A look inside a '60s-inspired Palm Springs home in Forrest
Who: Ivan, his wife Belinda and their two children.
What: A family home inspired by the 1960s and Palm Springs, yet is modern and functional.
Where: National Circuit, Forrest.
Memories of childhood homes often come with a sense of comfort and nostalgia, so what better inspiration when building a home for your family?
It was Ivan’s childhood home in Canberra’s north that became the model from which he designed and built a home in Forrest for his wife and two children.
“I was lucky enough to grow up in Weetangera enjoying our 1960s home which was built by my parents,” he says.
“I think this may have rubbed off on me, after living in a few different houses since then I really learnt to respect the function and beauty of mid-century modern architecture.”
The house is nestled among the winding streets of Forrest and sets itself apart from most other new builds, looking like it could have featured in the pages of a 1960s home magazine.
A flat, slanting roof, kidney-shaped pool, sunken lounge, wallpaper and even a palm tree is incorporated in the design, conjuring up ideas of sunny Palm Springs, California – a mecca for mid-century modern design aesthetic.
“Facing true north to the rear and on the perfect street we wanted to create a homely Palm Springs atmosphere,” Ivan says.
“We used breeze blocks, pebblecrete, a lagoon pool, lushes lawns and palm trees to help achieve this.”
It’s not just about aesthetics, especially when it comes to a functional family home, as practicality is essential. Again, Ivan looked to his family home in Weetangera for direction.
“The architecture and finishes [my parents] used were a reflection of their love for comfort, entertaining, food and most of all, people,” says Ivan.
“We designed and built our home to suit how we love to live with our favourite being cooking and entertaining.”
The house is centred around an open-plan living, dining and kitchen space with plenty of space for guests.
The kitchen overlooks a sunken, circular lounge area with blue velour cushions, while to the side is an elevated dining and formal lounge with a very retro floating fireplace and beanbags.
The different levels within the open space help to define areas without hemming them in.
The children’s bedrooms and garage extend past the lounge area, with access to an underground breakout space where you’ll find more bedrooms for visitors and a home gym and bar area.
Natural sunlight flows through the space, with floor-to-ceiling windows lining the entire northern aspect, as well as the southern aspect towards the street.
A trailing plantar hanging from the ceiling adds interest to an empty corner of the dining area, while lush green potted plants form a privacy screen around the sunken lounge.
“Something which was critical to this design was bringing the outside in, natural sunlight and greenery bursting into our home really make you feel happy inside,” says Ivan.
Pebblecrete is perhaps a feature most evocative of mid-century design, and is the foundation of many outdoor entertaining areas of ’60s Canberra houses.
“I was lucky enough to be able to use the same tradesman who laid the pebblecrete at our Weetangera home in the late ’60s,” says Ivan.
“He still prepared, hand-mixed and perfectly laid this natural stone with no complaints, just a constant proud smile on his face.”
This is a house that balances aesthetic and practicality perfectly.
“I guess what we were ultimately trying to achieve focused on effortless function while staying humble and minimalistic. You notice everything but nothing stands out, this is true comfort.”
Shop the look
Decorating eclectically can be a tricky task, but it’s all about finding the perfect piece and a bit of treasure hunting. Ivan and Belinda recommend trawling through online stores, and say talking to people can lead to some great discoveries. Here are three local places to get you started.
80 Collie Street, Fyshwick
Newly opened in Fyshwick, this is a second emporium to the beloved original in Bowral. There is a wide range of eras and objects to explore, and even a coffee shop, Billy T’s, to complete the experience.
37 Townsville Street, Fyshwick
Mid-century modern furniture features heavily here. Smaller accessories including light fittings, bar stools and signs can also be among the hidden gems to unearth.
34 Geelong Street, Fyshwick
Offering furniture, lights, clothing, books and more. Sift through a large collection of antique, retro and vintage wares.
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