I wonder if there is anyone who hasn’t heard of – or more specifically seen the work of – Three Birds Renovations? The three friends-turned-business partners walked away from their corporate careers to pursue what really lit them up: interiors. They are now making a big name for themselves in the industry and partnering with the likes of Dulux, producing their own ‘TBTV’ channel, and have been featured in leading blogs and magazines.
Now, the expert renovators Lana Taylor, Erin Cayless and Bonnie Hindmarsh have completed their latest project. It’s a three storey, three bedroom, three bathroom, modern Mediterranean-style villa. And I really don’t have a better word to describe it than ‘eyegasm’. You’ll see what I mean when you start scrolling.
Dubbed their biggest renovation challenge ever, ‘House 6‘ is actually Lana’s family home. And while she adored the original house, the existing layout didn’t suit the family’s changing lifestyle.
“Originally there was a self-contained granny flat on the bottom level, the bedrooms were at street level and the kitchen and living areas were on the top floor with no outdoor access. The home had also undergone several renovations in various stages, leaving it dated, disjointed and in need of a refresh.”
When looking for design inspiration, Santorini in Greece kept popping up on Lana’s mood board. She says that she loved the white, rustic designs of the Greek homes, so it made sense to take her ‘dated’ villa and transform it into a Santorini-inspired home with pops of colour.
This project was no mean feat. It involved completely flipping the house layout on its head by placing the kitchen and living areas downstairs, linking it to the garden and creating a retreat for Lana’s two young children on the middle level. The top floor was then converted into the ‘ultimate parents retreat’ for Lana and her husband. Connecting each space is an incredbile ten metre staircase with double height windows and a stunning, Klay Life chandelier filling the open void.
But wait til you see the home office – I’m not normally one for jealousy, but oh my goodness do I WANT THAT OFFICE! It stars another Klay Life chandelier, an X Artwork by Danielle Cross, and stunning blue velvet chairs by Bo Concept.
“Jason and I are always working so we wanted to create an office space that was bright and full of light on the top level. A large picture window is the centrepiece of the office design and drenches the space in natural light, while offering a lush view of the trees and garden.”
Something I haven’t heard of before is ‘Gyprock Sensitive plasterboard‘, which was chosen for its hypoallergenic asthma and allergy-smart properties and mould resistance. For the parents retreat however, a ‘Gyprock Soundchek™‘ was selected for its superior noise absorption properties. Clever!
Once a self-contained granny flat on the bottom level of the home, the space has been transformed into an open-plan kitchen, living and dining area, or ‘family world’. Large windows and glass doors, high ceilings and white walls provide a light, fresh and welcoming space for the family to cook, eat, play and relax. Meanwhile, the all-white kitchen is paired with gorgeous, neutral stone benchtops and matching splashback.
“I wanted the stone to be the hero of the kitchen. I wanted it to be white but I didn’t want it to be boring – the stone material needed to be the star”.
Helping to draw the eye to the striking stone finish, handless cabinetry was chosen, and with no overhead cabinets nothing obscures the view of the stone splashback. Connecting the interior to the exterior, a large gas-strut window in the kitchen becomes a servery and bar, allowing for easy al fresco dining all year round.
Rather than having a traditional butler’s pantry attached to the kitchen, Lana wanted a small elevated office space with a half wall integrated into the kitchen design so she could stay on top of her emails, while still being a part of the family environment. I like the sound of that!
So without further ado, feast those eyes of yours on Three Birds Renovations’ House 6!
Images courtesy of Three Birds Renovations
Amazing renovation. All pictures are very beautiful.