This colourful Californian family bungalow was designed to feel like a European holiday
Words by Georgia Madden | Photography by Prue Ruscoe | Styling by Olga Lewis
When their young son started walking, Christine and Ben knew their days of living in an apartment were numbered. So, the search began for their perfect forever home – one with a big backyard, plenty of character, and room for the family to grow.
Luckily, it didn’t take long to find. This three-bedroom, three-bathroom Californian bungalow in a quiet cul-de-sac in Sydney’s Lower North Shore, ticked every box. Granted, it needed a bit of work, but its potential was clear.
Visual Comfort & Co. Sofa, Camerich. Armchair and coffee table, both Jardan.
Curtains in ‘Illusion’ in Icicle, James Dunlop Textiles. Armchairs and coffee table, all Jardan. Rug, Tappeti.
“The facade gave off ‘cute as a button’ cottage vibes and was surrounded by established gardens,” says Christine. “The front part of the house had good bones and charming original features, including Art Deco leadlight windows and high, ornate ceilings.
We also liked the fact it had two living rooms. With many young families on the street and zero traffic, we could envisage our son riding his bike and playing on the street safely with friends, too.”
Walls painted Porter’s Paints Milk. Chapman & Myers pendant light. Rug, Tappeti. Table and chairs, GlobeWest. Vases, Kil.n.it. Artwork by Jacob Spokes.
Curtains in Raffles ‘Ballymoor’ linen. Louis Poulsen pendant light, Cult. Sofa and coffee table, both Coco Republic. Side table, Jardan. Palace Vase I artwork by Samuel Condon. Sculpture by Kerryn Levy, Curatorial+Co. Vase by Timna Taylor, The DEA Store. Rug, Cadrys.
“They wanted the house to be inviting but with the sense of luxury you’d find in a hotel in London or Paris.”
– SAMANTHA WINOKUR, INTERIOR ARCHITECT
Having never renovated before and keen to push themselves beyond “white/grey/black everything”, the couple decided to call in some expert help. Samantha Winokur and Jodie Gillman, co-directors at Designed by JAM, were recommended by another interior designer, who felt their design style would be a good match for the couple’s “European holiday, hotel-vibe” vision.
“Christine and Ben wanted the house to be warm and inviting, but with the sense of luxury you’d find in a hotel in London, Paris or Positano,” says Samantha.
“They wanted beautiful and robust pieces the family could use and enjoy for years, and the space and functionality to entertain. The scheme also needed to feel cohesive.”
Artwork by Cassie Hansen. Sculptures, Orient House. Vessels by Freyana Irani. Vase by Rina Bernabei.
The first challenge: addressing the light, layout and flow.
“The house was liveable, but crying out for some love,” says Jodie. “The front part was dark and had a poky hallway, and probably hadn’t ever been renovated beyond a lick of paint.”
“The 1990s rear addition, which contained the kitchen, dining room and second living area, was seriously lacking in character. The two parts felt like separate houses. There were some structural issues too, such as huge gaps in the front portion where the walls and floors didn’t meet.”
To stay within the budget, the duo needed to find clever design solutions that wouldn’t cost the earth. Building up the floor by laying a new one over the existing time-worn boards resolved the gappiness issue. And removing a bulkhead and a section of wall in the hallway flooded the area with light and provided an unobstructed view to the back of the house, so the old and new parts felt more connected.
Walls painted Porter’s Paints Milk and trims Porter’s Paints Cashmere. Chapman & Myers ‘Darlana’ pendant lights, Visual Comfort & Co. Linea ‘Oslo’ dining table and ‘Franklin’ dining chairs, all GlobeWest. Cabinet, House of Orange. Vases, Kil.n.it. Floors in ‘Auber’ European engineered oak, Plank Floors.
Owner Christine with her son, who sits on the Carrara marble benchtop of the kitchen island, painted Dulux Snap-Shot, Republic Building Co.
Being passionate foodies, getting the kitchen right was a priority for Christine and Ben. The original, dated kitchen made way for a new, contemporary cooking space, with a statement island in inky blue at its heart.
Thoughtful touches – such as a thick Carrara marble benchtop with a soft, curved profile, and a stainless-steel footrail where visitors can rest their feet – create the ultimate gathering space for friends and family.
Rounding out the renovation, Samantha and Jodie reworked the home’s three bathrooms to bring them up to date, installed custom joinery throughout to solve the couple’s storage woes, and added beautiful fireplaces in the two living rooms to create the warm and cosy living spaces the owners dreamed of.
“We love the end result – the house feels wonderful to be in and we use every corner of it, whether it’s relaxing in the family room, spending time around the kitchen island or enjoying afternoon drinks on the deck,” says Christine.
“We know we’ll have many happy years here.”
Full Article: Homes To Love
Project: Hunters Hill Bungalow