SUNNY UP SIDE CHEAT SHEET. INSIDE homes

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1 After a couple of years in the US, this family has returned home to a pretty-as-a-picture gem in an idyllic spot, perfect for life by the sea SUNNY UP SIDE CHEAT SHEET Who lives here: Dana, a stay-at-home mum; her husband, Michael, a CEO; their sons Kai, 15; Indi, 13; Taj, 11; and daughter Kennedy, 13; plus Rebel the spoodle. Style of home: A grand 1920s two-storey Californian bungalow with seven bedrooms and three bathrooms. After four months of planning, the renovation took 18 months, with a pool added 11 months later. The cost of the renovation $$$$ including a new roof and roof deck, the installation of the pool and landscaping came to $1 million. WORDS JOANNE HAWKINS STYLING EMMA O MEARA PHOTOGRAPHY NIKOLE RAMSEY PAINT COLOUR MAY VARY ON APPLICATION. CUSHIONS & BOWL, STONE AND GRAIN, STONEANDGRAIN.COM.AU EXTERIOR (opposite) Originally a faded green, owner Dana decided to give the house a more modern look by painting the weatherboards in Dulux Colorbond Monument and the front door in Dulux Banana Boat. BREAKFAST NOOK This eat-in corner nook in the kitchen features a custom bench seat crafted by builder Mark Mulheron, as well as a table and Eggcup stools from Mark Tuckey. A pair of Fine Little Day artworks reflects the home s welcoming atmosphere. Inside Out / 85

2 Living near the ocean is an integral part of Dana and Michael s life. After a few years in the Victorian surfing mecca of Torquay, the couple and their four children relocated to Laguna Beach in Southern California with Michael s work, and enjoyed a blissful couple of years. When the time came to return to Australia, the couple knew they wanted to continue their coastal lifestyle, so started looking online for a property big enough to house their growing family. We wanted to be near Torquay as we loved the surf coast area, says Dana. Then this house popped up and I was getting heart palpitations because I loved what I saw. But I tried not to get too excited as it was a little out of our price range so I didn t think we would get it. Fortunately, after a couple of months of trans-pacific negotiation ( There were many s that went back and forth, says Dana), the couple purchased the house with a six-month settlement, giving them time to relocate back to Australia and draw up plans to renovate what was to be their forever home by the beach. Dana, did you actually see the house in the flesh before buying it from the US? Yes, Michael said one of us needed to see it before we signed on the dotted line, and, as the interiors were more my thing, he really wanted me to have a look to make sure I was happy. So, I made a quick five-day trip back from California. Did you get a repeat of the heart palpitations when you saw it? I fell in love the minute I walked in the door, basically. I m a bit of an old soul and I love all the period features, the open fireplace and the beautiful leadlight windows in what is now our dining room. A heritage house like this near a river and the ocean is hard to come by so that was a big attraction as well. Did it need much work? Yes! Inside, it was tired and a little worn out and very dark. The staircase and the timber cladding in the entrance hall were dark brown while the window frames, some of the doors and the cladding in the dining area were painted black, making it a little spooky-looking. There wasn t really a proper kitchen and the bathrooms needed replacing. But I could see the house had lovely bones and just needed some love. What was your aim with the house? As it was so dark, I wanted to make it light and bright and I do love a bit of colour, too. I ve always loved the Hamptons style, but thanks to Pinterest, I ve also developed a love of Scandinavian interiors with their pared-back lighter tones so that was inspiration for this house, too. Ultimately, with four kids, I wanted it to be practical and a bit of fun, too. You obviously love a pop of yellow; what inspired you to paint the staircase in such a vibrant shade? Well, the original name of the house was Sunnyside, so that inspired me to have the yellow accents in the house. For me, it was all about brightening the house up for the kids. I like being a little different and as soon as the painting started, I knew it was going to look fantastic. SEAT CUSHIONS, KIP&CO, KIPANDCO.COM.AU. UMBRELLAS PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT, OUR PRINT COLLECTION, OURPRINTCOLLECTION.COM.AU BRIGHT IDEA These hand-blown lights from Siemon & Salazar in California are a sentimental find for Dana that work in this tall space. They were rewired for Australia and the tones are picked up in the seat cushions. LIVING AREA (opposite, left) It s got a lovely, relaxing feel about it, plus a gorgeous outlook over to the gum trees and greenery, says Dana of her favourite space. The sofa, armchair and coffee table were shipped over from the US. ENTRY (opposite, right) Formerly a dark space, the hall has been transformed with lashings of Dulux Lexicon Half and of course, that yellow staircase (in Dulux Banana Boat). I adored the staircase from the first moment I saw it, says Dana. 86 / Inside Out

