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When interior stylist and illustrator Kelly Thompson arrived at the viewing of this 1940s California bungalow in Heidelberg Heights, she was the only person there. But where others saw a house in need of attention, Kelly saw potential — and a canvas ready for colour.
‘The house was completely whitewashed and boring,’ she says. ‘I loved some of the old features like the stained glass windows and ceiling roses in the original part of the house… The bones were nice and it wasn’t anything a bit of paint couldn’t fix!’
Armed with her instinct for colour and an eye for detail, Kelly set about slowly breathing new life into the renovated weatherboard. Original art deco ceilings, Baltic pine floors and a dreamy bay window provided the foundations for a home that now feels both characterful and considered.
‘Much love has been put into the home,’ she says.
The transformation began with paint. Soft shades of blue now flow throughout much of the interior, creating a sense of calm and continuity, while carefully chosen accents of ochre bring warmth to the office and spare room. Kelly also introduced new joinery, added carpet to the bedrooms and office, and installed a mirrored wall in the main bedroom.
‘The house unintentionally became quite blue; once I painted the hallway, I found the soft blues so relaxing they ended up unfolding into other rooms in various tones,’ she says.
‘I had fun adding some ochre tones in the office and spare room, and find the overall addition of colour throughout the house to have made it so much more cosy!’
Beyond the interiors, the garden was another opportunity for Kelly to make her mark.
‘I like having plenty of greenery around me and not sitting in my neighbour’s back pocket,’ she says.
The covered alfresco deck has become a natural gathering place for family and friends on warm evenings, framed by gardens Kelly has landscaped herself.
‘The backyard had layers of old concrete that was hiding layers of old bricks, and the front yard was covered in gravel with so many layers of plastic underneath. I decided to remove it all and start over, which involved a bit of prep,’ she says.
The home has been an ever-evolving labour of love: ‘I’ve chipped away a lot over time; the main change is that it’s all colourful now instead of white, and it has a lush garden instead of concrete and weeds!’
Still, having brought so much character and life to the property, she’s excited to see someone else make it their own.
390 Waterdale Road, Heidelberg Heights, VIC, 3081, is listed for sale with Nelson Alexander Ivanhoe.
