The best of mid-century design: A 1960s gem nurtured back to life

Who: Adie Courtney and Andrew Robson and family

What: 1960s architectural gem

Where: Warrandyte, Victoria

Architect Adie Courtney and her husband, builder Andrew Robson, bought their incredible mid-century home in Warrandyte in 2011 – just after flooding had severely damaged the property.

The handy pair lovingly nurtured this architectural gem back to life, to achieve the inspiring, eclectic home they now share with grown-up sons Jack, 24, and Ben, 21. The property now combines the best of mid-century design, with joyful pops of colour and contemporary art, resulting in a thoroughly welcoming and modern home.

The 1960s home was originally designed by architect David S Gordon, and Courtney suspects the property was influenced by the McGlashan & Everist design for Heide II (now the Heide Museum of Modern Art).

With its concrete-block fin walls and clean, linear, formal structure, it isn’t difficult to see this connection.

Since moving in, Courtney and her family have well and truly made the home their own, as a space for art and living.

Courtney highlights timber-lined geometric skylight shafts as a particular favourite element, “each with differing angles, size and shape, giving a peek view of the eucalyptus canopy above”.

The continuous floor-to-ceiling panes of glass seamlessly connect inside and outside space – living the Warrandyte dream.

The family brought a large collection of art with them to the house, adding their own eclectic touches to the otherwise simple palette of concrete, timber, grey and white.

“We love how our collection of art really ‘pops’ on the walls,” Courtney says. The art line-up includes stunning work by Adie’s sister Sal Courtney, New York-based Andrew Chan, Adie’s own ceramics, and sculptural works by sons Jack and Ben’s in their childhood.

“We aimed to infuse our home with the essence of family – creating a real home,” Courtney says.

The furniture is a mix of “old, new, re-purposed and inherited” – Courtney’s parents’ table sits alongside Danish chairs, and a Patricia Urquiola Bend Sofa offers a soft, curvy contrast to Robson’s handmade table, which is made of reclaimed timbers.

The turquoise dining chairs offer a bold splash, and were purchased under the guidance of interior designer Camilla Molders who, Courtney explains, was a “supreme hand-holder” in drawing together the interiors of the home.

This mid-century masterpiece is an architectural delight, but what makes it a beautiful home are the personalities of the residents, which infuse every corner of this vibrant family home.

Spruce it up

Everything old is new again. With the growing popularity of retro-inspired interiors, there’s never been better time to dig out your Nanna’s old furniture, and give it a spruce up.

• Identify which tasks you can DIY, and which to outsource. Sanding and painting is a DIY job – upholstery should be entrusted to the professionals.
• Timber furniture is relatively easy to update with a coat of paint. Clean and sand all surfaces first, removing glossy finishes, before brightening up with two coats of house paint, or a water-based clear-coat.
• When repainting timber furniture or cabinetry, choose satin or gloss house paint, for a hard-wearing finish.