3 STAR PERFORMER Mark Tuckey s signature timber furniture appears in multiple spaces in Dana and Michael s home. The simple lines and raw appeal are perfect for a coastal family home. And what did Michael think? He was fine with the yellow he actually had more reservations when I told him I wanted to paint the external weatherboards dark grey! I think it was harder for him to visualise how it would look and I had to get the painter to paint a section for him to see first but now he really loves it. Generally, though, he was happy to leave the interiors to me. The house has a bit of an American feel to it were you inspired by your time living there? Perhaps, I do love the sense of openness and space that a lot of American houses have. I also purchased some pieces of furniture, bedlinen and lighting in the US and had them shipped here. The pendant lights over the dining table were bought from a glass studio in Santa Ana and they represent the shades of California: the sun, sand, blue sky, ocean and so on. When I switch them on, it reminds me of watching the sun set on a Californian beach. With all of this space, your home must really come into its own at Christmas time? Yes, it s a great party house. We ve started a tradition where we invite our neighbours and friends around for Christmas drinks, there are usually around 50 people here enjoying the deck and pool area. And we celebrate Christmas Day with close family here, too. I love Christmas: I love decorating the table and the smell of a real Christmas tree, although one year I ordered a large tree and it was so massive it didn t fit into the living area, so we had to put it into the dining room, where the ceilings are slightly higher. Are you happy with what you ve achieved with the house? Definitely! There s lots of space for the kids and their friends to come over; we re very lucky. It s everything I ve ever wanted in a home so I feel like it s my forever house. The builder on this project was Mark Mulheron of Mulheron Builders to get in contact, call KITCHEN (above) The cabinetry was designed by Mark Tuckey after Dana visited their Melbourne showroom. I asked them if they would do my kitchen, she says. They didn t really do kitchens but they came down and measured up, and I love the result. In fact, Dana loved the company s work so much that she also ordered an island bench (with yellow legs, of course) and a kitchen trolley (opposite). A circular artwork by artist Megan Weston adds a brilliant splash of colour. 88 / Inside Out

4 GROUND FLOOR FIRST FLOOR A HERITAGE HOUSE LIKE THIS NEAR A RIVER AND THE OCEAN IS HARD TO COME BY DANA, HOMEOWNER PAINT PALETTE The tones used in this home draw on the Californian bungalow s charming heritage, which is further enhanced with bold pops of bright colour Universal, $62.50/4L, British Paints, Peachy Dream, $62.50/4L, Hide And Seek, $62.50/4L, Cable Grey, $62.50/4L, ADDITIONAL PRODUCT SOURCING: NATALIE JOHNSON. PAINT COLOUR MAY VARY ON APPLICATION. ARTWORK: SUNSET BEACH HAUS BY ANTOINETTE FERWERDA, STONE AND GRAIN, STONEANDGRAIN.COM.AU. CUSHION AND GREY PILLOWCASES & FLAT SHEET, KIP&CO, KIPANDCO.COM.AU 1. Entry 2. Dining room 3. Pantry 4. Breakfast nook 5. Kitchen 6. Bedroom 7. WC 8. Bedroom 9. Laundry 10. TV room 11. Living area 12. Sunroom 13. Master bedroom 14. Ensuite 15. Bathroom 16. WC 17. Bedroom 18. Bedroom 19. Bedroom 20. Bedroom BATHROOM (opposite) Inspired by the patterned tiles frequently used in southern California, Dana chose patterned floor tiles in a distinctive pattern from Jatana Interiors for the bathroom. This vibrant floor is balanced by the simplicity of subway tiles and a Mark Tuckey vanity. MASTER BEDROOM In our bedroom, I tried to be a bit more sophisticated and grown-up by not having too many bright colours, says Dana. The bed frame and bedside table are from Mark Tuckey. Inside Out / 91

5 ADDITIONAL PRODUCT SOURCING: NATALIE JOHNSON. ROUND ARTWORK, POPPIES FOR GRACE, POPPIESFORGRACE.COM. LAMP (OPPOSITE, LEFT), REDUXR, REDUXR. COM.AU. ROUND CUSHION & HAND TOWEL (OPPOSITE, RIGHT), KIP&CO, KIPANDCO. COM.AU. CUSHIONS (THIS PAGE), KIITOS LIVING BY DESIGN, KIITOS.COM.AU. CRASHMAT BEANBAG, STONE AND GRAIN, STONEANDGRAIN.COM.AU KENNEDY S ROOM (left) Dana was going to use wallpaper in the bedrooms, but decided on feature walls of painted lining boards, which echo the original boards downstairs. I let the kids choose which colour they wanted on the wall and Kennedy chose peach, says Dana. ENSUITE (right) This space mirrors the kids bathroom, with patterned floor tiles also from Jatana Interiors, as well as a Mark Tuckey vanity. EXTERIOR (opposite) Dana relaxes poolside with her kids Indi, Taj, Kennedy, Kai and Rebel the spoodle. The customised remote-controlled awning is from Brax in Geelong. 5 GREAT FINDS BACK TO NATURE The texture and tone of rough-hewn timber brings warmth and a versatile modern edge to this family home 1Ethnicraft 2-drawer console, $1040, Clickon Furniture, clickon furniture.com.au. 2Reclaimed pine round serving board, $199, Città, cittadesign.com. 3Custom No. B9 4 Egg Cup stool, Le Corbusier chair, from $550, Mark Tuckey, $511, Thonet, thonet.com.au. marktuckey.com.au. 5 Slab bed, $4250/ queen, Mark Tuckey, as before. IT WAS ABOUT BRIGHTENING THE HOUSE UP FOR THE KIDS. AS SOON AS THE PAINTING STARTED, I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO LOOK FANTASTIC DANA, HOMEOWNER 92 / Inside Out