My Houzz: Modest Row House Gets a Bright, Cheery Redesign
A colorful renovation brings light and life into a simple family home in Australia
Vicki Fletcher
November 28, 2016
Tucked away on a quiet street in a Sydney suburb, this modest row house stands out no more and no less than its neighbors. Inside the family home, however, is a whole new world. Thanks to careful decorating and renovations that include a new bedroom, rear addition and master bathroom, the home now has plenty of natural light, big open spaces and bright color.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Jason and Angela Westerman and their three children, Katia, Lola and Luca
Location: Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia
Size: Three bedrooms, two bathrooms
Angela Westerman, a naturopath, and her husband, Jason, a creative director, bought this home in 2003. Back then it was a small two-bedroom cottage that lacked natural light and a decent living area for their growing family. In 2008, with their second child on the way, they replaced the existing living room with a third bedroom and extended into the backyard to create an open, airy living space and kitchen.
Who lives here: Jason and Angela Westerman and their three children, Katia, Lola and Luca
Location: Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia
Size: Three bedrooms, two bathrooms
Angela Westerman, a naturopath, and her husband, Jason, a creative director, bought this home in 2003. Back then it was a small two-bedroom cottage that lacked natural light and a decent living area for their growing family. In 2008, with their second child on the way, they replaced the existing living room with a third bedroom and extended into the backyard to create an open, airy living space and kitchen.
The front of the home remains almost exactly as it was when the couple bought the house. They polished the wood floors and kept period features in the hallway and bedrooms for their character.
The hallway lamps are from Dedece. Angela bought the mirror from a vintage store 13 years ago.
The hallway lamps are from Dedece. Angela bought the mirror from a vintage store 13 years ago.
Angela says the bedroom she and Jason share is their favorite room in the house. “It’s very peaceful and tranquil in there —my space away from the busy living room,” she says. When they began the renovation, there was no specific style in mind, more of a mix of what she and Jason love, Angela says. “Lots of color was important!”
Tom Dixon designed the bedside lamps in the master bedroom. The artwork above the bed is by Gloria Petyarre, purchased at Kate Owen Gallery.
In 2013, after the arrival of their third child, Luca, the couple decided to add an en suite to their bedroom. Created with space borrowed from the third bedroom, the compact room features neutral fixtures and white subway tiles to create the illusion of a bigger space.
The bookcase in the bedroom is from Top3 by Design. The dresser is from Ikea and the hanging shelf from Kmart.
The two youngest children, Lola and Luca, share a bedroom that vibrantly reflects their personalities.
Keeping the overall palette neutral allows the kids’ colorful bedspreads, toys and other items to stand out.
Katia’s room is furnished with simple, colorful pieces that create a calm retreat for her to play in. “I’m drawn to clean, Scandinavian furniture, so the bright colors can do the talking,” Angela says.
The zebra head was handmade in Africa. The artwork above the bed is by Meredith Gaston.
Color plays a major role in this house. When they started the renovation process, Angela and Jason decided to use a draftsman rather than an architect to draw up the plans, giving them full creative freedom.
This tall orange door at the end of the hallway slides opens to reveal the main bathroom.
Inside, the large walk-in shower is tiled floor to ceiling in small aqua mosaic tiles.
The living room addition downstairs is at the rear of the house. It’s a modern space with clean lines and is flooded with natural light.
To let more light into the hallway and west-facing living room, the ceiling was raised, with high windows and skylights added above the kitchen and dining room.
The only eye-level windows in the living room face onto the backyard. The couple have visitors often, so they needed the living area to be a space where they could entertain without feeling claustrophobic. They installed bifold doors that extend across the back wall and open to the yard. This also lets the parents keep an eye on the kids while they play.
A-Plan kitchens designed and built the kitchen. The Westermans gathered ideas from friends’ houses and incorporated their favorite elements.
In the dining and living areas, Angela and Jason used bold primary colors that reflect the playful energy in the house. Drawing the eye to the soaring ceilings, a large green pear sculpture is perched atop the ledge separating the stairwell from the kitchen. The red stools and orange armchair add contrast, and the multicolored light shade pulls it all together in the center of the room.
Nori table by Kristalia: Fanuli Furniture; dining chairs: Clickon Furniture
Nori table by Kristalia: Fanuli Furniture; dining chairs: Clickon Furniture
Renowned Australian artist Miranda Skoczek is a good friend of Angela’s. Her artwork is on display throughout the house, including these two pieces in the living room.
Continuing the colorful theme, Angela and Jason chose these floating shelves from Milano Furniture for their living room storage. The armchairs are original Douglas Snelling pieces from Revival Furniture on the coast of New South Wales. “They are my favorite pieces in the whole house,” Angela says.
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
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
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Thanks for sharing, Vicki! This house definitely contains some great energy; the pop of color really adds a great element to the space.
This is one of those stories where a floor plan (even a rough one) would have helped me visualize the rear addition. Lovely home!