Around me the trees stir in their leaves / and call out, “Stay awhile.” / The light flows from their branches.” (Mary Oliver)

A Californian Bungalow built in 1914 has been reimagined with a new addition that brings the house to an airy, light-filled, modern conclusion. In an unexpected blend of styles and sensibilities, new rooms pop and play with light while scalloped ceilings and brick arches nod to the heritage rooms beyond. The beautiful garden filters through this house from the moment you enter. The name “Lillelund”—the client’s great-grandfather’s Danish surname meaning “little forest”—perfectly captures the home’s connection to heritage, nature, and tranquillity.

The arched portal to the new addition distinguishes old from new borrowing the curved motif from the original fireplace and window detail. The core concept was to draw on the client’ style and individuality but also to embrace and amplify what the site offered. Beyond the archway that signals the shift from past to present, the floor steps down as vaulted ceilings soar upward, creating a heightened sense of openness. A monumental concrete island appears to float on two cylindrical pillars, becoming the centrepiece of the gallery-esque living zone.

Photography: Tom Ferguson