Walking into this vibrant home is like scooping up a jar full of sunshine, adding some sprinkles and a big warm hug.
What was a ramshackle Californian bungalow with a red terracotta roof is now a stylish family home owned by Monique and Scott Woodward from Wowowa Architecture & Interiors. Originally it was designed for dual occupancy — now it’s a modern family home.
As it was their own home, Monique and Scott had carte blanche to create their dream abode. It was purchased in 2016 as a first home for the couple, who now have a young child. Over time, it has been sculpturally transformed in the duo’s signature style. It’s filled with colour, warmth, and a sense of whimsy and fun.
This was a project Monique couldn’t wait to get stuck into. “Having designed some very glam award-winning homes for some very fancy people, looking at the bottom of the market as a first-home buyer was an exercise in truly embodying our mantra: ‘I love ugly ducklings, I love ugly ducklings’,” says Monique.
There’s nothing more Aussie than a traditional clothes line, and this home had one in the backyard. That was what sealed the deal for Monique. “It had a Hills Hoist — the Aussie larrikin in me was satisfied,” she quipped.
With a vision to celebrate, restore and transform the home, the couple started out with some repairs in order to make it liveable. This included insulation, hydronic heating, restumping and repurposing an ensuite as a sunroom.
A few years later, with time on her hands during maternity leave, Monique designed the house. It’s a rich fusion of colours, shades of pink and magenta, copper and terracotta. Hints of blue, spashes of orange and rust, as well as a pop of purple round out the story.
It’s a dwelling with a happy heart. But it’s also so much more than that. It’s sustainable by design, and in its materiality this home also offers striking visual moments. The living, kitchen and dining spaces have ceilings that draw the eye — with so much to take in it’s a visual feast that begs to be savoured, one tiny morsel at a time.
The engaging spaces capture the spirit of the house, reimagining materiality and creating a unique narrative. It’s a series of joyful spaces that function not only as a family home, but also cater well to entertaining.
While public zones in the home are energising and vivacious, private spaces like bedrooms and bathrooms are quieter and more relaxed. Burnt caramel tiles in the bathroom make the perfect backdrop for the big bathtub. A skylight above drenches the space in soft light. A splash of pink with the travertine stone vanity and pink basin brings a contemporary feel.
At the front of the residence, bedrooms were retained. At the rear is an extension that has a striking 6m-high brick wall. Ordinarily the wall would have been vetoed by council, but because of the orientation and placement (the north boundary) and the neighbours already having renovated, it was allowed. It brings with it a sense of robustness in form and, if Monique has her way, it will be a unique canvas filled with art. “My fantasy is to one day have this completely covered in paintings,” she comments.
There is not an ornate front to the home, so Monique and Scott took to the back. The cinquefoil arch offers privacy and also references their favourite Jaipurian holiday destination. “I love using old-world references in our work,” enthuses Monique. “A fresh take on something familiar is what we call the ‘extraordinary ordinary’, and we pepper these all through our projects.”
