See the 100-Year-Old Californian Bungalow Transformed into a Contemporary House | Behind the Design

Step into the Sandringham home of Marielle and Tom, the creative minds behind Contar Developments, and you'll find a breathtaking fusion of classic and contemporary design. Their 100-year-old Californian bungalow in Melbourne’s southeast underwent a meticulous heritage renovation, preserving its traditional charm while seamlessly integrating modern touches.

Marielle expresses how they “fell in love with the heritage details. We've restored it, and we've kept it all in its original condition, and the extension is a little bit different, probably a little bit more contemporary.”

Upon entering, you're greeted by a light-filled, open space featuring a lavish blend of marble and natural stone. Contar Development’s contemporary kitchen design flows flawlessly into the living space.

The steel frame windows and doors at the back of the house lead to an al fresco area, perfect for outdoor entertaining. Meanwhile, the courtyard offers a gentle transition between the old and the new.

Marielle's favourite space in the house is the master ensuite, which is enveloped in calming grey and white tones, and accentuated by the warmth of brushed brass fixtures. 

Venturing to the second floor, solid oak treads lead to the two bedrooms and bathroom, showcasing the couple's meticulous attention to detail as a lush greenscape offers you a moment of peace. Brushed gunmetal tapware provides an elegant contrast that enhances the entire scheme.

Marielle tells us, “ABI was one of the first suppliers that we chose for this house. We chose brushed brass for our master en suite. We've got a lot of marble in there, and it really kind of just brings a little bit of warmth. By the time we did this extension, you had brought out the gunmetal, and we really fell in love with that. We have a lot of black finishes, and we just thought that the brushed gunmetal would work really well as a bit of contrast.”

With Marielle's background in management consulting and the couple's shared passion for traditional-meets-contemporary design, this heritage renovation is an exciting indication of what's to come. We can't wait to see what they create next.

For more heritage renovation inspiration, see our tour of Bella House, the Heritage Queenslander transformed with a contemporary edge.