Cape Fear House: Revitalized 1920s Californian Bungalow in Sydney

ByMyProperty Life

Giving the old home a makeover I all about discovering an entire new world of possibilities within a limited framework and pre-existing constraints. Originally built in the 1920’s, this Californian-style bungalow in Kensington, Sydney was revamped and altered to give the lower level a new living area, dining and kitchen space and the upper level gets two new bedrooms. This was done with a rear extension where the social area on the inside extends towards the outdoors and the gorgeous wooden deck becomes a part of it. A custom pergola structure in Cypress Pine adds to the overall visual appeal and gives shade to those enjoying the outdoors.

Extended rear deck of the house creates a social zone that is perfect for family time








The makeover was carried out by CPlusC Architectural Workshop ensures that much of the original home is left largely unaltered and the old and the new coexist in a seamless manner. On the inside, the color scheme is kept largely neutral with white, gray and wood setting the mood I every room. Bright colors are used in a limited fashion thanks to seasonal accent while an atrium ushers in ample natural light and keeps away any sense of dreariness. You can see parts of the old brick wall exposed beautifully in the living area and these section only add to the uniqueness of this Aussie home.

Facade of 1920s Californian bungalow in Sydney with a classic design
Gray and brick exterior of the revitalized 1920s Sydney house
Lounge of Cape Fear House in Sydney with brick and glass wall backdrop
White and wood upper level of the house extended to house a new bedroom
Read another article:Design Trends for Creating a Vacation Vibe at Home

Another eye-catching feature of the rear section is the gray wooden upper section of the home with its curved features and the exposed brick walls next to it. Warmth of wood, gray modernity and classic brick sections all come together to create a backyard that feels just exceptional! [Photography: Murray Fredericks, Jem Cresswell and Michael Lassman]

Wood and white kitchen of the Sydney house connected with the wooden deck outside
Atrium brings light and freshness to the revamped 1920s home in Sydney
Bathroom in white and gray of the revamped home with a light-filled interior
Combining brick with more modern finishes in the home

You’re reading Cape Fear House: Revitalized 1920s Californian Bungalow in Sydney, originally posted on Decoist. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Decoist on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

Similar Posts

  • Auburn Addition and Remodel

    Built in the late 1970s, the Auburn house is reminiscent of the California Modern homes built in the mid-century. Located in an established neighborhood of mixed residential typologies, the house greets the neighborhood on the north street side and opens to a southern back yard perched above the North Fork of the American River canyon. The owners, who both work from home, asked us to develop a master plan for the property that included additional space for private offices, a guest bedroom, a workshop, and a future pool. Also desired was an extensive remodel of the existing house that update the home and improve energy efficiency. The two-story addition to the home is tucked into a narrow buildable slice of the parcel on the eastern end of the home. It optimizes the existing infrastructure and only hints at a bold modern form, from the street side. However, on the private south side, the addition opens dramatically to the inspiring southern canyon view from the second-floor office spaces. A second entrance is provided into the “creative” wing of the building – to allow work to occur with some separation from the activity of family life. The remodel of the existing home evokes the California Modernist moments of the building by creating smoother transitions between the interior and exterior spaces and updating the kitchen to create better functionality all while using sustainable materials that are expressed in an honest manner. The energy upgrades on this home focus on improving the envelope through meticulous air sealing, replacing all the existing insulation, replacing all the windows, and upgrading all the mechanical equipment. An oversized and outdated furnace was replaced with a high performing unit installed within a conditioned attic. Heating and cooling in the new addition will be provided by a ductless mini split. A roof mounted 6 kW photovoltaic system is expected to offset all the electrical usage for this mixed fuel home.