In a leafy Sydney suburb, Three Birds Renovations has masterfully transformed a 1920s Californian Bungalow into a contemporary family haven. Their latest project, House 17, strikes the perfect balance between respecting architectural heritage and meeting modern living needs.
There exists a beautiful surrender in handing over the keys to your family home with complete trust, allowing creative visionaries to transform familiar spaces into something extraordinary. This was the journey for the family of five behind House 17 who entrusted their 1920s Californian Bungalow to the talented team at Three Birds Renovations.
The approach was refreshingly direct: take a charming yet outgrown period home and reimagine it completely, bypassing the often overwhelming process of countless decisions and consultations. What emerged is a thoughtful dialogue between old and new, a "Cali Cool" sanctuary that honors architectural heritage while creating spaces perfectly attuned to contemporary family life.
What draws the eye throughout House 17 is its quietly confident expression of "Cali Cool" an aesthetic that weaves together four complementary design threads with remarkable subtlety. The organic warmth of Coastal design creates a foundation of texture and ease, while thoughtfully placed Bohemian elements introduce moments of artistic playfulness and unexpected pattern.
This layered approach finds balance through the airy restraint of Scandinavian minimalism, while Mid-Century modern touches honour architectural heritage through considered silhouettes and vintage references. The result feels neither curated nor contrived, but rather an authentic expression of a home that has evolved naturally over time.
The Three Birds team cites the original Californian Bungalow as a rich source of inspiration, allowing its inherent character to guide their vision for a contemporary extension. Generous windows frame garden vignettes while inviting Sydney's luminous natural light deep into living spaces. The thoughtfully expanded footprint now offers the family both gathering places and quieter retreats each space feeling intentionally considered yet beautifully undone, as if it had always existed exactly this way.
Perhaps most impressive is the home's outdoor entertainment precinct, anchored by a shimmering pool that reflects the architectural lines of the extension. Here, the design team has created graduated zones for dining, lounging, and swimming with each area defined not by obvious boundaries but by subtle shifts in material and purpose.
We're thrilled to see our Jardin Terra Umbrella and Al Mare Terra beanbag complimenting this outdoor oasis.
Carefully selected plantings introduce texture and movement, softening architectural elements while reinforcing the home's connection to its natural surroundings. The result is an exterior space that functions as a true extension of the interior, a seamless habitat for both everyday living and exceptional entertaining.
What renders House 17 particularly intriguing is the remarkable trust at its foundation. Unlike conventional renovations with their continuous consultations, this family handed over their keys with complete confidence in the Three Birds vision. This approach is at once bold and beautifully simple, allowed for a purity of creative expression rarely achieved in residential projects.
House 17 stands as a thoughtful reflection on the true essence of home, not merely as a showcase of design elements, but as a vessel for family life in all its beautiful complexity. In this understanding lies the enduring appeal of Three Birds Renovations' approach to the Australian home.
Image credit : Three Birds Renovations
From Classic Bungalow to Cali Cool
The Three Birds are headed to Sydney to transform a tired old Californian Bungalow into a jaw-dropping ‘Cali Cool’ dream home, blending rustic Coastal charm, laidback Boho vibes, airy Scandi minimalism, and a splash of Mid-Century cool.
