Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: From Mid-Century Modern to Modern Mid-Century
This 1950s house was renovated for a growing family, providing more space while maintaining the mid-century aesthetic
Californian houses were a great source of inspiration for Australian architects in the twentieth century, from the iconic Californian bungalow in the interwar period to the ranch-style houses and modernist suburban homes of the post-war era. Mid-century design continues to be a strong force of inspiration today; it represented modern living then and still presents a modern aesthetic today. This house in Blackburn, Victoria, was built in 1950 in the modernist style, with a low profile and subtly pitched roof to nestle into its leafy landscape.
The house is in a small pocket of bush in Blackburn, Melbourne, and located in a National Trust street protected by a Significant Landscape Overlay (SLO1). This means residents are required to invest in the bush streetscape by planting native trees that contribute to the street canopy and bush environment. Mid-century specialist Secret Design Studio designed a sympathetic renovation maintaining the original aesthetic and character of the house, and Detail 9 Architects documented the build and managed the construction phase of the project.
“Homes are generally humble in design/profile, with the gardens and landscape taking centre stage in this area to attract and sustain birds and wildlife,” says Rachel McGlashan of Detail 9 Architects. “The design had to make good use of existing space to ensure the build met the stringent council guidelines regarding the footprint of the house and amount of hard surface on the block.”
“Homes are generally humble in design/profile, with the gardens and landscape taking centre stage in this area to attract and sustain birds and wildlife,” says Rachel McGlashan of Detail 9 Architects. “The design had to make good use of existing space to ensure the build met the stringent council guidelines regarding the footprint of the house and amount of hard surface on the block.”
The renovation included a new carport and front extension for the master bedroom. This allowed the entrance to be moved from the side of the home, which is common in many mid-century houses, to face the street.
The original home, including all internal walls, was built with Mount Gambier limestone. The new build also uses Mount Gambier stone, bricks, cement sheeting and timber window frames.
The original home, including all internal walls, was built with Mount Gambier limestone. The new build also uses Mount Gambier stone, bricks, cement sheeting and timber window frames.
A new wide hallway maintains the connection between the front of the house and the back garden, and transom windows along the hallway allow natural light to filter through different spaces.
Pictured here, the door to the right leads to the original hallway that runs parallel and provides access to the three bedrooms. The door on the left leads to the family ‘snug’ or television room, and the open-plan dining, kitchen and living area is at the end of the hallway.
Handblown glass pendant lights: Mark Douglass Design
Pictured here, the door to the right leads to the original hallway that runs parallel and provides access to the three bedrooms. The door on the left leads to the family ‘snug’ or television room, and the open-plan dining, kitchen and living area is at the end of the hallway.
Handblown glass pendant lights: Mark Douglass Design
The dining table is at the end of the hallway and a clear glass pendant ensures uninterrupted views to the garden.
Glass pendants: Beacon Lighting
Glass pendants: Beacon Lighting
Adjacent to the dining area, the kitchen contains an island bench that is elevated on legs to replicate the mid-century sideboard. The benchtop extends beyond the black-stained joinery so it can be used for entertaining and socialising. “The bench can seat up to 10 guests, which is useful for teenage pizza nights or when the clients’ large family visits,” says McGlashan.
The kitchen extends along the wall of the open-plan living area. The refrigerator and ovens are in the centre, dividing the benchtop in two. The left side is used for food preparation, cooking and cleaning up, and the right side for entertaining and more casual use. Each has a sink to keep drinks and dirty dishes separate.
The kitchen cabinets are handmade from Australian Wormy Chestnut timber with plywood used internally.
Sliding cupboard doors and drawers have pulls rather than handles, and the tiled splashback adds texture.
Matthew Ibott at Sawdust Timber Furniture crafted the kitchen joinery and the mid-century-inspired stools.
Beyond the kitchen, the living area is situated on the other side of the dining area, and a suspended fireplace can pivot to face either space. “This room that has views of several large trees on two sides, is dedicated to reading, relaxing and entertaining,” says McGlashan.
Built-in joinery by Sawdust Timber Furniture mimics that in the kitchen, including a cocktail bar in the space that was formerly the doorway leading to the original hallway and bedrooms.
