WOWOWA Architecture directors list their colourful Californian bungalow

• Owners: Monique and Scott Woodward, directors of WOWOWA Architecture
• The property: A renovated 1940s Californian bungalow
• Address: 24 Victoria Rd, Northcote, Victoria
• Price guide: $1.8 million-$1.9 million
• Auction: 6.30pm, February 13

An architect’s home is often regarded as the most authentic expression of their creative vision – a place where bold ideas, personal taste, and professional expertise converge. For Monique and Scott Woodward, directors of WOWOWA Architecture, their home – endearingly nicknamed Magic – is nothing short of a design love letter.

This reimagined Californian bungalow in Northcote is an ode to nostalgia, bursting with playful whimsy, fearless creativity, and the unmistakable warmth of a family home shared with their four-year-old daughter.

Purchased in 2016, the 1940s home bore the marks of decades of wear. Yet beneath its weathered exterior lay sturdy bones and undeniable character, hallmarks of the enduring beauty of Australian architecture. For Monique and Scott, this was more than a project; it was an opportunity to preserve its heritage while weaving in their distinctive design ethos to create a space for their growing family.

“She was definitely an ugly duckling in need of a reimagining,” Monique recalls. “We celebrated her solid foundation by exposing the painted brick at the front and adding a six-metre-high gallery wall to showcase our artwork. Matching the bungalow’s roofline with high ceilings out the back brought an expansive sense of grandeur and light.”

These creative updates elevated the home’s layout, among other significant tweaks. The once-enclosed front verandah was cleverly converted into an en suite, while the kitchen, living, and dining areas were reoriented to embrace the landscaped backyard.

“We also added a new front door and a rust-coloured, globby render to the facade,” Monique says. “It’s a nod to her textured Hollywood origins, while the arched detailing at the rear references both the Californian bungalow style and Moorish influences from our favourite travel destinations.”

But Magic isn’t defined solely by its structural redesign. It’s in the details – the rich palette, tactile textures, and signature WOWOWA eccentricity that infuse every corner with personality. Magenta hues thread through the home, from pink travertine accents to red gum timber finishes and terrazzo floors. The terracotta-roofed bungalow becomes a canvas for colour, layered thoughtfully to create moments of surprise and joy.

“The house feels so much bigger in person, yet cosy and intimate thanks to the finishes we chose,” Monique says. “It’s like a warm, inspiring hug. Our magenta Jardan couch anchors the living space, complementing the moody interiors. The bathrooms glow with caramel tones, while the bedrooms radiate optimism with golden hues, full of cheer.”

Beyond the interiors, the gardens envelop the home with enchantment. Deliberately left unfenced, the front garden extends an inviting gesture to the street. Meanwhile, the backyard reveals a lush sanctuary framed by vine-covered fences and enveloped by a flourishing garden that hugs a Hills Hoist – a classic emblem of Australian suburban life.

“We wanted the front garden to feel shared with the neighbourhood,” says Monique. “And out the back, the shaded terrace overlooks the garden, where everything thrives. We often eat meals out here under the decorative pergola that feels more like an outdoor room.”

Demonstrating how an old home, when given the TLC it deserves, has a remarkable way of giving back, the Woodwards have cherished how theirs effortlessly evolves to suit the occasion – hosting kid’s parties and lively soirees one day and quiet family dinners the next.

“My daughter’s birthday parties bring 50 people into the house, including kids and entertainers like last year’s mermaid fairy who kept them entertained in the playroom,” Monique says. “And when we host soirees, the grand piano-shaped kitchen island bench is always the star, laden with cheese and champagne. But when it’s just us three, it feels perfectly sized too.”

Among the main features are the equally considered more minor details that make their home a joy to live in – details that often escape the spotlight but quietly sweeten a house’s feel and function.

“I love the ironing board built into the island bench, the 900-millimetre oven that’s great for rotisserie chicken, and the vertical clothes airer in the laundry,” says Monique. “Cross-ventilation keeps the house breezy in summer, while hydronic heating ensures we’re cosy in winter. Skylights flood the kitchen with natural light, and the insane amount of storage comes very handy.”

After nearly a decade of transforming and cherishing their home, the Woodwards are ready to pass the torch to its next owners. Awaiting them is a haven of character, colour, comfort – and, of course, a whole lot of magic.

SOLD - $2,118,000

24 Victoria Road, Northcote VIC 3070

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