Project Of The Week
Before & After: A Light-Drenched Home in the Heart of Coogee
This breezy family home in one of Sydney's beachside suburbs is the essence of relaxed Australian coastal style
It was the beach culture that did it. Having immigrated from Europe, this couple, then with a toddler in tow, fell in love with Coogee in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. Wanting to make new lives for themselves in this beachside area, they bought this 1960s duplex as their first home and, as soon as the ink was dry, set to work on a renovation plan with their chosen interior designer, Jodie Carter.
Original ground-floor plan.
The couple found interior designer Jodie Carter of Jodie Carter Design on Houzz and hired her for their renovation. From there, they briefed her to redesign the home without enlarging the footprint.
Although the beachside location of Coogee was perfect, the duplex had its fair share of problems. The 1960s-era kitchen was well past its heyday, the bathrooms were dated, the layout of the living areas was not conducive to modern living, the laundry was poky and, to top it off, the floors were orange.
The couple found interior designer Jodie Carter of Jodie Carter Design on Houzz and hired her for their renovation. From there, they briefed her to redesign the home without enlarging the footprint.
Although the beachside location of Coogee was perfect, the duplex had its fair share of problems. The 1960s-era kitchen was well past its heyday, the bathrooms were dated, the layout of the living areas was not conducive to modern living, the laundry was poky and, to top it off, the floors were orange.
Original first-floor plan.
“My team and I were entrusted to design a space that was not only visually pleasing, but suited this young growing family’s individual way of living, with wow factor and practical elements combined,” says Carter.
Inspired to start planning your own renovation? Find an interior designer near you on Houzz
“My team and I were entrusted to design a space that was not only visually pleasing, but suited this young growing family’s individual way of living, with wow factor and practical elements combined,” says Carter.
Inspired to start planning your own renovation? Find an interior designer near you on Houzz
Ground-floor plan after works.
Major improvements included redesigning the kitchen and adjacent laundry as well as the home’s three bathrooms. The layouts of the living spaces also needed optimising.
Then there were the all-new extras the couple wanted for their first family home: a beautiful bookcase to house their extensive collection, and a dry bar for wine and whisky so they could wind down at the end of the day.
Major improvements included redesigning the kitchen and adjacent laundry as well as the home’s three bathrooms. The layouts of the living spaces also needed optimising.
Then there were the all-new extras the couple wanted for their first family home: a beautiful bookcase to house their extensive collection, and a dry bar for wine and whisky so they could wind down at the end of the day.
First-floor plan after works.
While the spatial planning had its challenges, the inspiration for the decor style was easy to identify. “The homeowners are so chic and effortlessly beautiful themselves, this makes the home a reflection of them. They were our inspiration,” says Carter.
Accordingly, the home has a sophisticated yet relaxed ambience, with the decor – sandy oak floors and joinery, white features, touches of rattan and blue – reflecting the coastal views on offer.
While the spatial planning had its challenges, the inspiration for the decor style was easy to identify. “The homeowners are so chic and effortlessly beautiful themselves, this makes the home a reflection of them. They were our inspiration,” says Carter.
Accordingly, the home has a sophisticated yet relaxed ambience, with the decor – sandy oak floors and joinery, white features, touches of rattan and blue – reflecting the coastal views on offer.
Walls painted in Modern White: Dulux; hooks: Muuto.
This was no small project. First the floors were sanded back, before a lime wash was applied to remove the orange stain. The oak floorboards were then polyurethaned with a clear coat in a matt finish.
“Sanding back the original hardwood flooring and staircase to showcase a lighter coastal finish was key in tying all the fresh new additions together,” says Carter.
This was no small project. First the floors were sanded back, before a lime wash was applied to remove the orange stain. The oak floorboards were then polyurethaned with a clear coat in a matt finish.
“Sanding back the original hardwood flooring and staircase to showcase a lighter coastal finish was key in tying all the fresh new additions together,” says Carter.
The stairs before works.
The original stairs were dark and heavy, with timber railing and stainless-steel balusters.
The original stairs were dark and heavy, with timber railing and stainless-steel balusters.
Benchseat and rug: Canvas + Sasson.
Today, the light oak colour sets the tone for the home’s calming beachside aesthetic. VJ panelling is also used selectively throughout the home. “It is quintessentially coastal and suits the overall casual elegance,” says Carter.
