CALI CLASSIC

TAKING INSPIRATION FROM THIS BUNGALOW'S EXTERIOR, A COUPLE REVIVED THE INTERIOR WITH CALIFORNIA SOUL

- JULIA FAIRLEY

Fadia and Charles had been hoping to buy in a picturesque pocket of Western Sydney for over seven years when their dream home hit the market. Situated on a big block and in the bungalow style the couple love, it seemed perfect for their family of five. However, the dream turned nightmarish beyond the front door, where a jumbled floor plan and drab interiors awaited.

Undeterred, they bought the property, all the while questioning whether to raze it or renovate. Their answer came from interior designer Karemeh Malek of Calla + Lily Design, who was confident they could gut the interior and work within the structurally sound, well-proportioned footprint to build Fadia’s vision, which was clear from the outset. “I love transitional style and I wanted to bring that California bungalow look inside,” she says.

The makeover

Aesthetically, Fadia’s brief was for a traditional home with a trendy twist. “We added classic details like the wainscoting from Intrim and the tiles,” says Karemeh. “Then we introduced some contemporary elements with the brass tapware, which is quite modern, the mirrors, furniture and the neutral colour palette with that beautiful beige-grey cabinetry.”