Rescue Me Please: I'm 1930s Glam & Gorgeous

We are on a rescue mission again today. 

This time, 

a very elegant 1930s home in Toorak

is calling our attention.

She is a sort of Tudor Revival & sort of Hollywood Regency,

so let's have a look and see what we can do with her 

to return her to glamorous glory. 

Our girl has a name as befits one of character.

(Well you already know I adore the 

notion of names for houses

from an earlier post.)

Our girl is called "Darrawah".

She has the steep gables, narrow chimneys

 & many-paned windows of the English Tudor Revival style,

which was rather popular in the 1930s.

But without half-timbering on her walls to complete the look, 

we can't quite pop her into the Tudor box. 

Back to that character again.

She wants to be a starlet, of Old Hollywood style,

because there is a bit of Hollywood Regency happening 

in the kidney pool shape & external staircase. 

Now it's in the floor plan that we can 

see the gracious feminine 1930s curves

& the emphasis on entertaining. 

See the "enclosed terrace" & 

the sweeping shape of the steps to the pool?

Oh but the "enclosed terrace" is rather more of a conservatory!

Ah yes, we can have some fun with that. 

It reminds me of the conservatory 

we looked at last week, 

by Mim Design.

We'll just bring in some in glossy white pots 

of pink & blue hydrangeas

& masses of palms, 

with a bit of white wicker furniture.

A bit like this.

It'll be the perfect spot for pre-dinner cocktails.

Now any glamorous hostess from the 1930s era

knew how to make an entrance.

Which means having a rather elegant staircase.

Better see how Darrawah's look.

Ok, some work needed here.

The arched window is good. 

But I'm thinking we need a bit of curvaceousness... 

Like this. 

That's better. 

Richly stained timber floors,

wrought iron handrail,

carpet as rich as melted chocolate on the treads,

& a swirled scoop of vanilla icecream of a balustrade.

Darrawah's steps lead down from the conservatory terrace

to this rather lovely freeform swimming pool.

A bit perfect for pool parties. Glam ones. 

Looks like our kitchen was a remodel in, um, the 1980s?

Functional, yes.

But glamorous? Not quite.

I was thinking something more along these lines...

This is by the clever Kara Mann. 

It has the right kind of dramatic feel for our house, I think,

with those "look at me" legs.

Bedrooms were often more "boudoir" than utilitarian in the 1930s

Hollywood Regency style homes. 

So how does our main bedroom look at the moment?

Hmm.

Well I guess it's functional like the kitchen.

But it does have French doors onto a Juliette balcony,

so that gives me an idea or two...

Adding that romantic element of feminine luxe

would give our bedroom much more 1930s inspired glamour,

a bit like this bedroom at the Palazzo Margherita.

 So that's the kitchen, staircase & bedroom sorted.

How about the living areas?

There's a gorgeous porthole window in this room.

 And some charming doors + leadlight windows in this one. 

But I'm thinking a bit more contrast in the textures & colours 

wouldn't go astray.

Like adding a charcoal rug

on top of our newly darkened floorboards.

And some quirkily interesting lamps.

And we'll be needing a bar.

Of course.

A sexily dark & sultry one with brass trim preferably.

We need somewhere to keep the cognac. 

For when the local cricket team pop in.

As for the colour scheme, 

well apart from our base of charcoal, ivory & rich timber,

we can add a few touches of turquoise blue,

blush pink, palest mustard & lustrous pewter

in an ode to the era.

Lastly, what shall we wear to the house warming cocktail party?

The one to celebrate all our hard work. 

Jill Sander's 2012 collection 

has just the right note of 1930s sentimentality,

without being too slavish to history. 

 And the boys will need to be dapper as well. 

 Loving the return to double breasted suits!

(Have just talked my husband into buying one for upcoming winter.

So unbearably dapper. Especially with a bow tie & cufflinks.)

I'm getting distracted now....

Sadly, this grand starlet is being sold complete with plans

to demolish her & build 5 luxury apartments. 

But fingers crossed, 

somebody with imagination will buy her 

& restore her to the glamorously gorgeous 

1930s home she could be.

Is she worth saving? I think so. Do you?

Property : 45 bruce st toorak, melbourne

Agents & house images : kay & burton.

Myrna loy on the couch. 1930s performers. Mim design conservatory. 

Hydrangeas at the fitzroy conservatory. White conservatory. Black velvet vintage hat.

Campbell soup ad. Staircase design by kara mann. Ginger rogers & fred astaire. 

Jantzen ad 1930. Kitchen design by kara mann. Ginger rogers.

Black & white bedroom. Palazzo margherita. Seated lady.

Living room with typography print. Bar. Cricket team 1930. Turquoise tiles.

Women's runway jill sanders. Men's suits..