WHEN DEE TANG AND DESMOND SWEENEY first moved into their 1939 bungalow, they needed to let the light in – literally and metaphorically. The previous owners had left a jumble of stuff scattered across gloomy rooms, and dark jarrah floorboards sucked away whatever sunlight made it through huge surrounding trees. So they made a decision that raised more than a few eyebrows: they painted everything white – including those prized floorboards.
“People were freaking out. I guess, around these parts, they have more of that classic Federation style, very classic Fremantle. We came on in like, ‘We’re from the northern beaches, this is what we do! Everything white!’” Dee says. “Des pretty much hand-painted every single plank. It took him ages, but he said that was all right. It was quite therapeutic at
