CASA BELLA
Cindy and Dan Mead’s revival of this handsome 1940s Queenslander has been sure-footed, thanks to a clear vision and plenty of renovation experience.
Words Casey Hutton / Photography + Videography Coast Park Creative
“It’s always been a dream of ours to own a triple-gabled Queenslander,” says Cindy Mead. She and her husband Dan immediately fell in love with this home in the Brisbane suburb of Alderley when they inspected it back in 2018.
“The best part was walking inside,” Cindy recalls. “Because the house sits at the very top of a hill, as soon as we walked in, we were met with walls of French doors and windows that lead to the wraparound verandah, with views to the city and beautiful breezes.”
The couple – seasoned renovators who’ve already transformed two other houses, documenting their journey for thousands of Instagram followers – have been careful to maintain the home’s character, working to enhance its original features rather than override them.
In their expansive primary suite there are two – yes, two! – ensuites. An inviting circular tub with freestanding tapware beckons from one side of the bedroom (a pocket door alongside it hides the toilet), while a generous second bathroom with double shower and vanity sits opposite. “We have made some bold choices, having two bathrooms and no doors on either of the wet spaces,” says Cindy. “Now that it’s all completed, we literally couldn’t be happier.”
This careful balancing of adventurousness and stylistic restraint gives the home its distinctive appeal. “Sticking to classic design choices and focusing on enhancing the traditional elements of our Queenslander, such as the VJ walls and the original brass finishes, has really worked for us,” Cindy reflects. “In terms of our vision, we haven’t got caught up in trends.”
The facade has been sensitively revamped. Originally dark grey and yellow, they painted it white and closed in part of an unused upstairs balcony, using the space for their master ensuite. “To keep the facade looking traditional, we added a Juliet balcony and French doors,” Cindy explains. Latticework obscuring the home’s entryway was removed, creating a welcoming front porch, where terracotta tiles were covered with blackbutt timber.
A nameplate at the front door, inscribed with the words ‘Casa Bella’ flanked by hand-painted lemons, gives the first hint of Italian flavour. Since honeymooning there nine years ago, the couple has travelled to Italy several times, and their vision for the home references the languid, sundrenched spirit of Amalfi Coast vacations. “It has inspired design choices like travertine, olive trees and lots of white,” says Cindy.
Cindy and Dan began renovating houses in 2014. They both work long hours in demanding full-time roles and renovate in their spare time. Beyond Dan’s expertise as a glazier, they’ve learned as they go. Dan does the hands-on building work, while Cindy takes charge of interior design, shopping, social media management and styling. She admits that the juggle can get stressful at times, but “as hard as it is, I feel fortunate to have a corporate role I am passionate about and a side hustle that I love equally”.
It’s little wonder then that the couple’s favourite spaces – their enviable outdoor area and luxe primary suite – revolve around rest and relaxation.
Undeterred by their steep block, they capitalised on it by constructing the pool partially above-ground and partially in-ground. This allowed them to build timber decking around one end and use the lower side for storage, tucking the pool pump out of sight.
“From here, we worked back to create the sunken fire pit, and then a gentle slope leads up to the outdoor kitchen. Most of the alfresco was easy to work with as it was already all level; we just had to cover the old terracotta stencilcrete with the tallowwood timber decking,” Cindy explains. “It’s funny how when you start out with a sloped block you think it will be a disadvantage, but once you think creatively you realise how great it is to have so much more visual interest and depth in the spaces than a flat backyard can offer.”
