Houzz Tours
My Houzz: A Family Home That's Big on Style and Space
This 1910 Queenslander in Toowoomba gets a chic renovation to suit family life
After years of admiring this magnificent country home from over a friend’s neighbouring fence, interior designer Angela Smith was delighted to finally take a look inside. While on a breakfast outing at a cafe across the road, she spotted a ‘for sale’ sign and just had to grab the opportunity. At the time, Angela and her husband Bronte were already halfway through a renovation of their existing house, and had welcomed their first child Ruby just six months prior. However, Angela couldn’t contain her excitement about the potential of this new property, and convinced Bronte to take a short break from renovating to quickly look over it. In the early hours of the morning that followed, Angela woke to find that Bronte was equally excited about the house, so they returned for a second inspection and made an offer that day.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Angela and Bronte Smith, their children Ruby, 10, Harriet, 8, and Hugo, 5, and the family dog Josie.
Location: Toowoomba, Queensland
Size: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and detached home office
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Angela and Bronte Smith, their children Ruby, 10, Harriet, 8, and Hugo, 5, and the family dog Josie.
Location: Toowoomba, Queensland
Size: 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and detached home office
Their designs and plans for the home changed four times in total, before they settled on a final layout. They extended the home from the back and used a draftsman rather than an architect for the design. “We knew what we wanted and didn’t feel we needed to pay for an architect to come up with anything super amazing,” says Angela.
The couple chose to use their friend Tim Vantrict as their builder, as he had renovated two houses for them in the past. He and his wife Robyn were the friends who lived in the neighbouring home.
The couple chose to use their friend Tim Vantrict as their builder, as he had renovated two houses for them in the past. He and his wife Robyn were the friends who lived in the neighbouring home.
Both Angela and Bronte work from home and were therefore able to monitor the renovation work every day. “I would say to anyone that can’t be around to always ask the builder and tradespeople to never assume anything! Check everything with the owner,” advises Angela.
Tim and Will, his employee, always paid a lot of attention to detail. “The quality of their work is outstanding and Tim and his team were a pleasure to have around the house,” Angela says
Tim and Will, his employee, always paid a lot of attention to detail. “The quality of their work is outstanding and Tim and his team were a pleasure to have around the house,” Angela says
The main entrance to the home is at the front of the property, but the family prefer to use the back entrance as it’s closer to the garage. The dining room is the first room in the front entrance and connects to the kitchen and main living area, which was made open plan during the renovations.
The main living room is a favourite space for the family, as this is where they spend a lot of time together. The open-plan design of the kitchen, dining and lounge is generous in size yet still retains a cosy and relaxed feel.
“Our home consists of a mix of styles, including classic, a little bit of a bohemian vibe and industrial thrown in too.” explains Angela. “When people look at our home from the outside I don’t think they’d expect to find what’s within.”
Two of Angela’s favourite items in the living room are the Emac & Lawton pineapple lamps.
“Our home consists of a mix of styles, including classic, a little bit of a bohemian vibe and industrial thrown in too.” explains Angela. “When people look at our home from the outside I don’t think they’d expect to find what’s within.”
Two of Angela’s favourite items in the living room are the Emac & Lawton pineapple lamps.
Ceiling pendant: One World Collection
The kitchen has a chic and stylish appearance with some industrial design features, including the pendant lights and bar stools.
Prior to getting married, Angela had on occasion peered over the fence of this property to stare at the massive magnolia tree. “I thought about asking the owner if I could cut some magnolias for my wedding bouquet,” she says, “until my friend informed me they wouldn’t have survive the day.”
Cuttings from the tree are regularly arranged in the house, including this bunch on the dining table.
Dining table: Harold’s Finishing Touches
Cuttings from the tree are regularly arranged in the house, including this bunch on the dining table.
Dining table: Harold’s Finishing Touches
In winter the family enjoy the fireplace in the dining room as much as possible. “We just love the ambiance and the children love to sit by the fire and toast marshmallows during the cooler months, while we get to enjoy a glass of red,” says Angela.
The back half of the house is accessible from this small hallway, which is next to the dining room and behind the kitchen.
