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Mid Century Homes

8 Memorable Mid-Century Homes From 2022

Mid-century homes are always among the most popular home we share here on TDF.

There’s a certain type of magic within the walls of a perfectly preserved retro abode, filled with reminders of the past, in the daring architecture of the 50s, 60s and beyond.

From striking homes suspended in mid-air, to alluring Modernist masterpieces and an iconic Robin Boyd design, here are eight of Australia’s most amazing mid-century properties we stepped inside this year!

Written

Christina Karras

The most intact beachcomber by modernist architect Nino Sydney is for sale in the Blue Mountains. Photo – Alicia Taylor

Located at 32 Russell Avenue, Faulconbridge, NSW, the house was restored by the original owners under the advice of Nino. Photo – Alicia Taylor

The house is considered the best standing example of architect Nino’s work, who passed away last month at 89 years of age. Photo – Alicia Taylor

Photo – Alicia Taylor

Australia’s Best Beachcomber By Modernist Architect Nino Sydney

This 1960s Blue Mountains home is considered the best standing example of architect Nino Sydney’s work, who passed away earlier this year at 89 years of age.

Despite a flurry of current media interest in Nino and this particular house, the architect’s 1950s and ‘60s ‘beachcomber’ homes have only recently become recognised for their Bauhaus-inspired, affordable, and practical design.

Billy and Sarah were lucky enough to eventually meet and befriend Nino, who they worked with to carefully restore this home’s original features – before selling the magnificent property to new custodians for $1.355m in March 2022!

Read the full story here.

While aesthetically restored, the original home’s energy efficiency was greatly improved in the renovation. Photo – Derek Swalwell

An outdoor incorporates existing trees on site. Photo – Derek Swalwell

A green kitchen rangehood and light fixt throughout provide an occasional pop of colour that resembles the old tea trees around the house. Photo – Derek Swalwell

An Architect’s Own Mid-Century Beaumaris Home Restoration

Melbourne’s bayside suburb of Beaumaris is home to many original mid-century homes and a passionate community dedicated to their preservation.

While many local houses have fallen victim to the wrecking ball in recent years, this special 1956 property was saved by the owner, architect Wilko Doehring of Wilko Architecture, who personally restored it for his young family.

The home today appears almost as it did in 1956, but with the energy efficient features of today.

Read the full story here.

Kenmore is a subtle renovation of a mid-century home by Kin Architects. Photo – Christopher Frederick Jones

Vibrant paint choices add character, ensuring an enduring homage to the house’s mid-century identity. Photos– Christopher Frederick Jones

A Mid-Century Brisbane Home Redesigned For Modern Life

The exterior of this mid-century home in Kenmore, Brisbane, appears almost untouched — such is the beauty of its recent renovation by Kin Architects.

Working entirely within the existing footprint and modernist aesthetic, Kin Architects have reconfigured and enhanced the home to be more functional, and better connected to the outdoors.

The finished project preserves Brisbane’s modern architectural history, while allowing the owners to occupy the house in a manner that suits their lifestyle.

Read the full story here.

Split levels similar to the 1969 Featherston House subtly define the living areas. Photography – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

Couch and coffee table by Mark Tuckey. Photography – Eve Wilson for The Design Files. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

An Under-The-Radar Modernist Masterpiece In The Dandenongs

Whilst this home pushes the definition of ‘mid-century’ right to its limits – we just couldn’t leave this circa 1970s masterpiece out of this list!

Located in Melbourne’s Ferny Creek, on the edge of the Dandenong Ranges, the house has been in the hands of White Salt Photography owner Janine Harris and her family since 2014. They’ve restored the original living spaces, while renovating the bathrooms and a kitchen to suit their young family. Well worth revisiting if you missed it the first time… this is one very special home!

Read the full story here.

The retro Lodge House is on the market for the first time ever! Photo – Courtesy Kay & Burton

Melbourne architect Keith Lodge’s design is filled with Modernist features from the era. Photo – Courtesy Kay & Burton

A Family’s Magical Mid-Century ‘Treehouse’ Is For Sale In Kew East

Until this year, this mid-century home in Kew East had remained in the architect’s own family since he first built the residence in 1959!

Designed by Melbourne architect Keith Lodge, the modernist abode has evolved over time to meet the needs of his family and six children – who say they’ve loved growing up in their dad’s amazing ‘treehouse’.

The unique gem has stood the test of time, and changed hands for the first time (ever!) just a few months ago!

Read the full story here.

The home is hidden amid towering trees and bush! Photo – Jellis Craig

Filled with mid-century magic. Left: Photo courtesy of Boyd & Friends. Right – Jellis Craig

A Mid-Century Masterpiece Nestled In North Warrandyte

For architecture lovers, it doesn’t get much dreamier than this almost untouched Robin Boyd-designed home in North Warrandyte.

The ‘Wright House’ has been called one of the architect’s most iconic properties, lauded for its timeless mid-century design, striking Coldstream rock walls and expansive views of the Yarra Ranges’.

It’s been carefully cherished and protected by the current owners for the last 10 years, which has made it even more impressive.

Read the full story here.

‘The coffee table came with the studio and originally belonged to Alistair Knox and [was] purposed for draft storage. It was painted brown when I moved in, and I recently obtained permission and had the honour of restoring into its original condition,’ Till says. Photo – Eve Wilson. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

‘I was designing a dining setting for the space when precisely what I had been dreaming of in Tasmanian oak showed up on Facebook Marketplace, spanning a gigantic 3 x 2 metres. It was perfect and significantly more affordable than a new one. It is easily the heart of the home,’ Tilly says. Photo – Eve Wilson. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

Marley’s dedicated space in a calm and cosy corner of the house. Blanket by Curio Practice. Sheets by In Bed. Photo – Eve Wilson. Editorial styling – Annie Portelli

Alistair Knox’s Former Studio Turned Family Home

If there’s an architecturally significant home available to rent in Melbourne’s north-east, you best believe Tilly Barber knows about it.

The owner of furniture businesses Homebody and Monde has lived in multiple nearby ’60s and ’70s homes, but couldn’t resist moving into the former office of prolific architect Alistair Knox when it recently hit the rental market.

Embracing the site’s history and leafy Eltham environment, Tilly has turned the space into a somewhat unorthodox yet heartwarming home for herself, and six-year-old-son Marley.

Read the full story here.

‘We see the Dandenongs and nature as well as trains, planes, automobiles all from a bird’s eye view,’ Simone says of the property’s outlook. Photo – Dylan James

The renovated kitchen. Photo – Dylan James

It’s been totally transformed after two renovations brought the property back to life for Simone’s young family. Photo – Dylan James

Simone Haag’s Magical Mid-Century Home Hits The Market

Interior stylist and decorator Simone Haag’s Ringwood family home was only supposed to be a ‘stepping stone’ property.

But after a series of thoughtful renovations, Simone and her husband, Rhys, transformed the dated mid-century abode into a ‘magical’ house with an endearing Modernist charm.

Add in the sentimental value of a decade worth of memories and they had no desire to leave – until earlier this year when they put their expertly designed tree-top property on the market, and we couldn’t help but take one last look inside before it changed hands!

Read the full story here.