In the beachside Sydney suburb of Cronulla, a split-story, two-bed, two-bath midcentury dwelling is reborn as a vibrant three-bedroom, three-bathroom home with dynamic wall art and interiors that encourage indoor/outdoor living.

Interior architect Yasmine Ghoniem of Sydney–based studio Amber Road worked closely with artist and color consultant Sonia van de Haar of Lymesmith, and the home’s owner Harry Kapoulas to renovate the two-level, 2,690-square-foot house in a way that reflects Kapoulas' and his wife's upbeat personalities.

The main living areas were originally located on the upper floors, which made these rooms feel disconnected from the property’s established landscape. The design team extended the ground floor, pushing a glazed wall seven feet into the garden so that it aligns with the edge of the existing balcony above. Ghoniem reworked the plan and moved all the communal areas to the ground floor to create a stronger connection to the garden.

Before: The Kitchen

After: The Kitchen

Ghoniem relocated the kitchen from the upper level to the ground level. The former kitchen is now a study with an ensuite bathroom and a lofted sleeping area.

Before: The Living/Dining Area

After: The Living/Dining Area

Shop the Look

Kapoulas and his wife Boel are avid art lovers who wanted to create a “joyful” abode, so Ghoniem and van de Haar layered bright primary colors throughout.

Before: The Stairs

After: The Stairs

Before: The Master Bedroom

After: The Master Bedroom

After: The Study

Ghoniem and Kapoulas initially thought that the brick interiors felt too heavy, but van de Haar convinced them that the brick would work if complimented with the right color palette, so they paired the existing brick with strong, irregularly shaped Crazy Pavers.

“Most might consider it a clashing palette,” says van de Haar, “but we felt it was a true material choice which honored the era to which the house was born.”

The most outstanding feature of the home is no doubt van de Haar’s eye-catching murals throughout the interiors, which have shapes and lines loosely inspired by aerial photographs of the surrounding terrain.

“I don’t think I’ve ever worked on a project where all project collaborators played an equal part. Client, designer, and artist were in true symbiosis. I think that’s why the outcome was so fresh; there were no egos involved,” says Ghoniem.

Related Reading: Unexpected Bursts of Color Enliven a Midcentury Pad in Australia

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Amber Road / @amberroaddesign, Lymesmith / @lymesmithy

Builder: Harry Kapoulas

Structural Engineer: Jones Nicholson Engineers

Landscape Design: JBL Property Development

Lighting Design: Amber Road

Cabinetry Design: ITF Cabinet Making and Joinery

Styling: Alicia Sciberras

Color Palettes and Internal Murals: Lymesmith

Before & After: An Australian Midcentury Home Is Awash With Bold Color and Pattern