Photography: Jade Cantwell
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Meet and greet: Erin and Julian, who work in sports media and TV production, their daughters Mackinley, two, and Murphy, one, and dogs Nala the groodle and Maple the mini retriever.
The property: A 1950s weatherboard house in Australia with a large contemporary extension.
Choosing a fireplace over an engagement ring takes a highly dedicated renovator. That’s exactly what Erin did in a quest to create the perfect family home with her partner, Julian. Yet it was her ability to spot another kind of gem that led them to this home, which nobody else was brave enough to tackle.
“It was for sale twice. The owners actually took it off the market the first time because there was no interest. When I looked at it, people were walking out saying, ‘No way, there’s too much work – it’s all yours.’”
Once the home was theirs, the couple moved into a tiny one-room bungalow that was already in the backyard and began tackling the mess. “It was a real sight,” says Erin. “Every wall and floor seemed different, the doors were glued shut and made into shelving spaces, there was a chest freezer in the entry and a murky pond in the backyard. But it’s my passion to take on projects like this – I love finding a diamond in the rough.”
Their first win was discovering original weatherboards underneath the fake brick cladding. “For months, I kept telling Julz it would have the old boards underneath and it would be amazing,” says Erin, laughing. “I had renovated before, but it was his first time. He was incredible, placing such faith in my choice of this place.”
The couple briefed an architect friend to design a home that would preserve the original structure and streetscape. It also had to be big enough for a future family while preserving a good amount of backyard space.
“We wanted a home that was super usable and felt calm in summer and winter,” says Erin. “We looked at many open homes, magazines and Instagram posts. Then, we drew up many potential designs we thought could work for us before discussing the brief with our architect.”
During the planning and approval process, Erin and Julian took on as many tasks as they could. They removed the cladding, gutted rooms, removed a lean-to, and cleaned up the gardens. “We oversaw the re-stumping and the roof replacement, and I even completed a Diploma of Building and Construction. Then I fell pregnant. It was a lot,” she says.
Unfortunately, the six-month build was beset with Covid-related delays, but Erin’s knowledge and experience was a game-changer. “The builders were comfortable with me sourcing fittings such as vanities, the bath, the sinks and door handles. That meant I could buy and store things ahead of time. That meant everything was accessible and ready as soon as the build team needed it.”
Post-renovation, what was a muddle of rooms now flows through to a bright white extension (both inside and out) with light grey polished-concrete flooring in a custom colour mix that reflects the abundant natural light from the overhead skylights. Erin took the design lead and selected sturdy, elegant materials to create what she calls an “easy entertaining home”.
“I haven’t really worked out what the overall style is. I take bits of inspiration from all types of homes and places,” she says.
The feeling of calm that Erin craved has been consolidated through her chosen colour palette of calm natural hues. “Now the place is complete and we’ve added another child and two dogs into the mix, we’re thrilled that it’s such an easy house to live in amongst the chaos. We’re still not engaged, but it was money well spent because we love that fireplace.”
Shop Erin and Julian’s 1950s bungalow style
See more images of the 1950s bungalow below
An Almos bedhead from GlobeWest was the starting point for the blush-toned scheme. The cushion and Cabarita rug is from Freedom, the stool is vintage and the Orb pendant is from Lighting Collective. They painted the walls in Dulux Lexicon Quarter.
“Our ensuite is a tiny sanctuary of calm, just for us,” says Erin. They used glossy wall tiles in hunter green in the shower, and then paired them with large off-white porcelain tiles on the floor. The Gubi Ronde pendant light is from Cult Design.
Eucalyptus Flowering Gum wallpaper from Olive et Oriel fills the upper nursery wall. The cot and rug are from Kmart and then the art print is Sweet Sunshine by Bonnie Gray.
Ikea cabinets were customised with plywood arches, the desk was made from an old desktop mounted on filing cabinets and the rug is from Miss Amara.
Read this next:
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- Inside a Christchurch new-build with a distinct Scandi vibe
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