The compelling, chic home trend for people who don’t want to renovate
“For Glasshouse, we referenced mid-century cues through flat roofs, floor-to-ceiling glass and carefully considered indoor-outdoor connections,” explains Walker. “Subjectity was key. White and sun-drenched palettes, louvered curtains, detailed joinery and appropriately chosen greens evoked the period but were updated for our context.”
Retro homes don’t need to be perfect for the age; Kitchens like this add touches of contemporary luxury against a backdrop of classic materials. Credit: Armelle Habib
Thus, these “new-old” houses combine the charm of the past with all the ease and innovation of modern design.
Further north in Byron Bay, Ed Davis of Davis Architects has noticed the same change. His team’s Las Palmas and Currawong House projects reinterpret mid-century sensibilities through a subtropical lens where light, breeze and textures take center stage.
“The visual images of these homes and the way they enriched daily life were way ahead of their time,” Davis says. “Those lessons [mid-century] “Taught by architects like Richard Neutra and Rudolph Schindler are beyond their time and are equally relevant now.”
Davis explains that the essence of mid-century design lies in its seamless integration with nature. With spaces designed as open planes rather than closed boxes, traditional barriers between interior and exterior have been eliminated and redesigned. It’s an approach that’s inherently suited to the Australian way of life.
“In both homes, it was important to design the outdoor spaces and how they would connect to the home,” says Davis. “We think of courtyards, entrances and terraces as rooms of the house, spaces that bring life beyond the walls.”
The same openness also defines broader movement. After years of stylish minimalism, there is a collective shift towards tactility, tone and texture; There is a longing for homes that are lived in rather than showroom ready.
Las Palmas takes you to the valleys of Los Angeles, not beachside Byron Bay. Credit: Annie Buck
“In a time when more and more things are being processed, it’s nice to create homes that tell stories about nature in one way or another,” Davis says. “Wood, concrete, metal and stone are our favorite materials.”
While the aesthetics may be vintage, the practicality behind these nostalgic facades is anything but. For many homeowners, building new offers the opportunity to integrate greater control, flexibility and sustainability from the ground up.
“Some existing homes have good bones and benefit from sensitive updates,” Walker says. “But in other cases, a new build offers a more logical and economical solution. Double glazing, energy-efficient routing and low-maintenance materials all contribute to making homes not only beautiful but truly livable.”
Both designers agree that the magic lies in balance; It is finding the harmony between memory and modernity, and it is precisely this that gives this design language its enduring appeal.
Vintage style doesn’t have to be all patterned prints and shag rugs. Credit: Annie Buck
“Mid-century design resonates because it still has everything we want: light, air, flow, simplicity, timeless forms and connection to the landscape,” Davis says.
In reinventing these enduring ideas, Australian homeowners are creating something that renovation alone can’t always achieve: a home that’s both familiar and forward-thinking. Call it sentimentality, call it good design; In both cases, the new-old house found its moment.
This article was first published by. domain.com.au. Reproduced with permission.
