Another one of my creations from the weekend. I wanted a bench seat to go in my hallway, but was struggling to find something that suited our home or wasn't too big. 

So brainwave in the middle of the night... Use a floating shelf (that we already had) and add some cool retro legs (from a laminex coffee table I had in storage). Voila! How cutsie is this?

I am now on the hunt for LEGS!! If anyone has retro legs (including table legs) lying around their place, send them my way as I have heaps of other projects in my head that I would love to do. Off to scout hard rubbish! LOL!

Toodle-pip!

Before

When Denis and I moved to South Australia three years ago we were based in the Barossa Valley. Soon after arriving I quickly spotted this adorable 1950s home on the hill in Angaston. I said to Denis, if ever that house is on the market WE MUST BUY IT!

Then one day when doing a drive by the home I noticed a bit of renovation activity going on. I thought to myself, I didn't see that advertised!! What's going on...Sad face! Having said that, I was pleased to see that the new owner was embracing this 1950s home and had obviously put alot of thought into its make over. Finally, it was being treated to the retro love it deserved!

After!

Adelaide being a small city, it wasn't long before Fiona the owner and I crossed paths, and since then we have discovered we are kindred spirits sharing our love or all things retro. I was so thrilled when Fiona invited me to visit her to have a V.I.P. tour of what she refers to "her own little version of Palm Springs in the Barossa!"

So I am ecstatic to share with you this amazing makeover, but first to fully appreciate the heart and soul Fiona has put into it you must see some before photos!

Front elevation

Original entrance / lounge

Kitchen

Small dining room

I never saw the house for sale, tell us a bit about the purchasing process.
I'm from Sydney and had very little history with the Barossa, but fell in love with this vanilla brick nugget on the hill. The house was never for sale, it was a door knock/handshake deal. 

Structurally my engineer-mate gave it the thumbs-up. But knowing I am a style Nazi thought I was certifiably mad! There was a lot of work to do!

What was your vision for the home when you bought it?
I have always loved Palm Springs architecture, and this is unapologetically my amateur attempt at it. The plan was to ensure every room has a view, and there is light everywhere. Which it does. It was all designed around the existing house bones and its very unique relationship with the landscape around it.
 
I designed the floor-plan and recruited a draftsman and overall it has been a hell of a journey. Most people suggested I knock it down, and all the tradesmen thought I was mad. It was so pokey, which it doesn't look like at all from the outside.

I didn't live in it while it was being renovated and extended – it was at least 18 months. That wasn't the original plan, but the Barossa and this house kept me going back for more! I had one builder and it all evolved very organically. We have worked together on it - the two of us on a crazy journey over two and a half years.

The landscaping was always important to me too. Lots of propagating succulents in the dark of night (with plenty of scars to show for it.) I have a dear friend who has always inspired me with desert landscapes - Will Dangar – he's brilliant.

Original back garden, basically a hill. A lot of dirt (and rock) to move to make room for the extension and pool!

Have you retained any of the original features?
Simple answer: walls, roof and land. With that, most walls were removed, the roof was replaced and 213 truckloads of earth was excavated and removed. Heaps of fun! Why I didn't realise that buying a house down the road from a rock quarry meant the block was actually "rock" is something I simply put down to being blonde.

So sorry to say no original features, other than the most precious skillion roof (which I was also advised to lose).

Excavation begins...

I found this useful 1950/1960s clothes rack on the side of the road last week. Sorry, but I forgot to take a 'before' photo prior to cleaning it... but basically it was showing signs of rust, probably from sitting outside for some time, and was pretty filthy too!

I just couldn't let this one go to landfill, so with a bit of elbow grease and sandpaper I was determined to bring a sparkle back to this beauty.


I simply covered the coloured plastic coated bars with paper to protect them from any over spray. Traditionally the frames were painted in a dark green, but I had a can of black paint lying around so thought that would do.


I am thrilled with the result. Almost as good as new. Quite a handy little fellow that folds down neatly. Looks like I will also be using it as a prop for a fabric / homewares photo shoot next month too! YAY!

Toodle-pip!

We are gearing up for another crazy day of house reno tomorrow. This time the hallway. Time to give it a facelift by removing the wallpaper and freshening it up with a lick of paint. I'm in the process of designing a new balustrade as well, but that will come later! Also weighing up if we do a feature wall of some sort on the stairwell side. Maybe a dark colour to help hide the door to the cloak cupboard under the stairs and the doors on the linen cupboard... Any ideas?

Carrying on from "The Den" post...


Well our "Den" has finally come together in true Kyrie & Denis style. In total, it took us 2 full weekends of work, at a cost of approx $1000 including paint, shelving and cabinets.

Wallpaper removed, walls ready to paint.

Denis Loves Painting - TRUE!

Weekend 1 (May 2012)
Two solid days of removing the old tired wallpaper, prepping the walls (very time consuming) and then the fun bit painting!

A couple modifications to the IKEA 'Besta'" cabinets!

Get out the level and tape measure please!

Weekend 2 (August 2012)

Time to assemble the cupboards from IKEA. Denis did a stellar job of modifying a cabinet so we have them running the full width of the room. The room is not quite 3m wide, so he had to shear off about 40mm on one side of the cabinet to make it all work.

Hanging the shelves was actually a dream. Having solid block walls makes it so easy. No need to find wooden studs in this place! However one dead drill later and the job is complete.

Very happy with how it looks!

The Result - We are so happy with the transformation of this room and it has turned out exactly how I designed it in my head with no hiccups along the way!  (except broken drill, but Denis was thrilled to stumble across "Ryobi Day" at Bunnings when he went to get a replacement!)

I love the fact that we can now keep our books all in one tidy place... I have extra space to display my retro delights, and the room is a cosy space for us to curl up on the couch to read, crochet or watch the box. It is really refreshing to have the TV away from the main living area so it isn't the main focus.

Retro Delights in 'The Den..."

Vintage Camera from "Meet Me at Mike's" Melbourne.

The retro light pendant is an e-bay purchase for $18!

Original Lip Chair and Bus Blind purchased from TradeMe NZ.

A small collection of vintage globes from e-bay.

Of course I have many more photos documenting this reno. Check them out here > 

Toodle-pip!