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A semi-finished daylight basement is now an independent suite that can flex in use. Master Furniture Makers fabricated the custom-designed cabinetry, curved built-in seating, and wall treatment. Caesarstone ‘Fresh Concrete’ covers the kitchenette counters.

A curving wall swoops around the bedroom.

The breakfast nook of Mariana van Zeller and Darren Foster's kitchen blends original details of the 1960s home with new insertions, plus keepsakes from the couple's travels around the world.

The concept of raw materials was carried through on the interior, using plywood and a slab of terrazzo for the kitchen, which features Bulthaup fittings.

In Lida’s studio, terrazzo and granite floors blend seamlessly into a sunken bath, paired with a steel storage unit and a wooden Moroccan bath mat from Insh’ala, a local antique store.

The bathroom was enlivened with a wall of hexagonal blue Pratt & Larson tile.

Custom cabinetry in a soft blue hue picks up the gray wash of the bamboo accents, which also balance the wood floors.

"Also consider performance when purchasing an older house, as these properties use a ton of energy,” says Schaer. “Many midcentury homes are minimally insulated and can be costly and challenging to remedy. For example, if you want to add insulation to a roof, you have to add it above the roof because there is no cavity for insulation."

Along Victoria’s Surf Coast, a minimalist timber dwellingcombines Scandinavian charm with the laid-back vibes of a New Zealand bach.