Ergofocus pivoting suspended fireplace: Oblica; sofa and swivel armchairs: King Living
Built-in joinery by Sawdust Timber Furniture mimics that in the kitchen, including a cocktail bar in the space that was formerly the doorway leading to the original hallway and bedrooms.
Ergofocus pivoting suspended fireplace: Oblica; sofa and swivel armchairs: King Living
It was important to the clients that the living area be television-free – while living and working in the UK, they enjoyed the small, cosy television rooms in London houses and flats. “They have their own ‘snug’ now that is used for family movie nights and provides space for a piano and music lessons,” says McGlashan.
Leather armchair: Crate & Barrel; sectional sofa: King Living
Leather armchair: Crate & Barrel; sectional sofa: King Living
It also features a gas fireplace for comfortable nights and days spent inside, and shelving around the piano stores games, books and other items.
The original hallway that provides access to the bedrooms and bathrooms runs parallel to the entrance hallway, sharing transom windows to bring light into the otherwise closed-off space.
The addition of a master suite is in keeping with the proportions of the home and mid-century design: “adequate but not cavernous”, says McGlashan.
Bedroom furniture: West Elm
Bedroom furniture: West Elm
The two bathrooms and powder room have a consistent aesthetic with the same or similar materials, which also saved time and energy in the design selection process.
Walls and flooring are Perini tiles – grey on the floor and white on the walls – and the timber vanities by Sawdust Timber Furniture are designed and crafted to mimic mid-century sideboards.
A storage space built underneath the new master bedroom and ensuite houses a small gym, wine cellar and storage area.
The dining space and kitchen open to the rear deck and garden that landscape designer Rae Jones-Evans originally created as part of the 2007 renovation. Jones-Evans returned for the 2016 update, undertaking new landscaping and adding the alfresco roof to provide additional privacy and shade on the north-facing deck. A four-by-two-metre swim-spa was also installed in the corner of the property.
“The landscaping involved planting some 400 new trees, shrubs and grasses, including six gum trees that will grow in excess of 25 metres and contribute to the street canopy and bush environment,” says McGlashan.
The client purchased the original cane swivel chairs and side tables from eBay and Gumtree, and GlenDavin Upholstery created new cushions in Tommy Bahama Swaying Palms outdoor fabric.
The client purchased the original cane swivel chairs and side tables from eBay and Gumtree, and GlenDavin Upholstery created new cushions in Tommy Bahama Swaying Palms outdoor fabric.
A 60-year-old garage at the back of the property was demolished and replaced with a modern studio that sits on the same footprint. An exposed brick wall is built from bricks that were recycled from the original building.
The studio is used to accommodate overnight guests, kids’ sleepovers and off-site team meetings for the client’s technology business. It has a bathroom and daybed/sleeping area with mattresses covered in indoor-outdoor fabric to accommodate wet bathers. There is also a kitchenette with a sink, fridge and microwave.
A gas-lift window above the kitchenette opens to the garden for parties.
“The clients are delighted that they were able to achieve their overall objectives for the renovation, which was to add more useable space for their family and a welcoming home for their friends, all while respecting and enhancing the original mid-century aesthetic of the home,” says McGlashan.
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Want more great homegrown Australian design? Check out last week’s Eco Houzz Tour: Sustainability Lessons Lived and Learned
“The clients are delighted that they were able to achieve their overall objectives for the renovation, which was to add more useable space for their family and a welcoming home for their friends, all while respecting and enhancing the original mid-century aesthetic of the home,” says McGlashan.
Tell us
What do you love about this home? Tell us in the Comments. And don’t forget to save your favourite photos, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want more great homegrown Australian design? Check out last week’s Eco Houzz Tour: Sustainability Lessons Lived and Learned
Who lives here: A couple, their two daughters, aged 10 and 13, and their toy poodle, Roy
Location: Blackburn, Victoria
Size: 340 square metres, three bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
Architects: Secret Design Studio and Detail 9 Architects
The owners of this home purchased it in 2007, after they became interested in mid-century architecture while living in Chicago. In particular they loved the designs of Frank Lloyd Wright and the iconic houses in Palm Springs. They did a cosmetic renovation and updated the kitchen and bathrooms in 2007, and in 2016 they undertook another renovation to make better use of the space for their growing family. They engaged Secret Design Studio for the design work and town planning application, who then handed the job over to Detail 9 Architects to create detailed working drawings and manage the contract with the builder.