Grey Lynn:A shared vision

The first project by a pair joining forces in the home renovation business is a stunning showcase. 

3 Browning Street, Grey Lynn. 

David Alison and Blair Haddow had renovated a number of houses separately when they decided they wanted to work together, and went hunting for their first project. 

"I came to an open home here," recalls Blair "walked straight through the hallway, out into the back garden, then phoned David, who was in Australia at the time, and said 'I've found a house'." 

That Blair could envisage what could be done with the old, neglected villa is remarkable. It was in "fairly original" condition, with an overgrown yard, tumble down fences, and a number of dilapidated outbuildings (including an outhouse). 

But when David saw the house he agreed with Blair that it had the potential to fulfil their vision. 

"It had volume, it wasn't one of those narrow, gloomy villas," says David. "We knew we could put a big extension on the back and make the most of the yard." 

And what an extension. A vestibule leads you from the original part of the house to the new where, subtly, the skirting boards change from high wood to narrow aluminium to blend with the new joinery. This new space sweeps through a voluminous kitchen, dining and living area to 2.4m-high bifold doors that lead you to a deck and grassed yard edged by a raised lap pool. 

Such a pool, finished in grey marble plaster with imported glass tiles and underwater lighting, is not what you'd expect in Grey Lynn. 

"We didn't want a pool taking up the whole back section," says David. "This design still allows use of the yard." 

The pair engaged architect Alan Paul, who brought in his newly qualified son Simon to also work on the project, one of Alan's last before he died unexpectedly earlier this year. 

"We had a lot of fun," recalls David. "He was a lovely guy, and a mixture of an artist and an architect. You can see his touches all through this house, like in the ceiling of the extension. If it had been on one plane it would have felt like a church hall, so Alan staggered the ceiling at different heights to give it variation and make spaces distinct from each other."

Builder James Morrow, a specialist in renovating historic homes, had his work cut out for him on this project. 

The house is built of brick, so demolishing, building, plumbing and wiring was more difficult than it is with wooden villas. 

But the double brick thickness of many walls lends the house a solid, generous feel, not to mention providing soundproofing between several rooms. 

The blonde kauri in the original front rooms is matched by Tasmanian oak in the addition. 

Because the kitchen is very much part of the living space, Blair and David made the 4m-long benchtop look like a well chosen piece of furniture. Handle-less drawers, a concealed fridge, and power and phone points hidden in cupboards give the Italian kitchen a clean look that doesn't clutter the living area. 

After 10 months Blair and David are pleased with the result of their first joint project through their company, Urbis Concepts. 

Vital Statistics 

BEDROOMS: 3 

BATHROOMS: 2 

GARAGE: NO GARAGE BUT OFF-STREET PARKING FOR ONE CAR. 

SIZE: Land 589sq m; house 200 sq m (approx). 

PRICE INDICATION: Upwards of $1 million. Auction November 19. 

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 1-2pm.
 
CONTACT: Andrea Bell-Ritchie or Patrick McCarthy, Bayleys, ph 021 906 793 (Andrea), 0272 333 988 (Patrick). 

FEATURES: Stunningly restored and extended plastered brick villa near the West Lynn shops. Scullery/laundry off kitchen has pull down ladder allowing access to lit and lined attic for storage. Living area wired for plasma TV. Lap pool is plumbed and wired for heating. North facing deck and back yard.