Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/80373
C alifornia dreaming is done daily on the porch of the Donatelli household. The family of three recently renovated their 1930s Californian Bungalow in Wembley, transforming it into a modern yet elegant space they now called home. Owner Fel Donatelli said the renovation, which took about 15 months to complete as an owner-builder project, was hard work but was very happy with the end result. Fel who relocated back to Perth after living in Sydney for a few years with wife Joyce and daughter Alyssa said when they were first looking for a place to renovate the main things they wanted in the home was location and a blend of old and new - a theme seen throughout the home. With the help of his family and designer Derek Hays the two-bedroom, one bathroom home now stands at four bedrooms, a multi-purpose activity room, three bathrooms, a double garage and storeroom. "The original layout was typical of Californian Bungalows, you'd walk in and be facing the bathroom - it didn't flow well," Fel said. "W e're big fans of the period facade and modern interiors, so we went for a big modern box for the extension." The house which has elegant period features in the front of home, features high ceilings with ornate ceiling panels, original leadlight windows while further back the renovated open-plan kitchen, dining and living rooms is sleek, modern and uber-stylish. "From the front of the house this is hardly noticeable, thus there's an element of surprise once inside," Fel said. SHEILA JULY 2012 107