Houzz Tours
My Houzz: A Treehouse Wins the Heart of its Owner
Nestled in the hills above Avalon, this creative bungalow boasts bohemian swagger and a star-studded history
It may be hard to get to, but this beautiful 1960s home in the hills of Sydney’s Northern Beaches is well worth the journey to the top. When hairdresser and fashion designer Valda Morgan first spotted this spectacularly unique home advertised in the local paper, she didn’t know what to make of it. “The real estate agent described it as ‘an ideal space for artists and musicians’ and I thought ‘what rubbish!’,” she says. However, since moving in five years ago, she can attest to the fact that the location and style of the home inspires genuine soulfulness. “I’ve really experienced the one-on-one immersion in nature and I’ve realised they were right. There’s actually a deep and soulful thing that happens to you after spending time in this place,” says Morgan.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Valda Morgan, designer of fashion label AquaMarine Beach Chic
Where: Avalon, Sydney
Size: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, an office and hair salon
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Valda Morgan, designer of fashion label AquaMarine Beach Chic
Where: Avalon, Sydney
Size: 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, an office and hair salon
The home was designed in the 1960s, at a time when Harry Seidler was having a massive influence on architecture in Sydney. “Looking at this place you can definitely see his influence in things like the lines of the windows and the skylights in the bathrooms,” says Morgan. Seidler pioneered the idea of houses that made the most of the Australian geography and environment, homes that really invited the outside in, and this house is very much an example of that.
“It’s something you find in Byron Bay houses too – a kind of magical bush-bohemian-meets-urban-living vibe, where everything is warm and comfortable, but nothing’s too precious or fake,” says Morgan.
Walking around the open house, Morgan immediately knew it was for her. “It was love at first sight for me,” she adds. “There were crowds and crowds of people that day looking at it, but I was determined it was going to be mine. I went to every open house following that date and I began to get all possessive of the place, referring to it as ‘my house’ whenever I spoke to the real estate agent.” Eventually, Morgan put in an offer before the auction date and it was accepted. After that, the real work began.
Though the home had extraordinary bones, damage and neglect in recent years meant it was barely liveable. The woodwork was rotten, the deck was completely unstable and the entire house was completely overgrown with thick creeper. “My son spent days with a crowbar, just prying it off all the walls and surfaces,” says Morgan. “The first 12 months in this house was literally spent taking rubbish out.”
Along with cleaning and reviewing the safety of all the trees on the property with the help of All Arbor Services, Morgan also invested in renovating the two bathrooms. “We updated the taps, toilets and vanities for under $10k each, thanks to the help of our brilliant builder Russ Davies,” she says.
Both bathrooms and the separate toilet maintain a similar vibe, with white and aqua tiles, wooden benches and minimalist extras, as well as skylights to let in ample natural light.
When it came to renovating, the budget was strictly followed – except for one place. “The kitchen was my most expensive purchase,” says Morgan. “It’s something you do it once in your life and you just want to get it right. We went with a DeGabriele design that features the push-touch kitchen doors and the most extraordinary white surface.”
The high gloss finish also means that Morgan rarely has to give it a chemical-grade clean. One of her favourite features in here is the black tapware, which was made in Italy. “It really sums up what I love; unique, stunning and never mainstream pieces,” she says.
The high gloss finish also means that Morgan rarely has to give it a chemical-grade clean. One of her favourite features in here is the black tapware, which was made in Italy. “It really sums up what I love; unique, stunning and never mainstream pieces,” she says.
The large open-plan living space that sits just off the kitchen lets the natural light stream though, while the high ceilings make it feel a bit more spacious.
While the architecture of the home is firmly set in the 60s, Morgan has used her keen eye for boho-chic to decorate her home in a more contemporary style. “The house is decorated just absolutely with what I like,” says Morgan. This includes secondhand Vinnies rescues, such as the Queen Anne-style armchair that is accessorised with Morgan’s most recent purchase – a stark black and white cushion from Ingrid & Sooshi in Manly.
While the architecture of the home is firmly set in the 60s, Morgan has used her keen eye for boho-chic to decorate her home in a more contemporary style. “The house is decorated just absolutely with what I like,” says Morgan. This includes secondhand Vinnies rescues, such as the Queen Anne-style armchair that is accessorised with Morgan’s most recent purchase – a stark black and white cushion from Ingrid & Sooshi in Manly.
When she bought the property, Morgan inherited the mission brown interiors, which were common for the 60s. To add some lightness to the decor, she used a white and aqua blue colour palette.
“I had to really think about what works for this house and stay true to the original style it was built in,” she says. “I mean, I love Moroccan colours and textures – but that doesn’t suit what this place is about.”
“I had to really think about what works for this house and stay true to the original style it was built in,” she says. “I mean, I love Moroccan colours and textures – but that doesn’t suit what this place is about.”
A regular visitor to Bali, Morgan uses window sills, corners and steps as a canvas for ornamental displays she has picked up on her travels.
The main bedroom upstairs offers beautiful views of the surrounding greenery, and maintains its distinct 60s style with exposed brown brick and wood-panelled ceilings. Similar to the rest of the home’s decor, Morgan has modernised this room with her blue and white colour palette.
Sure there was something special about her new home, Morgan asked her neighbours about its history. They confirmed that it was previously owned by the TV producer, Bill Hughes and his wife, Susanne Haworth. “They told me there was a constant stream of celebrities going up and down the stairs – people like Rachel Ward and Bryan Brown,” she says.
Following the pattern of creative residents in the home, Morgan runs her successful fashion label, AquaMarine Beach Chic from the house, along with a small hair salon she operates in the basement.
Morgan was always interested in rooms she could convert to an office and a home salon. To her delight, she discovered that the library in her home was the perfect space for her design work, while a room downstairs had been used as a hair salon by the previous owner.
Morgan was always interested in rooms she could convert to an office and a home salon. To her delight, she discovered that the library in her home was the perfect space for her design work, while a room downstairs had been used as a hair salon by the previous owner.
To modernise the space for the hair salon where Morgan sees a select few clients, she added some fun, colourful pieces of furniture and a basin.
Above all, Morgan appreciates the serenity the home offers her. With wildlife and stunning views surrounding her, her home is just far enough away from the hustle and bustle of Sydney. “We have turkeys on the roof all day and magpies and possums who are just as home here as I am,” she says.
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.
Fortunately her children were determined for her to find it, and they wouldn’t rest until Mum had a look – come rain, hail or shine. “That afternoon it was pouring – you know that torrential Sydney rain that hits you from all angles at once,” she recalls. “Not only was the private road steep, it was also slimy and slippery too, which made things even harder. I remember standing at the bottom of the block, gazing up a million stairs to the building and thinking ‘It looks like a treehouse!’” she says.