Casa Bungan By Fieldroom
Designed by Fieldroom in collaboration with Jono Fleming Studio, Casa Bungan moves beyond beachside neutrals, layering Mediterranean warmth with an Australian coastal rhythm.
Words HANDE RENSHAW Photos NIC GOSSAGE Interiors FIELDROOM Styling JONO FLEMING STUDIO
‘The new layout was carefully considered so that someone cooking in the kitchen could still engage with friends and family seated in the living room, maintaining a sense of togetherness while allowing each space to function independently,’ shares Ryan McGregor, director of Fieldroom.
Deeper blue tones were introduced through stone and tile selections, grounding the kitchen and adding contrast without overwhelming the space.
‘While the kitchen needed to feel warm and welcoming, it also had to operate almost like a commercial space. Luckily, we had room to work with, which allowed us to think generously rather than compactly.’
The sunken living room is a place for connection rather than distraction.
Terrazzo stairs paired with timber detailing bring a refined material contrast to the home.
Functionality drove every design decision within the home.
“We knew light would move freely through the house, which gave us the confidence to lean into brighter, more expressive colours and finishes, particularly those reminiscent of long summers along the Italian coastline.”
The incredible Northern Beaches ocean views.
‘The home already had a number of level changes, and flattening everything would have been costly. Instead, we chose to celebrate the home’s 1970s origins and allow those architectural features to inform a more connected and considered way of living.’
;In the bedrooms, we leaned into wallpapers, patterned carpets, mixed tiles and even hand painted wardrobes, allowing personality to come through while still maintaining a cohesive palette throughout the home.’
Soft pinks and blues bring a playful, expressive quality to the family bathroom, balanced by a layout designed for everyday use.
‘Sumptuous Italian hotels, including Le Sirenuse, became touchstones for colour and atmosphere, rather than direct reference points.’
Hand painted wardrobes in the bedrooms add a personal touch.
An arched ceiling frames the bath, where layered tiles and warm finishes respond to light, colour and the ocean views.
‘We spent time thinking about daily rituals as a family, as well as how the house would operate when friends and extended family came over.’
‘Life needed to happen here. That thinking helped anchor the material decisions early on: finishes that felt tactile and characterful, but robust enough to age well and support everyday living, rather than feeling precious or overly polished.’
Rejecting a neutral palette, Fieldroom used colour and layered materials to give the home a strong sense of character.
A restrained palette and checkered flooring in the laundry.
Full height windows span the living space, drawing in light and the coastal landscape into the home.
Blue extends from inside to out, grounding the home in its coastal setting.
The balcony frames the sweeping ocean views.
Casa Bungan reworks a weathered 1970s house on Sydney’s Northern Beaches into a family home defined by materiality and spatial restraint. Designed by Fieldroom, the interiors establish a palette that draws on Mediterranean references, while grounded in an Australian coastal context.
Led by Fieldroom director Ryan McGregor, the interiors were developed in collaboration with Jono Fleming Studio. Jono, Ryan’s husband and project stylist, defined the home’s layered interior language through a detailed understanding of the clients and the existing house.
When Ryan and Jono first sat down with the homeowners, a family of five and the pair’s long-time friends, the house already had a clear direction. ‘From our very first meeting, the clients were clear about what they loved: colour, tiles, pattern and a relaxed coastal sensibility. With one client being Italian and the other Australian, there was a rich mix of influences to draw from. Early imagery they shared pointed towards the vibrancy and warmth of Italian interiors, layered with a sense of ease rather than formality,’ shares Ryan.
Working alongside architect Matt Powers of SketchArch, the team embraced a light-touch approach, finding ways to work within the existing envelope, particularly as development approval posed a significant hurdle. This mindset shaped the entire project, allowing the design to evolve thoughtfully rather than force change where it wasn’t needed.
‘What stood out immediately was that the house had good bones,’ Ryan says, ‘Over the years it had become something of a rabbit warren, with rooms added by previous owners, but beneath that was a solid brick home with a real sense of nostalgia–there was something familiar and comforting about it, reminiscent of a seaside holiday house that had been lived in and loved.’
The interior direction balances Mediterranean warmth with an Australian coastal ease, deliberately moving away from predictable beachside neutrals. Instead, Casa Bungan embraces colour, texture and tactility as expressions of personality. With Italian and Australian influences at play, the palette draws inspiration from warmth and vibrancy without tipping into formality. While classic coastal schemes can be beautiful, Ryan notes they ‘wouldn’t quite capture the spirit of this home,’ prompting a search for something more expressive yet grounded.
At the heart of the house, the kitchen was reconfigured to support both everyday family living and regular cooking content creation. Silvia, a well-known celebrity chef, made one thing clear from the beginning: ‘My yellow Smeg oven is staying.’ From that moment, it became an anchor for the entire design. Functionality drove every decision; oversized sinks, generous storage and clearly defined zones ensure the space operates at a near-professional level. A hardworking butler’s pantry allows the main kitchen to stay calm and considered, even on the busiest days.
Retained architectural gestures, including the sunken living room, further ground the home in its original era. Rather than flattening level changes, these moments were celebrated. The layout was carefully resolved so connection remained central, allowing someone cooking in the kitchen to still engage with family and friends nearby. As Ryan explains, the intention was to create ‘a place for connection rather than distraction.’
Abundant natural light moving through the home gave Ryan the confidence to lean into brighter, more expressive finishes. Hand-painted whitewashed oak joinery reflects and softens light in the kitchen, while deeper blues introduced through stone and tiles provide grounding contrast. In the bedrooms, light informed a more personal approach, featuring wallpaper, patterned carpet and hand-painted wardrobes.
‘Overall, the home has a strong sense of character and a clear reflection of the people who live there. That honesty was central to the design process, and is what made working on Casa Bungan such a rewarding project,’ adds Ryan.
Project: Casa Bungan, Sydney, NSW
Interiors: Fieldroom & Jono Fleming Studio
Photography: Nic Gossage
Year Completed: 2024
