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The 10 Most Marvellous Modernist Homes Of The Year

Yesterday we brought you our most popular homes of 2019, but today we’re focusing solely on a specific style of home that’s very dear to TDF readers – mid-century modern!

Homes from the 1950s, 60’s and 70’s consistently rate among the most read stories we publish. Today, we revisit your top ten favourite examples from the past year!

Written

Amelia Barnes

The Fender House in Mount Martha, with renovations from Whelan Project. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

‘We love our kitchen, it’s so big and spacious and chunky. Cabinet maker Roman rebuilt all the cabinetry as it was rotting and about to fall through the floors. He skilfully managed to match the wood stain to the original wood panels.’ On the bench is the 1970s Le Creuset pot, and vintage orange bowl. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

There are stairs and split levels everywhere in this house. These stairs lead from the sun-room to the music room then up another level to the kitchen. You can also see the original porthole lights in the ceilings and the very uniquely designed light boxes, which Katie and Ian re-furbished. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

Writer

Amelia Barnes

23rd of December 2019

A Lovingly Restored Mid-Century Marvel In Mount Martha

This circa 1973 home may look straight out of Palm Springs, but it’s actually located just outside Melbourne in Mount Martha.

Originally designed by Karl Fender (now one half of Fender Katsalidis), owner Katie Brannaghan and her husband Ian purchased the property in 2017 and have since returned the house to its former glory.

We shared this spectacular home back in October, and it’s already one of the popular mid-century homes we’ve published to date!

Revisit the original story here

An elegant corner in the mid-century home. Photo – Sean Fennessy. Styling – Studio Esteta.

The wood and stone tones reflecting the colour palette of the surrounding environment. Photo – Sean Fennessy. Styling – Studio Esteta.

The Portsea Beach House by Studio Esteta. Photo – Sean Fennessey. Styling – Studio Esteta.

Avoiding The Coastal Cliché, With Mid Century Flair

This home on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula is the ultimate combination of beach house, mid-century, and sophisticated modern design.

Studio Esteta recently updated the hilltop home to accommodate six bedrooms, without stripping it of modernist character. Among stunning features are the crazy interior paving and rich marbled surfaces, complemented by original mid-century furniture and decor.

Revisit the original story here

Looking stately, in Studley park. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

1950s windows, meet a contemporary couch. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

Enhancing The Past In Studley Park

Our Instagram went crazy upon posting the facade image of this home located on Studley Park, a tightly held pocket of Melbourne’s Kew!

The mid-century home was originally designed by influential Russian-born Australian architect Anatol Kagan, who was committed to designing buildings that had a positive impact on society.

Most recently, the 1950s home has been sympathetically renovated by Kennedy Nolan, who refreshed the architectural beauty of the property, and re-zoned the layout to reflect a more contemporary way of living.

Revisit the original story here

This original Robin Boyd-designed house in Warrandyte is now the family home of writer, strategist and podcast host Emma Clark Grattan, furniture maker Lee Grattan, and their children Archer and Jethro. The original house on the block burned down in 1962, and the owners commissioned Robin Boyd to design this new house in 1963. The house is clad with steel, which is quite unusual for the celebrated architect, but part of the brief was that the house was fire-resistant. Landscaping by Emma and Lee. Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli.

Original wall light and Tasmanian Oak flooring. The couple painted the pantry door to break up the timber in the house. Baskets collected over the years now hide the kids’ sports and winter clothing. Artwork next to the fridge was a gift from friends Ace Wagstaff and Sam George. Steel and timber stools made by Lee. Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli.

‘Lee got the desk from Great Dane, but it was broken and in pieces so they were going to throw it out. He managed to restore it and we’ve dragged it from house to house’. Lamp is an original Planet lamp bought for a dollar from a church sale in Warrandyte. Clock from IKEA. Geo dresser made by Lee. Photo – Caitlin Mills. Styling – Annie Portelli.

This Rare Robin Boyd Original Makes An Extraordinary Family Home

Among the many beautiful mid-century homes in Melbourne’s Warrandyte is this 1963 one designed by iconic Australian architect, Robin Boyd.

This home is owned by content strategist and writer Emma Clark Gratton, and her furniture making husband, Lee Gratton, who moved here in search of extra space for their young family.

The seasoned renovators couple have redone the kitchen, added new cabinetry and tiling, renovated the master bedroom, and installed solar panels among many other small tweaks.

We love the spectacular views appreciated via through floor-to-ceiling windows in every room, alongside the beautifully designed interiors full of Gratton furniture and retro finds.

Revisit the original story here

Perfect Portsea living. Photo – Michael Kai.

The new home is filled with light. Photo – Michael Kai.

A 1960s Portsea Shack Gets A Contemporary Revamp

Pleysier Perkins recently transformed this ‘tired beige’ ‘60s shack in Portsea, Victoria into a light and bright getaway that balances mid-century charm with modern family life.

The architects updated the kitchen, dining, and living area in the process to improve spatial flow, added a new playroom, and gave the interiors minor facelift.

Full-height doors at both ends of the new addition connect the space with the outdoors. The boundaries between these spaces are blurred with the use of crazy pavers that gently extend from the interiors to the grassy outdoor areas.

Revisit the original story here

Photo – courtesy of Ouwens Casserly Real Estate.

Modernising A Mid-Century Stunner

This mid-century home in St Lucia, Brisbane, features light and airy spaces to make the most of its subtropical climate.

The property was renovated by Lucy Jeffries as one of the first projects since establishing her own studio. Prior to this, she had been honing her skills with award winning residential architectural practices Vokes and Peters and Shaun Lockyer.

This home was all about paring back and returning the home to its essential form, with a few carefully considered contemporary updates.

Revisit the original story here

Photo – courtesy of Ouwens Casserly Real Estate.

A Corner-Block Mid-Century Classic

Our columnists over at Modernist Australia introduced this 1958 home in Klemzig, Adelaide, to us when it was on the market earlier in the year. It’s since been snapped up, and it’s not hard to see why!

The home has been sympathetically updated by its previous owners, who lived there since 1968. Many original features were retained over the decades, including a glassy window wall looking into the living room, and the wonderfully pink bathroom!

Revisit the original story here

The new century vibe! Artwork by Wilma Tabacco from Gallerysmith.hoto – Shannon McGrath. Styling – Swee Lim.

Clean mid-century lines, re-imagined for now. Photo – Shannon McGrath. Styling – Swee Lim.

The exterior maintains its strong 1960s facade. Photo – Shannon McGrath. Styling – Swee Lim.

Mid Century Meets Modern, In This Thoughtfully Renovated 1960s Home

This ‘60s home is pure mid-century from the street, but step inside and you’ll find some seriously glamorous interiors!

Bower Architecture and Interiors were responsible for recently updating this Caulfield property. The brief was to rediscover and celebrate the home’s original features, and create additional spaces with ‘hints of whimsy and glamour (but not glitz).’

Revisit the original story here

Photo – Prue Ruscoe.

An Amazing Mid-Century Home Gets A High-Tech Makeover!

A dreamy waterfront site meets classic mid-century in Sydney’s Middle Cove.

The house was originally designed by architect Glynn Nicholls (son of Eric Nicholls – Walter Burley Griffin’s Australian business partner) in 1959, but was recently extended by 8 Squared.

The interior design by Studio Gorman is just as impressive, combining ‘50s elements alongside the latest technology to take this home into the 21st century and beyond.

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A Bohemian Blue Mountains Modernist Beauty

Trish from Modernist Australia recently shared with us this incredible find – a breathtaking Blue Mountains home, with Australian modern flavour, and a touch of bohemian flair.

Revisit the original post here