Before & After: from a small depressing box to a bright and airy villa

Determined to revive her Perth villa, homeowner Jane, an interior designer, knocked out the north-facing wall in the living room and replaced it with floor-to-ceiling glass sliders to give herself a bright and airy space. “The original doors and windows were a little depressing – grey aluminium sliders with diamond-shaped grey grilles on the outside,” she says. An Orson & Blake ‘Loft’ sofa is teamed with a ‘Delta’ coffee table from Empire Homewares. A Hem ‘Bliss’ rug from District helps to delineate the living area from her work zone. “I aimed for a very clean, calm space that would not only be beautiful for me to work in but that clients could enjoy,” she says. Her furniture fits her desire for understated elegance, with a ‘Stationers’ desk from Freedom and a ‘Fjällberget’ chair from Ikea. An Anchor Ceramics ‘Potter’ pendant from Koskela adds further style.

Who lives here? Jane, an interior designer

Location: A western suburb of Perth

Original property: A two-bedroom 1970s villa in original condition

Timeframe: Four months

Why the reno? The property was unliveable when Jane purchased it. The bathroom and kitchen were in disrepair and the living room, with its dingy 1970s doors and windows, wasn’t anything to write home about. A complete overhaul was needed before she could move in. “I thought it had great bones,” says Jane. “I could see the potential immediately.”

The works: The original front door was bricked in and covered in MDF panelling to create one seamless, open-plan living, dining and studio space, with the wall of the north-facing room replaced with floor-to-ceiling glass windows and sliding doors.

Favourite aspect: The reconfiguration of the living and dining rooms, which have become more open and functional. It also means visitors enter through a pretty courtyard rather than from the side of the property. “I love the fact that when people arrive, it’s now through the courtyard,” says Jane. “It’s much more inviting.”

Lessons learned: “Invest in good tradespeople – they can make or break your design,” says Jane, whose renovation went off without a hitch. “Also, incorporate storage and cabinetry wherever you can. You will never regret having too much!”

"Creating a seamless look was one of the priorities. this paint colour helps to open up the space, making it look larger than it is"

Jane, Homeowner

Dining room

In the opposite corner to the home studio is Jane’s new dining area. “The original front door opened right into here and was very intrusive,” she says. An MDF-panelled feature wall now covers the old doorway and adds texture. A circular ‘Nord’ dining table and ‘Knot’ chairs, highlighted by a ‘Bell’ pendant – all by Normann Copenhagen from District – make the most of the room. An Adairs sheepskin throw adds warmth, with an extra shot of character provided by the striking four-painting series ‘Coastal Banksia Walk’ by Jane Tangney. The Muuto ‘Pull’ floor lamp is from Living Edge.

(left) 'Knot' dining chair, Normann Copenhagen | (centre) Sheepskin rug, Adairs | (right) 'Bell' pendant, Normann Copenhagen

Budget breakdown

Curtains: Made with Warwick Fabrics’ ‘Hymn’ sheer fabric in Duck Egg, $1100, Window Studio

Flooring: ‘Camaro’ 91cm x 10cm vinyl planks in Rustic Oak, approximately $2550, Polyflor

Paint: Dulux Wash & Wear 101 Barrier Technology in Lexicon Quarter, $3500 (for entire home)

Sliding doors & windows: Approximately $13,000 (for entire home), Perth Window & Door Replacement Company

Wall panelling: $786, Build Right Cabinets & Furniture

See Jane’s bathroom transformation here: Before & After: Bathroom disaster to designer dream