Down to a fine art

Having lived in Fiji, Beryl Walker and Terence Broad returned to Wellington looking for an airy, sunny home near the beach. Luckily for them, an architect friend and his wife had decided to sell their lovingly conserved former state house in Petone.

"We had just returned from 18 months in Fiji where Terence worked at the University of the South Pacific, so we wanted something open and light-filled," says Walker. "We had long admired this place and when it was up for sale, we snapped it up."

What appealed to retired architect Broad and ceramic artist Walker was that the area around the property was flat and it was near the sea for beach walks.

In the two years since they bought the two-storey home, which was built in 1906, they have filled it with ceramics and collectibles as well as paintings by artists including Ralph Hotere, Michael Smither and Bill Hammond, and works by Broad's son, Sam Broad.

Because the house has a heritage listing the couple cannot change the home too radically, so the original footprint has been largely retained except for a cantilevered kitchen bench butting up against a large window to provide extra working space. The heritage listing means there is also a limited palette of acceptable exterior colours, in keeping with the home's vintage.

Fortunately for Walker and Broad, some structural alterations had already been done. When making other changes, such as adding new gas fires and more power points, they were careful to ensure they fitted the home's era. "Some of the plug points are original, as are the sash windows and the doors," says Walker.

They also replaced roller blinds with white linen curtains and painted the walls white. "White walls make this house feel so much bigger and, of course, provide the perfect backdrop for our artwork," says Beryl.

To maximise space and gain room in the kitchen, they turned the void under the stairs into a large pantry. Where the original kitchen stood is now home to a dining room with towering built-in bookshelves that contain the couple's large collection of books, many about the history of New Zealand state houses.

Next door is the living room, where a fireplace and a door were removed to create a better flow. The eye-catching stripe of the twin couches was the inspiration for two Chinese cabinets, which Walker had specially made and shipped over from China. One sits in this room, the other in the dining room.

Upstairs, she again opted for neutral tones in the light-filled master bedroom. Here there are more mementoes from the couple's travels, including patterned cushions and jewel-coloured saris from Fiji that Walker has draped over doors.

The guest bedroom features her ceramic collection, including Crown Lynn white swans which dominate one wall. "I love their solid colour and the fact that they're such an iconic part of New Zealand history."

In the two years Walker and Broad have been in the house, they have become settled and content. "It's obviously been well loved by everyone who has lived here and now it's our turn to do the same."

Style tips

Time to collect: Because Walker and Broad have always collected art, they have a home packed with paintings and ceramics. It's never too late to start by buying one affordable piece at a time.

Spread your net: You don't have to pay top dollar for art. Art school open days and auctions can produce some inspiring finds at bargain prices.

Think laterally: With a bit of imagination, retro or unusual objects can provide points of interest in the right setting.