Tristan Diethelm’s home is beautifully misleading. At first glance, you would never know this stunning, light-filled abode was once a dark and uninspiring single-level house.
Just a stone’s throw from world-famous Bondi Beach and close to some of the best restaurants and shopping in town, Tristan’s got the perfect location. In fact, he seems to have taken took the old advice ‘buy the worst house in the best suburb’ quite literally, and it’s well and truly paid off. When he purchased the original property it was dark, musty and uninspiring, but what greets guests now is light, warmth and style that seems to fi ll every part of it.
Needs Work
Tristan was under no illusions when he purchased his ‘renovator’s delight’, but he had a vision and enthusiastically drove the renovation from concept to completion. A third-year Construction Management student at UNSW, he boldly put his learning to the test in what was his fi rst project, managing contractors and spearheading the interior design and landscaping all the way through the project. The result is more than impressive and suggests there will be more exciting things to follow.
Let There Be Light
“In every area of the house there is something that makes you feel great,” says Tristan, “whether it’s the capturing of natural light or the feeling of bringing the outdoors in when the full-height glass sliding doors disappear behind the exterior walls.” Indeed, the overwhelming feeling is of light, space and a sense of luxury with full-height windows and large skylights now stand-out features of this previously dark dwelling.
“Opening interior spaces up gives a sense of freedom rather than a feeling of being caged and enclosed,” explains Tristan. The windows and joineries are made from rich Tasmanian oak, and the abundance of wood in the house creates a warm and grounding ambience. There are references to nature everywhere, with plenty of indoor plants, forest-green stools in the kitchen and artworks depicting the Australian landscape – a beautiful touch for city-dwellers.
