Past Life
Hannah and Jono James fell in love with this endearing 1920s bungalow, moving from Sydney to Wollongong to embark on a renovation that tenderly honours the home’s history.
PHOTOGRAPHY THE PALM CO / WORDS CASEY HUTTON
In 2019, Hannah James began looking for rundown properties to renovate in the Sydney area. After eight months of fruitless hunting, on a whim she typed “South Coast, NSW” into a real estate search. “That’s obviously a huge area,” she laughs, “but up popped this house.”
The characterful 1920s dwelling had been beautifully preserved. “It had so much charm and such great bones,” says Hannah. It was a serendipitous find; Jono had grown up in Wollongong and had visions of one day returning to live on the South Coast, while Hannah had long dreamt of renovating an old home.
They bought the house in February 2020, “when COVID was just a virus happening overseas”, intending to commute to Sydney for work, but within weeks things changed radically. “I was told to start working from home the day we moved down here, and have done so ever since,” explains Hannah.
Despite its age, the house isn’t heritage listed. Hannah took the unusual step of canvassing the community via a Wollongong Facebook group to research its history. She was inundated with responses from locals with warm memories of the home and its previous owners, who used to run the general store and post office.
Intent on honouring the home’s past life and quality craftsmanship, the couple chose to work within its existing footprint but modify the floorplan. Removing an original fireplace increased the size of the kitchen and main bathroom, and they reconfigured the laundry to incorporate a second bathroom. They also maximised sunlight, adding three Velux skylights, as well as French doors that can be thrown open to the back patio.
Outside, a slate front path was replaced with recycled bricks laid in herringbone formation, and new walled beds adjoining the facade have been planted with cottage garden foliage. A pergola at the back visually extends the home’s living space and frames views of mature trees beyond.
“I love Australian homes that combine the perfect balance of coast and country, especially in older houses,” muses Hannah. Counting European travel and old films amongst her inspirations, she approached this renovation nostalgically, while adapting the home’s functionality for modern living.
Original leadlight windows, light fittings and ornate ceilings remain, but Hannah went further to preserve traces of the home’s past. “I collaborated with our builder, Chris Shepherd from North East Building Group, on how to keep certain features of the house,” she explains. Where walls were removed, they left exposed beams in order to retain the beautiful cornices. Similarly, in the gaps beneath demolished walls, new floorboards were laid perpendicular to existing ones, marking the past perimeters of rooms. “I felt like this was part of the story of the home,” says Hannah. “I didn’t want things to be too perfect.”
Shaker cabinetry, brushed brass and a butler’s sink give the kitchen a country farmhouse feel, while an oversized island and a wine fridge (a last-minute addition after a measurement mishap!) modernise the space. Two original windows – removed from the back of the house – were repurposed into a barn door dividing the kitchen and laundry. “This is definitely a favourite feature of ours,” says Hannah.
The couple rethought their initial instinct to knock down a wall between the living room and kitchen/dining area. Instead, they added French doors between the spaces, preserving the living room’s ornate ceiling and its working fireplace. The room retains an air of formality. “We have the option to close it off and make it more cosy,” Hannah points out. “We also added a study nook next to the fireplace, and we can close the doors while we’re working.”
New memories have been made in the revitalised home. Hannah and Jono welcomed their baby Spencer mid-renovation, and her sister chose the garden as her wedding venue. “They shared their first dance on this spot,” says Hannah, gesturing to the patio and pergola strung romantically with festoon lights. “It was such an honour to host.”
