A classic bungalow mixes colourful interiors with friendly modern touched to make the best of its harbour-side location. VICKI HOLDER is welcomed in.
A bright and breezy home dismisses formality to savour the best traditional aspects of a classic St Marys Bay bungalow.
In making changes to better suit her relaxed lifestyle, the owner took care not to suppress her home's original identity. Rather than make drastic changes, rooms were simply opened up to allow various living spaces to flow in a more contemporary layout.
The garden path weaves its way from the street, past the double carport underneath the house and up to the entry at the side. A foyer opens through french doors between a casual sitting room adjoining the kitchen at the rear and a formal dining space which steps down to the office/sunroom in front.
With all the doors, these spaces connect to give the feeling of one large sunny room.
With this new arrangement, it was important that colours chosen for the walls and furnishings were considered as a whole. The creative owner didn't want a bland, cream living environment. She sought to enrich her give the home greater depth and personality using different colours in each of the rooms.
The colour scheme was therefore carefully coordinated. The bisque shade on the dining room walls is repeated on the ceiling of the sitting room opposite. The two rooms are also linked by the blue timber frame on windows above a window seat in the dining room and on the dado panels along the wall of the sitting room.
While the panelled bungalow ceilings, stripped rimu floors and original windows remain, the old fireplace in the sitting room was smartened with a new concrete surround and timber mantel. It lends a simpler modern mood to this cosy room, especially with the addition of the frosted glass and iron Italian pendant light and wall sconces.
The servery between the kitchen and the sitting room makes sense, too. The cook can converse with guests without having to constantly poke their head through the doorway. While completely functional as it is, the kitchen cum laundry area leaves scope for new owners to develop and enhance.
French doors were added to the large lounge at the front of the house, and a new deck with built-in seating soaks up the sun until it sets. Walls were painted a glowing sunburst gold, the vibrance of which is balanced by the cream ceiling, window and door frames and the tan-coloured built-in book-case. Leadlight windows are another reminder of the house's bungalow origins.
French doors were also added to the little bedroom that sits next to the bathroom. These open to a deck for a comfortable connection to the garden.
The upper level of the house, which includes two large bedrooms with a bathroom in between, was created in 1988. While many people attempt to build into the roof space of bungalows or villas, most compromise on the design. This addition, however, works extremely well.
Both the master bedroom at the front and the guest bedroom behind are large, with superb views. The bathroom is also spacious and well designed with lots of natural light.
The master bedroom looks down across Westhaven Marina through a parade of windows framed by cream blinds. French doors open to a private balcony where a timber bench seat is part of the structural design. The master bedroom has separate access to the shared bathroom via its dressing room.
The bathroom walls are painted a rich ochre, a colour which is echoed in the leadlight windows. Combined with the black and white tiled floor, this small room makes quite an impact.
Bifold windows above the bed in the guest bedroom open out to give the sensation of sitting up in the trees. A small desk built into the corner is a space for visitors to catch up on paperwork or write a letter home.
The owner's talent for making spaces work better was also applied in the back garden. The property used to slope away from the house into the corner and was almost unusable. It has now been levelled and individual areas created.
A vegetable garden with a climbing framework sits along the fence line, which the current owner turns to compost in the winter and clears for runner beans and tomatoes in the summer. There's now plenty of room for barbecues, petanque and even a dog to run around in.
A new twist to an old story, this creative, practical update ensures that a charming and beautifully presented bungalow is well-equipped to entertain a host of possibilities.
Vital Statistics
Address: 34 Hackett St, St Marys Bay
Features: Informal and formal living, office, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, large north-facing deck, double carport, alarm, harbour views
Size: Land 367 sq m; house 170 sq m
Auction: On June 1, 6 pm at First National Meo Realty, Ponsonby
Agent: Tricia Lafferty, First National Meo Realty, Ponsonby. Ph 378 1500 bus; 360 1624 ah; 021 611 205 mob.
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
Latest from Property
'Lucky' first-time buyers from Auckland pick up Wellington masterpiece
Aucklanders were "over the moon" when they first saw historic house.