This is our little house. A californian bungalow built in 1928 as part of the "State Bank Housing Scheme" where working class people could acquire a discounted interest loan (mortgage) from the bank a pretty new concept at the time. Apparently you got to choose a design from one of their books called 'House Designs' and as per the banks request all houses had to be built by registered builders. The bank regularly sent down their building inspectors to ensure each building milestone was up to scratch. Once the building inspector signed off the work the bank released enough money to pay for that trade or trades. And so it went until the house was completed. The result is a well made house that has already stood 84 years and hopefully will last at least another 84 years.
Here is our existing floorplan. While it doesn't have the flexibility and flow of a contemporary floorplan (with a combined kitchen/dining/family room that looks out onto the garden) it has worked well for us. Bedroom 1 is our master bedroom, bedroom 2 is Charlie's room, the sunroom is now an office of sorts and bedroom 3 is a storage/wardrobe/ironing room.
I enjoy cooking in the kitchen with the computer a mere few steps away so I can access recipes, play 'words with friends' and read the paper in between cooking tasks. The sunroom is possibly the most pleasant room in the house due to the garden views and light. Charlie often plays in here while I work away at deadlines on the computer and while I like to daydream about a completed renovation, I do enjoy how this current floorplan functions and pray we do not sacrifice too much or lose this function altogether in the pursuit of an open plan family room.
Before Us
In 1938 Ken and Rita Cocks along with their two children Margaret and Doug moved into the house (here they are sitting in the backyard before the sunroom and third bedroom was built). This photo was taken around 1939.
Margaret and Doug playing in the backyard with friends.
Here they are again, although shy little Margaret wouldn't look at the camera. Margaret grew up (as kids do) and went on to give Ken and Rita their only two grandchildren David and Kathy.
Ken on his way to work (circa 1965)
Ken and David at Ken's 90th birthday bash at the Windsor Hotel in 1997.
In 1998 Ken had all the carpet removed and the floors and underfloors rebuilt in Jarrah. The end result was transformative as you can see. David helped Paul (pictured laying the last board) with both the laying of the floorboards and the painting of everyroom.
Ken in 2002 celebrating his 95th birthday with some balloons at the front door.
Ken and Rita lived here happily until their dying days, Rita in 1999 and Ken in 2006 at the age 99. He died peacefully at home (in Charlie's room - he had stopped sleeping in the master bedroom after the death of his wife Rita) with his daughter Margaret and grandson David by his side. Towards the end of his life Ken told David many times that the only way he was leaving his home of 68 years was "in a box feet first".
After his death when his body was being removed David stopped the undertakers (much to their suprise) and insisted his feet be the first part of his body to leave. RIP Ken.
In 2008 David and I bought Ken's home, and in March 2009 gave birth to Charlie (Ken and Rita's great grandchild). This is our story with the house.
