Houzz Tour: A White and Pale Wood Home Radiates Scandi Charm
Touches of bold colour and black against a white backdrop have turned this small Victorian house into a calm family home
When this young family decided to update their Victorian terrace, their brief to architect Clare Cousins was to take inspiration from Scandinavian design – most particularly the pared-back style, well-designed furniture made from natural materials, and superior light reflection through the use of a white backdrop. All of these features contributed to the dramatic transformation of their now beautifully renovated home in Melbourne.
Small, single-fronted, one-storey terraces typically have a series of rooms opening off a narrow hallway leading to the rear of the property. Within this traditional Victorian layout, Cousins created a straightforward, practical home with streamlined interiors. The purity of the pale palette and modest materials, as well as the restrained use of classic black touches and bright accent colours, suggest a true appreciation of the classic Scandinavian approach to design – not surprising, given that the owners have close family ties with Sweden.
Small, single-fronted, one-storey terraces typically have a series of rooms opening off a narrow hallway leading to the rear of the property. Within this traditional Victorian layout, Cousins created a straightforward, practical home with streamlined interiors. The purity of the pale palette and modest materials, as well as the restrained use of classic black touches and bright accent colours, suggest a true appreciation of the classic Scandinavian approach to design – not surprising, given that the owners have close family ties with Sweden.
The first room off the hallway – originally a third bedroom – has been repurposed as a study and doubles as a guest bedroom for the owners’ international visitors.
Forget lagom – here are the Scandi trends you should be embracing
Forget lagom – here are the Scandi trends you should be embracing
Despite the compact size of the rooms, first impressions are of light, spacious and uncluttered simplicity.
The study houses built-in joinery that runs the width of the room and provides double work stations. Ample drawers with practical finger cutouts instead of knobs maximise the space and emphasise the simple lines of the white cabinetry.
The study houses built-in joinery that runs the width of the room and provides double work stations. Ample drawers with practical finger cutouts instead of knobs maximise the space and emphasise the simple lines of the white cabinetry.
The next room opening off the hallway is the children’s bedroom. White-painted vertical timber panelling encases two bunks with a hoop pine plywood wall, with movable toy-hanging pegs beside each. Not a centimetre of space has been wasted, with deep, under-bunk drawers running the length of the wall.
The cabinetry throughout the house, from the study and bedrooms to the kitchen, bathrooms and laundry, is sleek and fuss-free. Floating the children’s set of deep storage drawers off the floor keeps the feel of this room light and allows more of the pale timber floor to be revealed.
A small, suspended desk is tucked into the corner beside the original fireplace, which backs onto a similar fireplace in the adjacent study. Both fireplaces are still in working order and have been painted in Pot Belly Black from White Knight. Playful artwork and painted stools add colourful accents.
All the panelling and cabinetry has been colour-matched to the matt-finish, whitewashed timber floor. An Ikea Stockholm rug in black and white offsets the blonde timber and white walls.
Stockholm rug, Ikea.
Stockholm rug, Ikea.
The next room opening off the hallway is the master bedroom. Retaining the original high skirting boards and panelled door adds period charm to the understated room.
Spacious drawers in pale timber under the king-size bed carry the theme of the cabinetry throughout the house. A walk-in dressing room replaces what was once a utility room.
Smart ideas you have to steal for your utility room
Spacious drawers in pale timber under the king-size bed carry the theme of the cabinetry throughout the house. A walk-in dressing room replaces what was once a utility room.
Smart ideas you have to steal for your utility room
The master en suite bathroom is simply decorated in smart white, black and grey tones. The leafy plant adds just the right touch of colour.
Comfort 1700 bath, Rogerseller. Astra Walker Icon shower set; mixers; towel rail; wall hooks in Charcoal Bronze, all Mary Noall. Latte wall tiles; terrazzo floor tiles in Carrara TRE/67; all Classic Ceramics.
Comfort 1700 bath, Rogerseller. Astra Walker Icon shower set; mixers; towel rail; wall hooks in Charcoal Bronze, all Mary Noall. Latte wall tiles; terrazzo floor tiles in Carrara TRE/67; all Classic Ceramics.
An all-in-one concrete vanity unit with a washplane-style basin was custom-made and poured in situ. The mirrored, wall-hung bathroom cabinet has the sleek features that characterise all the home’s joinery.
