Before + After: A Currumbin Home Repainted in ’70s Australiana Tones and Finished in Four Months

# Project summary Interior designer Carlene Duffy took a structurally sound single‑level Currumbin house that felt cold and dated and gave it a focused cosmetic overhaul. The homeowner wanted to avoid white and grey and be surrounded by warm, familiar colour. The project replaced doors and windows where needed, introduced rich '70s‑inspired tones, added a wood‑burning fireplace with appropriate non‑combustible finishes, and built seating nooks to make the home more loungeable. The work was completed in four months.

# What the house was like before The existing interior used white and grey finishes and felt drab despite its coastal location within walking distance of the beach. The home's architecture was sound, so the renovation did not require structural changes. The brief was primarily aesthetic and functional: create warmth, low maintenance, and places to relax.

# Main interventions

• Replaced doors and windows where necessary to refresh openings and performance.
• Introduced a bold '70s Australiana colour palette across living, dining, kitchen and bathrooms to replace the white/grey base.
• Inserted a wood‑burning fireplace and created a tiled, non‑combustible hearth surround that now functions as the living room focal point.
• Converted an office nook into a dedicated reading space by removing the desk and installing a plus‑shaped custom bench seat.

# Materials and finish choices

# Challenges and design decisions The primary technical challenge was inserting a wood‑burning fireplace into an existing room. The fireplace required surrounding non‑combustible surfaces to meet safety and aesthetic requirements. The solution combined tile and masonry details that matched the home's new colour and texture palette. Because the home's structure was sound, most decisions focused on finish selection and furniture built‑ins rather than major construction.

# now

# Timeline and scope This was a cosmetic transformation rather than a full rebuild. Doors and windows were replaced as needed, joinery and finishes were updated, and custom seating and fireplace works were added. The full renovation was completed in four months.

# Final note The redesign prioritised warmth, comfort, and low maintenance while using a distinct period palette to give the house personality. The result is a smaller, well‑scaled coastal home that reads as intentionally lived in and comfortable.