State Of Grace

Having courage in their convictions helped one Perth couple create the heritage-meets-modern home of their dreams.

- Judy Pascoe

Not many people would fix up the garden before tackling a renovation on the house but for this Perth couple, the outside-in approach worked a treat. They and their three children had been living in Margaret River, where they owned a luxury boutique resort, Losari Retreat. Planning to move back to Perth for the children’s senior school years, they bought a circa-1915 property in a coastal suburb of the state capital.

The owners rented the house out while planning their next move. In 2016, they were ready to renovate, beginning with the gardens. The existing heritage-style landscaping was refreshed with a simpler aesthetic, using plenty of grey-leafed plants such as olive trees and succulents. A pool, carport, new walkways and boundary walls completed the exterior makeover.

Next, the owners turned their attention to the house. They wished to create a contemporary home for their family without interfering with the property’s heritage charm. “It had good bones and was in good condition structurally but the appearance was very dated,” says the owner.