Californian bungalow
This heritage-listed home has been steered into the 21st century with elegant design choices that remain sensitive to the building’s history.
INTERIOR DESIGN BONE MADE / WORDS CASEY HUTTON / PHOTOGRAPHY THE PALM CO
BUILDER MIRAGE DEVELOPMENTS
Though less decorative than their Victorian and Edwardian counterparts, Californian bungalows have a charm and warmth that continues to endear them to Aussie families. Having become a feature of our suburbs in the early 20th century, their unfussy construction and straightforward floorplans lend themselves well to renovation and open-plan living.
“These homes are typically clad in brick with some solid rendered and masonry elements, with interior details such as ornate ceilings, skirtings and architraves,” explains Leah Pitman of Bone Made. She and her business partner Fliss Pitman are the interior design duo behind the elegant transformation of this home in Concord.
The owners needed to extend the bungalow to accommodate their family of six. “They wanted it to feel open, light and airy but also have ample storage,” Leah explains. A draftsman was enlisted to add bedrooms, a generous living space and a mudroom entry from the carport. Meanwhile, Leah and Fliss were tasked with creating a large kitchen with butler’s pantry; separate living areas for the parents and children; a his-and-hers wardrobe and ensuite in the master bedroom; and a large kids’ bathroom.
Their design had to adhere to heritage regulations, which included retaining the original fireplace. “We didn’t mind at all!” says Fliss. “We painted it white to align with the refreshed colour palette and allowed it to be a feature when walking through the front entry and down the hallway.” They also needed to preserve the old architraves, skirting and ornate ceilings.
Oak herringbone flooring was installed from the front door to the new living space, blending the home’s past and present footprint, while skirting, architraves and brass detailing were kept consistent throughout. “We didn’t want it to feel like two separate homes,” Fliss explains. “We ensured that the new kitchen fixtures were a beautiful classic brass and joinery showcased a classic profile, and we used a timeless neutral colour palette to ensure cohesion and continuity.”
“We ensured that the new kitchen fixtures were a beautiful classic brass and joinery showcased a classic profile, and we used a timeless neutral colour palette to ensure cohesion and continuity.”
While new elements were carefully integrated into the home’s historic personality, they are simultaneously cool and contemporary, creating an intriguing conversation between new and old. In the light-filled living area, Leah and Fliss designed bespoke oak and rattan joinery with a built-in gas fireplace and exposed flue. The design balances a sleek profile with the traditional cosiness of a hearth, and also provides plenty of storage space.
In the main bedroom, a custom-designed wardrobe with oversized knurled brass handles opens somewhat playfully to reveal a ‘hidden’ ensuite. “The ensuite showcases a sophisticated colour palette of charcoal, white and brass, with a floor that aligns back to the Californian Bungalow style,” says Leah. They also deepened the bedroom’s original window seat, adding luxe dark velvet padding and building in storage below.
The home is furnished with pieces that will stand the test of time, including a beautiful oak dining table teamed with Le Corbusier and Hoffmann-style chairs. Clean lines, high-quality textiles and pops of deep colour against light timber, rattan and brass elements lend the space an air of confidence, comfort and quiet luxury. “We find the styling in any project is the final piece of the puzzle,” says Leah.
If you’re renovating a heritage home, Leah and Fliss recommend researching the era to work out what must be retained and what can be reused in an extension. “Be open-minded about the design too, and certainly pay homage to the original style.”