A second bathroom is directly off the hallway. The wall and floor tiles and the tapware are the same as those in the en suite bathroom.
Tucked beside this room, behind white-painted bifold timber doors, is a laundry and shoe storage space.
Tucked beside this room, behind white-painted bifold timber doors, is a laundry and shoe storage space.
From the narrow hallway, the house opens out into a light-filled living area. The colours and materials continue the theme from the bedrooms and bathrooms, a feature that gives this home its clean, uncluttered homogeneity.
Sky sofas in Seafoam, Jardan. Wall light, Flos.
Sky sofas in Seafoam, Jardan. Wall light, Flos.
A small, floating study shelf with drawers provides a spot to catch up on emails and paperwork.
The floors throughout the living space, hallway, bedrooms and study are whitewashed timber. “The clients wanted a hard-wearing, light timber floor, which eliminated most native Australian hardwoods commonly used,” says Joel Carr of Fido Projects. “We proposed and installed rock maple, a very hard light timber, in 180mm-wide boards, whitewashed and with a matt finish.”
Rock maple flooring, JConcepts.
The floors throughout the living space, hallway, bedrooms and study are whitewashed timber. “The clients wanted a hard-wearing, light timber floor, which eliminated most native Australian hardwoods commonly used,” says Joel Carr of Fido Projects. “We proposed and installed rock maple, a very hard light timber, in 180mm-wide boards, whitewashed and with a matt finish.”
Rock maple flooring, JConcepts.
The polished concrete worktop was cantilevered to create an informal dining area at one end. It was poured in situ by Fido’s contractor, Concrete by Keenan. “It was somewhat of an engineering challenge,” says Carr. “The joinery underneath had to be reinforced to support its weight.” The cladding on the island unit – vertical, semicircular Tasmanian oak dowel with a whitewash finish – is a standout feature.
The splashback and a secondary preparation work surface containing the five-burner gas hob are in Bianco Carrara marble.
Hob; double oven, both Miele. Bianco Carrara marble worktop and splashback, CDK Stone.
The splashback and a secondary preparation work surface containing the five-burner gas hob are in Bianco Carrara marble.
Hob; double oven, both Miele. Bianco Carrara marble worktop and splashback, CDK Stone.
The floor-to-ceiling kitchen units are painted subtle grey. A fridge and upright freezer are integrated behind the doors, next to a roomy pantry.
Units painted in Unforgettable, Dulux. Icon mixer tap in matt black, Astra Walker.
Units painted in Unforgettable, Dulux. Icon mixer tap in matt black, Astra Walker.
Sleek cabinetry with soft-close drawers hides a multitude of practical utensil inserts, compartments and slide-out racks, including this pull-out breadboard with crumb catcher.
Internal cabinetry fittings, Blum.
Internal cabinetry fittings, Blum.
The dining furniture is sturdy but stylish, with a Scandinavian simplicity throughout. Set sociably beside the open kitchen, it was custom-designed by Clare Cousins Architects and built by Fido Projects.
Wide, sliding glazed doors connect the space to an outdoor timber deck with bench seat, which was unchanged in the renovation. A slatted timber screen hides a garage and shed at the rear lane entrance to the house.
What do you think of this renovation? Tell us in the Comments below.
Wide, sliding glazed doors connect the space to an outdoor timber deck with bench seat, which was unchanged in the renovation. A slatted timber screen hides a garage and shed at the rear lane entrance to the house.
What do you think of this renovation? Tell us in the Comments below.
Who lives here A Swedish-Australian family with two children aged 3 and 6
Location Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia
Property A single-fronted, one-storey Victorian terrace
Size 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Project duration April-October 2015
Project management Fido Projects
Architect and interior designer Clare Cousins of Clare Cousins Architects
There was a meeting of minds between architect Clare Cousins and the owners of this house, and the project was completed in just seven months. At slightly less than 5m wide and around 23m long, the basic layout was retained, but the room functions were adjusted to suit the family’s needs.
“The owners wanted the internal spaces reconfigured to suit their lifestyle, a bedroom suitable for two children to share, and materials in a soft, Scandinavian palette,” Cousins says.
Aussie meets Scandi at the entrance to the house. The owners retained the ornate leadlight glazing with its stylised florals.
Moller bench #63 in papercord and timber, Great Dane Furniture. Dots hangers, Muuto.