How this Californian Bungalow got a new look and a new name

Renowned for their thoughtful approach to classic architectural styles, Three Birds Renovations shares their most recent project.

Celebrating the craftmanship and natural materials that the California Bungalow is famous for, the team gives us a behind-the-scenes look at House 17 — a unique harmony of four design styles under the one architectural umbrella.

Seeking harmony with multiple design inspirations

House 17 began as a tired but charming Californian Bungalow in Sydney’s Lower North Shore. It had good bones, original character, and plenty of potential – but with just three small bedrooms and a rabbit warren-style layout, it simply wasn’t working for modern family life.

As is tradition in many of their projects, the home’s owners handed the team at Three Birds Renovation their trust with just two requests: more space and a swimming pool. From there, the team got to work designing the family’s dream home: a laidback, light-filled haven they came to call “Cali Cool.”

Cali Cool is the perfect fusion of four dreamy design styles: coastal, boho, Scandi and mid-century. It’s organic and relaxed, yet elevated and intentional. And with that in mind, the team knew every detail needed to sing in harmony, including the doors.

First impressions start at the front

As with many Californian Bungalow designs, the original “front” door was tucked around the side of the house, so it was relocated to the front of the building, creating a proper sense of arrival and a much more welcoming façade.

The front door sets the tone for everything inside, so it had to be something special.

The team chose the Corinthian Blonde Oak AWO 5. With its horizontal panel detailing, this door looks perfectly at home on the revamped bungalow. Painted in the warm, earthy tone of Dulux Tuft, it brings just the right amount of organic texture to complement the new stone cladding and weatherboard façade.

To finish the look, the front door was paired with a sleek satin brass lever from Domino for a modern edge and maximum contrast.

Design that speaks from the inside out

Across their projects, doors play a crucial role for Three Birds Renovations: connecting spaces, creating flow, adding texture, and quietly reinforcing the overall design story.

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When the doors are this good, every room feels like an entrance.

– Three Birds Renovations

They used Corinthian’s Moda PMOD 22 for all internal doors, including the wardrobes in the three children’s bedrooms. The subtle panelled detailing gives a gentle nod to the traditional bungalow style, while the clean lines and modern finish keep everything feeling fresh and contemporary.

The Moda PMOD 22 is a modern interpretation of a classic panelled door, with a clean, architectural profile and just the right amount of detail. It works well across a range of interior styles, from coastal to contemporary… to Cali Cool.

In House 17, this combination of the Moda and Blonde Oak elevates every space, from the relaxed elegance of the entrance to the bedrooms and bathrooms throughout.

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We believe the doors we chose have helped us honour the timeless feel of the California Bungalow style while pulling in other forms of inspiration to achieve a one-of-a-kind look and feel.

– Three Birds Renovations

Seen something you like?

Inspired by House 17? Explore our collections or achieve the look by heading straight to the Moda Primed Collection and Blonde Oak Collection. Add your favourites to My Doors – an easy way to create and save collections to come back to at any time.

For more from Three Birds Renovations, you can follow them on Instagram.