RENOVATION OVERVIEW 

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This original villa was 100m2 with 3 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. The living area was positioned at the front of the home with no indoor-outdoor flow. The home is now 200m2 and comprises of 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, guest toilet, formal dining, open-plan kitchen with adjoining scullery and laundry space, 2 lounges and a seamless flow into outdoor living. Abbey Lang Home worked with LTD Architectural to design the floorplan to accommodate these additions and to spec the home to modern-day standards. The design objective was to be sympathetic to the design and detail of the original Villa, whilst connecting the new living space with the outdoors. Abbey Lang undertook the spatial and interior design of the home.

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DETAILING

 

The doors, double-hung windows, ceiling battens, scotia, architraves and skirting boards were manufactured to match the existing house. Brass hardware for doors and windows was stripped of varnish and then aged to match the existing hardware throughout the home.

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KITCHEN / SCULLERY & LAUNDRY

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The kitchen was designed to enhance the scale of the space, drawing inspiration from the period features of the home. The profile seen in the panelling follows the detail of the scotia, which was then transposed into a clean-lined shaker style kitchen. It was intended that the eye could see the area as a whole, as opposed to focusing on the workings of the kitchen itself. The cabinetry colour was matched with the wall colour to visually connect with the entire space. Volakas marble, selected for its elegant grain and beautiful tones of ivory, brown and grey was used for the benchtops. These were semi-honed to enhance the tactile nature of the stone and to give a relaxed feel to the kitchen. The island bench was anchored with a charcoal colour, also panelled, and chosen for aesthetic and practical reasons. A skylight installed in the centre of the kitchen space increases the natural light. The splash-back and power-pack were tiled in a hand-made porcelain tile which has a satin finish, to add textural interest. This same tile is used throughout the home in different formats to create cohesion.

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A study nook was integrated into the kitchen space beside the fridge, panelled to look as if it’s part of the kitchen landscape. This space houses a desk, shelves and drawers for storage of household admin.

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The scullery acts as an accessible area for everyday appliances as well as the main storage space for food. The door is a panel of the kitchen and once closed the scullery is hidden away from the open-plan room. It also connects through to the laundry and an outdoor service area. Both sections can be shut off to operate as independent zones as required.

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DINING ROOM & LOUNGE

 

Internal doors were added at the end of the expansive hallway for heating purposes and to provide a more intimate space in the evenings. The new living space was built at a lower level to the original house to better connect the home with the outdoor area. The original stud-height (3.3m) was maintained and large wooden stacker doors were added to create a seamless flow to the large outdoor deck, lawn and gardens.

 

The living room was orientated around a central fireplace with bay windows either side. A plaster fire surround and mantlepiece was crafted to replicate an original Kauri version, with a slate hearth. The bay windows have built-in seats and drawers for storage, alongside an in-built storage/entertainment cabinet running the width of the lounge. The entertainment unit cupboards feature panelling to create a cohesive feel with the kitchen. Wooden blinds were customised for this space and linen curtains were used to provide a natural relaxed feel.

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The dining room was created as a more formal area for entertaining and was designed with large French doors opening out to the North and West facing deck. A bordered parquet floor, ceiling rose and antique brass chandelier clearly defines the space.

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BATHROOMS

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The main bathroom features cement tiles, which have been individually made by hand, in Vietnam. The colour has been customised for this space. The stone chip creates a terrazzo effect and adds an extra layer of interest and texture, referencing the old world. Bespoke bathroom vanities have been made for both the main bathroom and ensuite. These echo the panel detailing in the kitchen, but with a cleaner, more modern profile in order to appreciate the wood grain in the panels. These panels were stained to match the flooring and warm up the space.

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The guest toilet uses excess marble from the kitchen to create a floating bench with a top-mount basin. This is paired with an antique mirror and aged brass tapware, creating a special space for guests.

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MASTER BEDROOM AND FRONT LOUNGE/OFFICE

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The master bedroom features a walk-through wardrobe and ensuite. The room can be opened up into the front lounge/office, designed to catch the morning sun, and create a grand suite or to be closed off to create two separate zones. Additional double-hung windows were added to both of these rooms (North facing) to bring in more natural light. Existing fireplaces have been utilised to create a focal point in both rooms. The master bedroom features a charcoal wall creating a calming, intimate space.

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BEDROOMS

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The children’s bedrooms have wool loop pile carpet in a neutral beige/grey tone - a good quality durable option for children and a practical colour for hiding any marks. The children’s bedrooms are painted in Resene alabaster to create a blank canvas in order to easily style and change the room as they age.

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