Terrena Schaumkel laughs that really, when it comes to doing up houses, "I just like doing the pretty bits". But a minute's walk through the house that she and husband Janus have renovated over the past three years makes you realise she knows a whole lot more than pretty. Pretty practical, too.
The couple bought their bungalow on one of Mt Eden's quiet, pretty, cross streets because they could see beneath the characterless 1950s' and 1970s' renovations that there were bones of a rather beautiful old house. Gorgeous doors and windows -- including a leadlight in the master bedroom -- were spoiled by mean, modern architraves, the original wood floors hidden under old carpet and rooms chopped about by badly placed built-in cupboards. But there were enough good things to work with: a beautiful, sunny front yard and spacious backyard, good garaging, original beams and arches that suggested what the house had once been and the generous proportions of high ceilings and gracious windows that only such old houses can have.
First, the Schaumkels ripped off old gib board to completely insulate the house (it is so effective they scarcely need to switch on the reversible heating/cooling system they also installed). They put on a new roof, reworked two of the three bathrooms, replaced missing architraves and skirting boards to match the old proportions, polished some of the floors. But their biggest move was replacing an old butenol deck at the back of the house with a generous family room. Its walls of sliding glass open to a new wraparound deck to collect the sun all day. The house now has views of the Waitakeres.
"The sun just streams in here," says Terrena, "it's our favourite space in the evenings."
The space is one of three living rooms. At the front of the house a rather grand living room opens via French doors to a terrace, and a newly landscaped front yard, sheltered behind a clipped hedge. A very pretty fireplace, purely decorative, is the room's focal point complemented by a period-appropriate built-in sideboard. Here, Janus' high tech wiring for "pretty much everything, but don't ask me how" is hidden, but runs everything.
The heart of the rear family room is the new kitchen designed by Terrena and Villa Homes.
With panelled cabinets, mantelpiece over the huge Smeg cooker, butler sink, vintage-look handles and trims, it looks like it should have been there all along.
There's also a huge island, industrial tap fitting, modern lighting and drawers for masses of storage. Terrena is particularly fond of the marble she found for the benchtops -- streaks of terracotta in the grey and white veins complement the warm wood of her antique kitchen pieces.
This is one of many examples of Terrena's pretty bits which are also practical -- all through the house she worked with Villa Homes' joiners to install storage that looks like it was built when the house was. In daughter Ava's room, cupboards flank a windowseat (which doubles as a toy box).
In the master bedroom, Terrena carved a box room into a sparkling en suite and walk-in wardrobe, with quilted subway tiles and a vintage-look vanity. The family bathroom got the same vintage-meets-modern treatment.
Downstairs is the unexpected bonus of a generous family room, big enough for children to kick around in and acres more cupboards and storage. This is man territory, housing the boys' bedrooms and Janus' office, with more high technology. On this floor, the third bathroom gives a clue to the older decor of the house, while in the garage the original kitchen has been repurposed as terrific storage for the laundry and family detritus.
The rumpus room has French doors to a paved driveway and the newly levelled, terraced backyard is ideal for sports, whatever the weather.
But the family is moving to Remuera, closer to the boys' school, so has another house project in the works -- no doubt one that will require clever rearranging before Terrena can add her much more than pretty bits.