Where a piano originally stood at the entrance, a rattan bench seat now sits atop a textured rug and plays to the beachy aesthetic.
Today, the light oak colour sets the tone for the home’s calming beachside aesthetic. VJ panelling is also used selectively throughout the home. “It is quintessentially coastal and suits the overall casual elegance,” says Carter.
Where a piano originally stood at the entrance, a rattan bench seat now sits atop a textured rug and plays to the beachy aesthetic.
The downstairs bathroom features a touch of blue to reflect the coastal location.
The living area after works.
Beyond the entrance is an internal courtyard that brings light directly into the rooms on the ground floor.
Beyond the entrance is an internal courtyard that brings light directly into the rooms on the ground floor.
The living area before works.
The family previously squashed a sofa and TV into a corner of the living room, which was dominated by generic white cabinetry and two disc-like pendant lights.
The family previously squashed a sofa and TV into a corner of the living room, which was dominated by generic white cabinetry and two disc-like pendant lights.
The living area after works. Walls painted in Modern White: Dulux; joinery in Italian Elm: New Age Veneers; sofa: Jardan.
Now, this is where the family gather to watch television of an evening. Carter opened up this room and orientated it towards the central courtyard, making a large slouchy sofa, which the family can curl up on together, the centrepiece of the space.
She designed a wall of joinery to house the TV as well as the couple’s book collection. A white-panelled storage box hides pesky accessories.
“As a family with young children and all that comes with them, you always need storage,” says Carter. “They also had a large collection of books that they really wanted displayed so the joinery in the living room is designed around that,” she says.
Now, this is where the family gather to watch television of an evening. Carter opened up this room and orientated it towards the central courtyard, making a large slouchy sofa, which the family can curl up on together, the centrepiece of the space.
She designed a wall of joinery to house the TV as well as the couple’s book collection. A white-panelled storage box hides pesky accessories.
“As a family with young children and all that comes with them, you always need storage,” says Carter. “They also had a large collection of books that they really wanted displayed so the joinery in the living room is designed around that,” she says.
In the left-hand corner of the living room is a custom-designed dry bar. “The owners love to have a quiet drink in the evening and they collect beautiful wines and whisky, so it was important to have a place for these,” says Carter.
Beyond the bar area, open doors lead to a balcony. Behind it lies a study.
Beyond the bar area, open doors lead to a balcony. Behind it lies a study.
Coffee table: Boyd Blue; rug: Tribe Home.
Dining room before works.
On the other side of the internal courtyard is the open-plan dining area and kitchen. Previously, the dining room featured orange-toned floors and beige walls.
On the other side of the internal courtyard is the open-plan dining area and kitchen. Previously, the dining room featured orange-toned floors and beige walls.
Linea Sleigh dining table: GlobeWest; the Hans Wegner and Vitra chairs are the owners’ originals.
Carter’s brief was to make the space suitable for a large family table and facilitate flow, physically and aesthetically, to the adjacent terrace. To accomplish this she had the room painted white, added VJ panelling to the walls and sourced a large oak dining table.
To tie this area into the outdoor terrace, she worked with the landscapers to select French patterned paving in a colourway that matched the interior flooring.
Carter’s brief was to make the space suitable for a large family table and facilitate flow, physically and aesthetically, to the adjacent terrace. To accomplish this she had the room painted white, added VJ panelling to the walls and sourced a large oak dining table.
To tie this area into the outdoor terrace, she worked with the landscapers to select French patterned paving in a colourway that matched the interior flooring.
The kitchen before works.
The kitchen after works.
The couple’s wish list for their new kitchen at the rear of the dining area included a breakfast bar with bar stools and a better spatial alignment of the room, with more drawers and easy access to kitchen essentials.
Carter kept the kitchen layout and the bi-fold doors but redesigned the space for the family’s needs. She created a panelled breakfast bar where there had previously only been an island bench, and she updated the cabinetry and lighting.
The couple’s wish list for their new kitchen at the rear of the dining area included a breakfast bar with bar stools and a better spatial alignment of the room, with more drawers and easy access to kitchen essentials.
Carter kept the kitchen layout and the bi-fold doors but redesigned the space for the family’s needs. She created a panelled breakfast bar where there had previously only been an island bench, and she updated the cabinetry and lighting.
