Renovation delays are usually excruciating. But in the case of Bonnie Ashley’s 1940s Melbourne bungalow, the extra time to tinker turned out to be a blessing. When Ashley and her husband, Neil Downie—who operate the colorful lifestyle brand Bonnie and Neil—bought the place back in 2018, it had “good bones” but a wonky layout with a warren of small rooms that flowed poorly. The couple lived in the space for a few years, working on the exterior and garden while plotting their redesign. They intended to start construction in 2020 but wound up waiting a year, waylaid by the pandemic—which turned out to be time well spent.
“We really refined the proportions of the kitchen and laundry, and changed the tile and finish selections a few times,” Ashley explains. “Our main goal was to create a home that really reflects who we are and what we love. We wanted the space to be a canvas for our passions—Neil’s woodworking and my love of textiles and housewares.” The resulting spaces act as a mood board for their business and also form a beautiful, comfortable backdrop to their everyday lives.
By far the biggest challenge: relocating the kitchen to the back part of the house, which had originally been divided into several cramped rooms. Two walls were removed and a support beam was installed, allowing the duo to create an airy cooking, dining, and lounge area.
“We wanted this space to feel more open and modern,” says Ashley, a juxtaposition to the more period parts of the house. She chose the green Belize quartzite countertops and backsplash before anything else, and then extended the soft green hue to the cabinetry and island, which Downie designed and fabricated himself.
A sliding door off the cooking area leads to the back garden, flanked by light-filtering gauze linen curtains in cheery Bonnie and Neil Hibiscus pattern fabric. Across the way, a dining table and relaxation zone provide a perfect perch for chatting with the chef, sitting in the sunlight with a cup of tea, or curling up beside a cozy fire. Ashley and Downie furnished the space with an eclectic mix of vintage pieces, Jardan sofas, and Bonnie and Neil textile and furniture designs.
Blending the vibe between the overhauled “new” space and the architecturally historic parts of the house was a matter of utilizing color to soften the transitions between rooms. The living room is swathed in a warm peachy beige. The adjacent sunroom was reworked into a reading nook. “We love relaxing here: reading, napping, just unwinding and listening to Neil’s records,” says Ashley.
Ashley and Downie carried the look of the original millwork found in the central hallway into the primary bedroom. “The ceiling molding was already there—it was one of the details that made us fall in love with the house,” says Ashley. Downie, who has a background in woodworking and fine furniture design, built the wall-to-wall storage himself, with a traditional door profile that matches the era of the home. “Even though we sacrificed a bit of floor space, it was worth it. My obsession with prints and patterns extends to my wardrobe, so lots of storage was a must!” Ashley reflects. Soothing tones with bold Bonnie and Neil patterns and patterned rugs underfoot carry over into the guest bedroom, too.
Ashley and Downie decided to take a construction break before tackling the bathrooms, which include a wet room–style en suite and a guest bath that features both a shower and soaking tub. It’s a move they recommend: “Doing the project in phases really allowed us to focus on the details,” says Ashley.
In the primary bath, a burgundy marble bowl sink was paired with a pretty but practical floating vanity and pale pink zellige wall tile. For the guest bath, the mirror and vintage lights were sourced before everything else and inspired the direction of the design. Downie, who designed and built the cabinetry in both baths, even hand-tinted the paint to achieve the perfect ginger hue.
“We approached each room with the idea that it should have its own mood and personality while still letting the spaces flow together,” Ashley says. Bringing work home, in this case, was an essential part of the alchemy.
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