Sunny Side Up

This home is a haven of fun, friendship and creativity for a family of five.

- Sarah Ellison

A home where hope reigns and love rules – this was the vision of Jaynie and Nathan Johnson when they bought their 1950s brick bungalow six years ago in the beachside suburb of Cronulla in Sydney’s south. “We both grew up in the area and decided to settle here with our kids as it’s close to the city yet far enough away to feel like we are on holiday,” Jaynie says.

But it would be a while before the family could relax. “The house was a total dump,” Jaynie declares frankly. “We got it for a bargain because no one could see past the rotting cork floors, rooms painted different colours and internal windows. But we just saw the walk to the beach and figured the rest would be okay, and it is – it’s better than okay.”

CHANGING ROOMS

Admittedly, it took the creative couple – who run art and design business Blacklist – two rounds of renovations to get there. “Before we moved in, we gutted the entire house, changed the layout, combined two rooms to make one master suite, and installed bifolds and the outside deck and bridge,” Jaynie says. More recently, they added two new bathrooms, a new kitchen and a playroom.

PERSONAL TOUCHES