A Designer’s Perfectly Pastel California Bungalow Makeover
Interiors
Inside the Melbourne family home of norsuDesign co-founder, Natalie Wheeler.
Natalie and her husband Dan Wheeler purchased the California bungalow in Glen Iris in 2017 with plans to renovate in stages.
A 1980s addition was replaced by new extension featuring soaring ceilings and pastel colours.
Designers Herbert & Howes and Natalie were inspired by the Sorrento Beach House by Pandolfini.
Landscape design by Mint Pool & Landscape Design.
Natalie documented the entire renovation process online, inviting others into the project to be inspired, and learn from her mistakes along the way!
Soaring ceilings draw natural light into the home.
Natalie describes the home now as a ‘living, breathing extension of the Norsu aesthetic.’
The new kitchen.
New Savior by CDK Stone on the kitchen bench tops and splashback.
The kitchen, with its curved island design, features muted greens and pastel tones, bringing a calming yet personal touch to the space.
The kitchen is now the true centrepiece of the Wheeler home.
New Savior by CDK Stone on the kitchen bench tops and splashback.
The floor plan of the addition is loosely divided into three, stepped tiers: the original bedrooms, the main living areas, and the ‘kids zone’ at the rear.
The dining area.
The view to the garden from the rear ‘kids zone.’
Dulux Wistow paint on the formal living room walls.
The bar nook in the formal living room.
A palette of greeny-grey shades with blush pink accents beautifully blends sophistication and warmth.
One bedroom is afforded a pool view.
Dulux Terrace White on bedroom walls.
The powder room.
Natural light comes into the shower through a skylight.
The main bedroom en suite.
New Savior by CDK Stone on the en suite bench top.
‘It’s basically like walking into a Norsu showroom, but one that we call home!’
CDK Stone Emerald Haze Quartzite in the bathroom.
The main bedroom is bathed in Dulux Different Pink.
The bedhead, a bespoke creation by the Norsu design team, adds a luxe touch with its textural fabric and oversized shape.
The wide hallway.
Glass doors define zones.
Norsu is a part retail, part interior design, business co-owned by Natalie Wheeler whose design talents are on full display in her family home.
Clients and customers may already be familiar with the house, which Natalie and her husband bought in 2017 and slowly renovated in two major stages.
Natalie documented the entire renovation process online, inviting others into the project to be inspired, and learn from her mistakes along the way!
The first stage of the renovation — completed over five months before moving in — stuck to the home’s existing footprint inclusive of an ‘unfortunate’ 1980s flat roof addition.
‘We gave it a quick reno makeover using a few cost-effective hacks to make it more family-friendly and versatile… But we always knew it was just phase one,’ says Natalie.
‘Fast forward a few years, and with the kiddos growing up (and the one bathroom for all dramas hitting their peak!), we knew it was time for round two.’
This second stage of the renovation saw the original facade and rooms retained and repurposed (‘Why mess with something so perfectly imperfect,’ Natalie says), but the simplistic ‘80s addition needed to go.
‘The kitchen was small, and the low ceilings in the flat roof extension didn’t exactly scream “airy and spacious.” Not to mention the lack of insulation,’ says Natalie.
Natalie worked with Herbert & Howes to design the new addition featuring soaring ceilings and pastel colours inspired by the Sorrento Beach House by Pandolfini.
The floor plan is loosely divided into three, stepped tiers: the original bedrooms, the main living areas, and the ‘kids zone’ at the rear.
Natalie explains why, ‘There was a flood overlay we found out about a little late in the game, and it definitely caused a ripple effect on our extension plans.’
‘Initially, the only step-up in the house was supposed to be from the hallway to the living and kitchen zones, but this overlay meant we had to add steps up to the kids’ zone as well…
‘But honestly, in the end, the home is divided into these three distinct zones, and I’ve really grown to love how it all turned out. What started as a challenge has now become one of my favourite parts of the house.’
Natalie describes her home now as a ‘living, breathing extension of the Norsu aesthetic.’
She adds, ‘It reflects everything we adore and share with our clients through the norsuDesign arm of the business. ‘From the interiors to the styling, we’ve poured the same love and attention into our home as we do for our clients every day.
‘It’s basically like walking into a Norsu showroom, but one that we call home!’