The main bathroom, used by the children, is pictured here. It’s spacious and has two doors linking it to the front hallway, as well as to a third hallway that leads to the family room.
Angela chose a neutral shade for all of the walls and ceilings, as it was a great base colour to work with all of the furniture and decor. “I am not one for changing paint colours until it’s time for repainting, so I knew it had to work with everything and that it wasn’t going to be redone for some years,” she says.
It was important that the house felt relaxed and homey, while still retaining a focus on good style and beautiful decor. “I am quite fortunate that the children have grown up respecting the home environment and their surrounds,” Angela says. “I have never had to put anything precious up high and away from them.”
A family room with a designated play area for the children’s toys is situated on the right of the hallway, behind the family bathroom.
This second living room is not used as much by the family as the main one is, but Angela says the children do tend to come in here when they want some space.
Angela says that the children love their bedrooms and often let her know. Harriet’s bedroom, pictured here, is delightfully bright with plenty of space for study and play.
Custom-made Juju hat: Ink & Twine
Custom-made Juju hat: Ink & Twine
Hugo’s bedroom is immaculately styled yet playful, with the teaming of bold navy tones and quirky collectibles.
Bedroom furniture: Incy Interiors
Bedroom furniture: Incy Interiors
All the children take pride in their rooms and keep them tidy, which Angela says she feels pretty lucky about. The couple’s eldest daughter Ruby has a more mature style for her bedroom, with as much space and light as her younger siblings.
Mum and Dad’s room is a relaxed space where light flows freely, and which boasts an ensuite. Angela chose a neutral carpet for the bedrooms, which she admits has been hard to keep clean. It works well for all of the decor, but she says it’s worth getting it professionally cleaned once or twice a year.
Angela particularly loves the new bobbin armchairs she chose for the master bedroom, as they add an extra layer of interest and comfort to the space.
Bedhead: Charlton Upholstery
Bedhead: Charlton Upholstery
Along the hallway, the laundry is just as generous in size as every other room in the home. The cabinetry on both walls provides ideal storage for the young family of five.
“Having a tidy and user-friendly home makes life much easier to maintain,” explains Angela.
“Having a tidy and user-friendly home makes life much easier to maintain,” explains Angela.
This open sitting area is located three quarters of the way along the hallway. It takes in the light from the three external doors and west-facing windows.
Seating: Quinci Living; floor rug: Armadillo & Co
Seating: Quinci Living; floor rug: Armadillo & Co
The extension to the back of the home has created this small enclosed area of verandah, which is particularly sunny in the morning and well shaded for relaxing in the afternoon.
It’s a small private area, yet it takes in the beautiful view of the surrounding trees along the property’s driveway.
Cushions: Coco Republic
Cushions: Coco Republic
The family enjoy spending time in this outdoor area, sitting around the new swimming pool. “It is gas heated with a glass surrounding fence, so we do get a lot of months use out of it,” says Angela.
Plant basket: Dharma Door
Plant basket: Dharma Door
Near the pool area in a detached dwelling sits Bronte and Angela’s office. Both work from home in their own separate spaces, Angela as an interior designer and Bronte as the advertising sales manager for Outback magazine. The dwelling also has a double lock-up garage with two covered car parks in front.
An ideal home for a family with young children surely must include a fun cubby house for outdoor play. This paved area in the garden is located on the eastern side of the house, and provides the perfect area for the children to play after school.
“Lots of laughter and noise can be heard throughout the house for most of the waking hours,” says Angela.
“Lots of laughter and noise can be heard throughout the house for most of the waking hours,” says Angela.
My Houzz is an ongoing series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes in Australia and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more inspiring projects.
“The first thing Bronte had to do was catch a possum that had come down the chimney and somehow locked itself in the toilet,” laughs Angela. Then the carpets had to be ripped up after being eaten by mites – a detail that was hidden by beautiful antique furniture during their initial inspections. There were also weeds growing in the gutters and the keys to many of the doors were missing.
After fixing these flaws, the couple started with the construction of a home office and garage at the back of the block, along with landscaping. And this was before commencing major renovations to the home in 2013, completed mid-2014.