It was the kitchen’s relationship to the laundry (secreted to the right of the kitchen) that provided the biggest issue for Carter. “Figuring out how to make the best use of the laundry and pantry from the kitchen when we were governed to work within the existing footprint [was a challenge],” she says.
Her solution was to close off access to the laundry from the dining room. She then expanded the pantry by punching through its back wall. This enlarged the space, which now houses extra storage, a butler’s sink and the laundry for a more efficient family-focussed zone.
Her solution was to close off access to the laundry from the dining room. She then expanded the pantry by punching through its back wall. This enlarged the space, which now houses extra storage, a butler’s sink and the laundry for a more efficient family-focussed zone.
Nolita Suede benchtop: Silestone; pendant lights: Beacon Lighting; bar stools: Uniqwa.
Both the dining area and kitchen face the sun-drenched terrace where the family, keen casual entertainers, cook on the barbecue, dine together and, if they’ve been down at the beach, rinse off under the outdoor shower.
Travertine tiles in a porcelain colourway; the outdoor dining setting is the homeowners’ original.
Walls painted in Modern White: Dulux; bedside tables and artwork are the owners’ original pieces.
Upstairs are the family bedrooms, where Carter added new carpet and fresh paint. In the parents’ suite (shown here) she redesigned the existing wardrobe to create a more usable space and added new handles.
Upstairs are the family bedrooms, where Carter added new carpet and fresh paint. In the parents’ suite (shown here) she redesigned the existing wardrobe to create a more usable space and added new handles.
Cushions: Linen & Moore; Ripples Ohau carpet: Cavalier Bremworth.
Where there was an existing bank of drawers that was so large the couple rarely used it, Carter carved out a spot to pop down bags, put on shoes, and store all the items one needs when arriving at or leaving the house.
She used the owners’ artwork as inspiration for the custom-upholstered bench seat and joinery.
Where there was an existing bank of drawers that was so large the couple rarely used it, Carter carved out a spot to pop down bags, put on shoes, and store all the items one needs when arriving at or leaving the house.
She used the owners’ artwork as inspiration for the custom-upholstered bench seat and joinery.
Ensuite after works.
The parents’ ensuite reflects the colour scheme and materials palette found throughout the beachy abode.
The parents’ ensuite reflects the colour scheme and materials palette found throughout the beachy abode.
Ensuite before works.
The refit of the home was not without its challenges. “When construction started we had a Covid-19 lockdown, which made for an interesting time getting trades on-site and ordering products,” says Carter.
There were also a couple of smaller budget blowouts, when they opened up walls only to discover they had services running through them that had to be re-routed or the design changed to accommodate them.
The refit of the home was not without its challenges. “When construction started we had a Covid-19 lockdown, which made for an interesting time getting trades on-site and ordering products,” says Carter.
There were also a couple of smaller budget blowouts, when they opened up walls only to discover they had services running through them that had to be re-routed or the design changed to accommodate them.
The daughters’ bathroom features zellige tiles and a timber vanity.
But now it’s all said and done, the four-person family couldn’t be happier.
Your turn
What is your favourite feature in this rejuvenated home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Would you like to see another family’s stunning home makeover? Check out this Sydney Houzz: From Empty Shell to a Luxe, Layered Delight
But now it’s all said and done, the four-person family couldn’t be happier.
Your turn
What is your favourite feature in this rejuvenated home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Would you like to see another family’s stunning home makeover? Check out this Sydney Houzz: From Empty Shell to a Luxe, Layered Delight
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two young girls
Location: Coogee, NSW
Number of bedrooms and bathrooms: Four bedrooms and three bathrooms
Size of house: A two-storey house of approximately 300 square metres
Scope of work: A complete renovation of the home from front to back, top to bottom.
Approximate budget: AU$300,000
Renovation started: November 2020
Renovation completed: September 2021
Interior designer: Jodie Carter Design
Builder: Quay Building & Design
Kitchen design: In Vogue Kitchens & Joinery
Landscape design: Stone Lotus Landscapes
How did you use Houzz Pro for this project?
The Houzz Pro Invoicing and Tracking tools made the project management phase so easy and efficient. We sent the proposal to our client and, once approved, converted it into purchase orders and invoices and tracked items via the Project Management tracker.