Welcome to the Short St Style chronicles - diarising the renovation journey which has begun at Chez Wayville, my quaint 1920 bungalow in Adelaide. Quaint and bungalow are not words that usually appear in the same sentence but major underpinning a few years ago prompted a facelift; the house’s traditional bungalow entrance with heavily cracked masonry porch was completely removed. BTW this house is described as a “Gentleman’s Bungalow” being single-fronted not the typical double front. I prefer to think of it as a “stylish woman’s half-villa shared with the best home-cook in Adelaide”.
My sister Christine Rady outside one of design fave's studio in Melrose Ave, West Hollywood.
This journey started 18 months ago. My talented interior designer sister, Christine Rady (Chris & Hue Interiors) is responsible for the new layout, design concept and key looks. The best part of this project so far has been working closely with her, even though she’s in Sydney and I’m in Adelaide. I feel like we’ve added another layer to our sisterhood. We even snuck in an inspiring and impromptu trip to Los Angeles. More of that to come. She has been my design guide. After seemingly thousands of Pinterest pins, we have settled on a cohesive look with a few personal quirks, which you will discover. I’m not sure we have mimicked a particular style but if pushed I guess it’s Parisian industrial chic with a Scandi nod.
Eleven months ago we started working with the patient and knowledgeable team at Outset Design. Kevin, Ryan and Helene have worked inclusively with Christine and helped finesse the design. They have brought us to this exciting point. What's happening? New, larger kitchen, two new bathrooms (including creating an ensuite) new laundry and reorientated living/dining space. The western wall, which was glass and wood is becoming full-length sliding doors in both dining and kitchen.
Now we are in the capable hands of Matt, Outset’s site supervisor/project manager. I was fizzing with excitement this week as we officially vacated for the duration and the (re)building crew moved in. By day's end much of the interior was satisfyingly demolished. Friends, who are renovating a former Housing Trust property as a rental, took the kitchen which was worth salvaging.
Stay tuned.
Self-discovery #1: I think I'm on the spectrum for a hoarding disorder. Seriously. Who keeps every piece of jewellery they've ever owned, including earrings when you've lost one half of the pair? Why do I have one half of a pair of watermelon earrings that I bought at the Fremantle Markets in 1986? Not to mention what possessed me to think a slice of wooden watermelon dangling from my ear was stylish anyway? And how do I even remember where I bought them? I wish I had read economist Tim Hartford's post Why More and More Means Less before I started packing up. Or his inspiration, Marie Kondo's The Life-changing Magic of Tidying. I know it would make Monsieur D happy if I adopted her ways. I'm not sure I'm ready to unpack my handbag every night though.
Here's a few images that give you a feel for the main interior and living areas which are being altered..
Now for the current "after" shots. All gone. Well, almost.
