Blog

The art of retro glamour photography

One of the things that I love about running Secret Design Studio is meeting a broad variety of people who are as passionate about mid-century design as I am. They can come from any profession, including furniture… Read More

“Help! I have just bought a mid-century home, where to start?”

“Help! I’ve just bought a mid-century home, where to start?” Congratulations on purchasing your new home, but what should you do next? That’s a question I am regularly asked. This blog post will give you some guidelines… Read More

Before you buy a mid-century home….

People in the real estate industry know that many potential home-buyers only look above their knees and below their eye level when inspecting a home. Despite the cost of today’s real estate, and the cost of rectifications, renovations… Read More

Thinking about a mid-century garden that complements your mid-century home?

One of Secret Design Studio’s long term collaborators has been Jason Davidson, Landscape Architect. Jason has embarked on an exciting new venture so I thought it would be good to hear about it, and get a better understanding… Read More

Dot and Jack’s Mid-Century Modern home

(Pic 1 Dot contemplating the future in her Hamlyn Heights Mid-Century Modern Home) This is Dot. This beautiful photo was taken by her grand-daughter, photographer Jane Kelynack, when Dot was 93 years old, about a year before her… Read More

Should I render my brick home? (Our tribute to the triple fronted, cream brick veneer home)

(Picture 1 – A collage made from art work by artist Howard Arkley*) “Should I render my brick home?” It is a common question that many owners of 1950’s and 1960’s homes have considered at some time. While… Read More

What white is the right white to paint my Pettit and Sevitt home?

Simple question really. If you are familiar with the Pettit and Sevitt project homes that were built in the 1960’s and 1970’s the white walls, contrasted with the dark stained timber were a common feature in the… Read More

Where to start in clearing out somebody else’s home (and what should happen to the mid-century furniture?)

Most people at some stage in their lives will have the duty of having to clear out somebody else’s home. A relative may have passed away, or has moved into a nursing home, or simply the homeowner is… Read More

The Home of Tomorrow – 1940’s style

Over the years Secret Design Studio has amassed a huge collection of 1940’s, 1950’s and 1960’s home magazines, such as “Australian House and Garden” and “Australian Home Beautiful”. Occasionally another magazine or plan book falls into our hands,… Read More

Secret Design Studio is seeking collaborators.

Since the launch of our “Dr Retro House Call” service we underestimated the number of people looking for a little bit of help and advice with their mid-century home. We also underestimated how many of these at-home appointments… Read More

The book of Featherston – an interview with author and collector Geoff Isaac

Hi Geoff, thanks for your time today. Q1) I understand that you are in the process of publishing an art book called “Featherston”. Who were Grant and Mary Featherston? A1) Grant Featherston was a Melbourne based… Read More

“Can a mid-century, architect designed project home have heritage value?”

Everyday we see more of the suburbs that were developed in the Post War period, such as Beaumaris, Balwyn North, Glen Waverley and Lower Templestowe being demolished for new houses and townhouses. I thought it would be… Read More

Industry Interview – Trish Hunter and “The Vintage Post”

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Trish Hunter who was good enough to give me some of her time to talk to me about “The Vintage Post”. When did Trish Hunter first become interested in vintage?… Read More

Thinking of renovating your mid-century home in 2017?

For those fortunate people who own a mid-century home one of the hardest parts of any renovation is the first step, especially when you don’t know the scope of the project, what you need, and what services that you… Read More

Opening our new Sydney Studio October 2016

Secret Design Studio is opening our new Sydney studio in mid-October 2016. For the past five years we have been mostly looking after our Melbourne clients with their mid-century houses, and have completed a small handful of jobs in… Read More

Blackburn Project – Work in Progress Overview

One of the most exciting stages in any building project is when the house has passed lock-up stage and the plasterboard is in. If the design process has been properly considered (and crafted) then everything that you imagined is happening as it should… Read More

Revisiting Harry and Penelope Seidlers’ home in Killara

Many decades ago, when I was studying Architecture at the University of Sydney, Post Modernist Architecture was the rage with all of the young, bright eyed and impressionable architecture students. Post-Modernism was a reaction against the discipline, and… Read More

Australia’s Mid-Century Design Consultant

0448 579 707

The art of retro glamour photography

“Help! I have just bought a mid-century home, where to start?”

Before you buy a mid-century home….

Thinking about a mid-century garden that complements your mid-century home?

Dot and Jack’s Mid-Century Modern home

Should I render my brick home? (Our tribute to the triple fronted, cream brick veneer home)

What white is the right white to paint my Pettit and Sevitt home?

Where to start in clearing out somebody else’s home (and what should happen to the mid-century furniture?)

The Home of Tomorrow – 1940’s style

Secret Design Studio is seeking collaborators.

The book of Featherston – an interview with author and collector Geoff Isaac

“Can a mid-century, architect designed project home have heritage value?”

Industry Interview – Trish Hunter and “The Vintage Post”

Thinking of renovating your mid-century home in 2017?

Opening our new Sydney Studio October 2016

Blackburn Project – Work in Progress Overview

Revisiting Harry and Penelope Seidlers’ home in Killara

Salvation for our Mid-Century Modern churches?

Reality TV Show “House Rules” – 10 lessons learnt from Rose and Rob’s Retro Revival house.

Encapsulating the cleverness of small house design

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0448 579 707