Living the Design: An Architect’s Own Family Home

This renovation is a fresh and thoughtful reimagining of a 1920s Californian Bungalow – and a personal one for me. As both the architect and the client, I had the rare opportunity to design a home not only to look great on paper, but to genuinely support how our family lives every day.

Designed by DE.ARCH Architecture + Interiors and completed in November 2023, the project involved restoring the character of the original home and extending it with a calm, contemporary addition. The interiors draw on a blend of Japanese, Scandinavian and Mid-Century influences – creating a warm, pared-back and timeless aesthetic. Natural materials, thoughtful detailing and a “less but better” approach shaped spaces that feel effortless to live in.

At a time when family homes seem to grow simply because they can, we chose to do the opposite. We added just 64m², bringing the house to a considered 196m² with four well-planned bedrooms. It gives us exactly what we need as a young family – without the excess space to clean, heat, cool or maintain. Keeping the footprint modest also meant we could preserve our park-like backyard, which now includes outdoor entertaining areas, garden lighting, low-water planting, an outdoor lounge/fire pit zone, trampoline and cubby, plus a hidden clothes drying area (because nobody needs to see that in photos!).

Comfort, air quality and energy efficiency were a major focus. We upgraded the whole-of-house thermal performance: insulation to ceilings, walls and underfloor, Low-E glass to the original sash windows, and double glazing to all new windows and doors. North and west windows are protected with external shading screens, so the home stays bright and comfortable year-round without relying on heating or cooling. The result? An average indoor “resting” temperature of 18°C, making it naturally pleasant to live in.

We invested in premium materials, fixtures and craftsmanship, with many products sourced from Australian and New Zealand brands – supporting local makers and ensuring longevity.

Before the renovation, the house was valued at $1.4M. We invested $700K into the transformation and, 12 months after completion, it was valued at $2.5M – a 78% increase in value. A reassuring reminder that thoughtful design doesn’t just enhance day-to-day living — it delivers long-term financial value too.

Designing my own home meant I could challenge the assumption that a “family home” has to be a bigger one. Instead, we focused on spaces that work harder, adapt as our family grows, and support a more sustainable way of living – emotionally, environmentally and financially.