My Houzz: Where Palm Springs Meets Gum Trees
A love of midcentury design and a knack for renovating lead this family to a 1960s gem on the outskirts of Melbourne
Midcentury modern enthusiasts Meaghan and Ash Dunne snapped up this 1960s home in a leafy suburb of Melbourne, Australia, and took 14 years to renovate it. They created a home that pays homage to its midcentury roots while simultaneously creating a space suited to a 21st-century lifestyle. When it came time to tackle the backyard, they were inspired by the iconic midcentury modern architecture of Palm Springs, with its clean lines and connection between indoors and outdoors.
The couple got a little help from their talented friends along the way. The stainless steel throughout the kitchen was fabricated by their friend Evan “Eggs” of Eymac.
The couple used pieces they have collected over the years to decorate their home. “Most of the items in our house have no real value,” Meaghan says. “Most of our furnishings are from secondhand shops or the side of the road, with some Ikea thrown in and of late, Kmart bargains, as most of our savings go into building materials.”
Dining table and chairs: Vinnies
Dining table and chairs: Vinnies
This eye chart hanging in the living room was salvaged from the old Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne before it was demolished.
A study nook off the living room allows private study time, and with the couple’s four sons in high school and college, it’s put to good use.
This is a view from the living area to the open-concept kitchen.
Some time ago, Ash and Meaghan considered whether they would sell and move closer to the city. Instead they decided to stay and create an outdoor oasis for their family, extending their living space with an area for relaxing and entertaining.
Meaghan and Ash designed the pool themselves using retro public pools as their inspiration. “I’ve always loved public pools and their history,” Meaghan says. The monumental steel-framed roof, aptly nicknamed ‘the Taj,’ was no small feat for Ash to construct. It serves as a testament to his skill and tenacity as a builder and craftsman. Meaghan says, “I wanted to create a breezeway effect, and the expressed joints and glass have certainly done this.”
Pool: Australian Spas and Pools
Meaghan and Ash designed the pool themselves using retro public pools as their inspiration. “I’ve always loved public pools and their history,” Meaghan says. The monumental steel-framed roof, aptly nicknamed ‘the Taj,’ was no small feat for Ash to construct. It serves as a testament to his skill and tenacity as a builder and craftsman. Meaghan says, “I wanted to create a breezeway effect, and the expressed joints and glass have certainly done this.”
Pool: Australian Spas and Pools
Ash built the cement stairs leading up to the swimming pool area as well. “His carpentry skills come into play on every job we do. The only thing he wont tackle is bricklaying,” Meaghan says.
The low-maintenance, water-efficient garden means less time spent on work and more time for play.
Landscaping: GRD Landscaping
Landscaping: GRD Landscaping
The faux grass was a suggestion made by one of Meaghan’s sons when they were debating whether they wanted to step out onto a soft or hard surface. “I was worried that in such a large area, paving or concrete would have made the area too sterile, and natural grass would not have grown under the roof,” Meaghan says. “It was a gamble going with the faux grass, but we are super happy with the result…. It gives a great retro-patio feel.”
Faux grass: Grass by the Metre
Faux grass: Grass by the Metre
Childhood memories play a huge part in how Meaghan styles the home. “We traveled a lot as kids to Victorian coastal towns. I loved the ’70s motels we stayed in, with the [concrete] blocks used as screens or near pool areas.” She and Ash tried to replicate the look in their own home.
Besser blocks: Breeze Blocks
Besser blocks: Breeze Blocks
One of the negative features of a midcentury home, Meaghan says, is lack of storage. This issue was solved by some clever repurposing of the cedar panels that lined the entry wall. Ash simply cut back to the original wall and used the cedar panels to create floor-to-ceiling cabinets along the length of the hallway.
Down the opposite end of the hallway is Meaghan’s growing art collection. She always buys a piece of art or some other decorative item when traveling. “I love to buy a poster from a gallery when I’m overseas too,” she says.
“The living area we call ‘the back room,’ and it’s our lazy, lounge-around room used for watching TV and movies,” Meaghan says. “The sofa is so comfy to lie around on.… Lots of friends and guests have slept on that sofa.”
Artwork: Zissou; sofa: King Furniture
Artwork: Zissou; sofa: King Furniture
River Phoenix pillow: Alpha60
Paddy’s room is decorated to suit his fun-loving nature. “The boys like their rooms to be quite simple,” Meaghan says. “They all have their own taste, and I pick up pieces when I see them that remind me of their personality.”
The master bedroom is colorful and fun, with vibrant yellow bed linens and mismatched mirrors hung on the wall. Meaghan loves her cat pillow on the bed, which reminds her of her old cat that passed away a few years ago. “She was always on my bed,” she says.
Other pillows: Douglas & Hope
Other pillows: Douglas & Hope
Opposite the bed is an arrangement of colorful geometric mirrors.
Meaghan is pictured here with her youngest son, Paddy.
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
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My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
Browse more homes by style:
Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts |Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses |Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Who lives here: Meaghan and Ash Dunne, and their four sons, Curtis, 23, Liam, 17, Eamon, 15, and Paddy, 14
Location: Park Orchards, a suburb of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia
Size: Five bedrooms, two bathrooms
The home was last renovated in the ’70s and ’80s prior to the Dunnes’ moving in, and was in need of another update. Designed by Meaghan and built entirely from scratch by Ash, the kitchen has been a labor of love. “The kitchen has become the focal point of the house, where we gather to eat, chat and catch up,” Meaghan says. “We went with a midcentury theme, and used [wood] veneer with stainless steel.”