas connect directly onto a slate-paved outdoor patio, which is subtly partitioned into three sections: herb garden, eating area and covered seating space. This section of the outdoor space is heated by a two-way fireplace and makes being outdoors much more comfortable for the homeowners. The wood-paneled walls inside and out create a sense of continuity between the two spaces.
“The changes allow the owners to fully enjoy their backyard and also allow them to entertain outside on the balcony. We created a greater connection with the outside, but at the same time zoning the house so that everyone had a space of their own,” Fuscaldo says.
Table: Classic With a Twist; chairs: Emu via Zenith Interiors
“The changes allow the owners to fully enjoy their backyard and also allow them to entertain outside on the balcony. We created a greater connection with the outside, but at the same time zoning the house so that everyone had a space of their own,” Fuscaldo says.
Table: Classic With a Twist; chairs: Emu via Zenith Interiors
Nest Architects’ designs include ample solid wood and wood veneer elements, so color choices were made with wood tones in mind. Dark green and dusty blues pair beautifully with light ash and oak in the hallway. The dark green cabinetry features custom door panels that attempt to mimic the folds of a fabric. The effect softens and adds texture and color to a large expanse of storage.
“Nicole has a really great eye for color and styling, so it’s no surprise that the art throughout the house has been somewhat curated to combine with the color we used,” Fuscaldo says.
At the end of the corridor and around the corner is a hidden door to the master bedroom.
Green paint: Urban Garden, Dulux
“Nicole has a really great eye for color and styling, so it’s no surprise that the art throughout the house has been somewhat curated to combine with the color we used,” Fuscaldo says.
At the end of the corridor and around the corner is a hidden door to the master bedroom.
Green paint: Urban Garden, Dulux
The door, concealed in the woodwork when closed, opens to the master bedroom.
An interior courtyard provides access to light and air for the master bedroom.
The client was eager to use wallpaper and chose a tropical leaf print for the bathroom to acknowledge the ’70s feel of the existing house.
Wallpaper: Martinique; Formoso stone composite bathtub: Clearwater via Reece
Wallpaper: Martinique; Formoso stone composite bathtub: Clearwater via Reece
The other pièce de résistance in the master bedroom is the walk-in closet, which is fitted with cabinetry in the same teal tone as the bedroom.
Pendant light: George Nelson;
custom woodwork: Teasel Wood Cabinets
Pendant light: George Nelson;
custom woodwork: Teasel Wood Cabinets
Conversely, in the second bathroom, located near the living area, Nest Architects embraced the small space and let loose with glossy black tile.
Subway tile: De Fazio Tiles & Stone
Subway tile: De Fazio Tiles & Stone
The children’s bedrooms and playroom are located downstairs with direct access to the garden.
The design team chose a blue-green Pirelli rubber to line sections of the stairs to match the greens and blues used upstairs. It complements the copper rail and blond wood tones.
“We saw those stairs as being a stage for the kids to play on, so the material had to be hard-wearing — hence the use of rubber — and it had to be fun — hence the use of color,” Fuscaldo says.
The design team chose a blue-green Pirelli rubber to line sections of the stairs to match the greens and blues used upstairs. It complements the copper rail and blond wood tones.
“We saw those stairs as being a stage for the kids to play on, so the material had to be hard-wearing — hence the use of rubber — and it had to be fun — hence the use of color,” Fuscaldo says.
All three kids love that they have their own play area, and their bedrooms have been designed to endure the years.
Charlotte’s bedroom is stylish and fun with a sturdy bed frame by Norsu Interiors.
Charlotte’s bedroom is stylish and fun with a sturdy bed frame by Norsu Interiors.
Steel boxes protrude into the bedrooms, creating built-in study desks.
The operable windows frame views to a paved side yard that slopes up to the carport at the front of the house.
The greatest reward after the construction was completed? “Definitely moving back in after two years of planning and 12 months of building, to a house that works perfectly for us as a family,” Nicole Neal says.
Builders: TCM Building Group
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The greatest reward after the construction was completed? “Definitely moving back in after two years of planning and 12 months of building, to a house that works perfectly for us as a family,” Nicole Neal says.
Builders: TCM Building Group
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Who lives here: Nicole and David Neal; their children, Callum, 14, James, 13, and Charlotte, 8; and dog Murray
Location: Glen Iris, Victoria, Australia
Size: Five bedrooms, four bathrooms
Budget: US$837,700
Designer: Nest Architects
The sloping site of this house allowed for a street-level entry, which leads directly to the main-floor living spaces (on the upper level). Interior stairs step down (in line with the slope) to the children’s areas and the backyard.
The exterior of the house was mostly kept intact. Cement work and fresh paint on the original brick walls freshened it up. The two existing windows were retrofitted with perforated screens to obscure views into and out of an en suite bathroom and dressing room.