This four-bedroom bungalow in Brentwood wasn’t the work of a notable architect and had barely evolved since its build in 1971.

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But past its fussy pelmets and dated decor were remarkable bones and lofty ceilings. “We always try to keep the essence of a place,” says Joelle Kutner, one-half of the design firm Ome Dezin. “What is now the office’s curved window is a detail you don’t see much anymore because economically, it doesn’t make sense, but we kept it because it’s so special.

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Embracing original character while enhancing the home with modern luxuries, such as a pool and a generous bathroom count, were at the top of Joelle and her business partner Jesse Rudolph’s list. They had fun grounding the property with natural materials and pops of color with a mid-century leaning. The ‘north star’ that guided them was a clean, contemporary Australian look. “We’ve found ourselves gravitating to that style recently,” explains Joelle. The Antipodean predilection for whimsy led to the creation of two bold bathrooms, one entirely wrapped in azul-blue cotto tiles—from floor to skylight. Because the space is windowless, the all-over material draws your eye up.

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The newly created pool bathroom, clad in petite, mustard-yellow zellige tiles makes for an equally escapist showering experience. “We spent some time in Mexico City a few years back, and some of the homes we visited had tile everywhere, which we found very immersive,” recalls Joelle.

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Rift-cut white oak gets star billing throughout: from the kitchen cabinets (and even part of the wall) to the primary bathroom vanity and the cladding in the powder room, the same material is subtly differentiated by its stain. “We wanted it to feel familiar with consistent millwork,” explains Jesse. It’s a harmonious partner to slate, another hard-wearing natural element used on the powder room floor and the kitchen backsplash, where it’s featured in the form of smaller squares.

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The furniture choices, a considered balance of limited-edition pieces and vintage finds from the same era as the house, are the icing on the cake. The inimitable work of Italian maestro Mario Bellini made the iconic Camaleonda sofa a shoo-in for the great room thanks to its low profile and modular construction, while in the primary bedroom, his Bombole chaise in butterscotch suede is a magnet for flopping out on. Jesse and Joelle also called on close collaborators, such as multi-hyphenate design talent Jessie Andrews of Tase Gallery for her Dott table and chairs in the office, set on a pale blue rug from Andrews’ forthcoming collaboration with Nordic Knots. Their friend Ben Willett is the author of the oversized coffee table.

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The saying that two pairs of eyes are better than one could have been made up for Ome Dezin’s creative partnership: “Every detail is scrutinized, we’re constantly going back and forth and evolving ideas,” says Joelle. The result is a home that appeals to families or downsizers and won’t require renovating again anytime soon. “With all the honest materials, there is longevity in the design. We’re hoping it will endure for many years.”

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