Time to transform

Photo / Supplied

Sarah Halewood admits it was hardly a case of love at first sight when she saw the Island Bay house that would eventually become a family home for her and Tony Drawbridge. She can vividly remember the scene 12 years ago: "I was 24, heavily pregnant and had my heart set on a cute workingman's cottage in Newtown.

From my perspective, Island Bay represented the suburbs and this house didn't tick any of my boxes. It was run-down, badly designed and ignored the spectacular view." The marketing material for the Wellington home, which was built in 1927, didn't even mention the view: "Back then, Carrara ceilings were obviously a bigger drawcard," she laughs.

The couple spent two years in the home without making any improvements to it before heading off to London for a second OE. For the five years they were away, the home was rented out. Upon their return any thoughts of renovation once more took a back seat as the pair were too involved in their business ventures -

Halewood is co-owner of catering company and cafe Zuleika Foods, while Drawbridge is co-owner of a design business. "We were itching to make some changes but because we'd both just started our own businesses, we weren't in any position to do so," says Halewood. But three years ago they decided it was time to transform the 110sq m home.

Halewood and Drawbridge wanted the house set up for entertaining and to suit the needs of themselves and their two daughters, Freya, now 11, and Stella, 5. They wanted open-plan living, a cook's kitchen and a wall of glass that would capture the stunning Cook Strait views.

First, the couple decided to move the front door to provide better access to the open-plan area and allow room for a second toilet. The space occupied by the former entrance porch was used for a bathroom. The matai flooring was retained and Drawbridge fitted a sink to a Mongolian cabinet. "We like to combine the new and the old - and to use unusual objects wherever possible," says Halewood.

The Mexican tiles now covering the wall adjacent to the shower were found in Drawbridge's mother's basement. The renovation also gave Drawbridge, whose father is the late New Zealand artist John Drawbridge, a chance to unleash his artistic talents. The born-and-bred Wellingtonian created several of the home's artworks. Because the couple wanted glass to run the entire length of the back of the house, they had to turn to commercial glaziers for the aluminium doors they were after. "We didn't want bi-fold doors because the vertical lines would have interfered with the view," says Halewood. "These double-glazed doors slide from either end and can withstand the worst Wellington southerly."

The new kitchen occupied the same space as the old one but Halewood made sure it was a lot more functional. "I wanted wide granite benchtops, drawers instead of cupboards and no handles to keep it all looking seamlessly integrated." A 4m long clear glass splashback is used to display postcards and photos from around the world.

The couple can lift the glass off to change the display when the mood takes them. Halewood also wanted open shelving in the kitchen to display the Kartell and Alessi pieces she's picked up over the years, as well as the collection of hand-made plates she bought in London's Notting Hill. "Each piece on these shelves has a story."

Style tips

Make room: Try to maximise your kitchen space and make sure that there is plenty of room for family and guests to sit while you are pottering in the kitchen.
Surface looks: Go for durable, easy-to-clean work surfaces that you will like the look of for years to come.
Expert assistance: The help of a kitchen designer can be invaluable. Halewood wouldn't have considered using Melteca until her kitchen designer showed her its range of colours.

* Leanne Moore is the editor of Your Home & Garden.