Parnell: Parnell beauty

Minutes from boutique shops and trendy eateries of Parnell is this strikingly revamped 1920s home with classic clean lines and a modish finish. By CHARLOTTE COSSAR.

Owned by architect Julian Guthrie, known for designing contemporary houses in glass, concrete and steel, and his wife, this home offers stylish comfort presented with a contextual edge.

When the couple bought the home it was poorly presented with heavy drapes over the windows and diagonal striped wallpaper throughout, says Julian. The front yard was concreted and the rear garden overgrown with weeds. However, says Julian, "the basic layout was good and the large window areas, beautiful floors and character features sold it to us".

Julian was intent on creating an urban home that provided a contemporary lifestyle while retaining the character of the home. "All the new work inside and out has been designed to complement the existing features and yet are still quite modern in detail."

The house has had little structural change and the original room proportions and ceilings have remained intact. However, a laundry area adjacent to the kitchen was removed to allow for seamless access to the courtyard garden.

Character is retained with original features including a beveled glass porthole window in the dining room, an exterior porthole window above the garage, both remnants of the days when the house was owned by a sea captain, and a beautiful working Art Deco fireplace with rounded tile details. "This is a unique and special feature of the house and is the centrepiece of the room," says Julian.

The lighting through the house is mainly new and offers exceptional living and entertaining, although an original chandelier in the living room has been kept to highlight the beamed ceiling.

Julian says: "In the dining area a Danish pendant from Bromhead Design captures the design spirit of the kitchen with its subtle stainless-steel detailing. Generally, pendant fittings have been used to keep the character style, except in the bathrooms and kitchen where halogen downlights provide modern functionality."

To achieve a chic, modern kitchen that defies the ages, off-white lacquered cabinetry with a frame detail has been used to tie in with the gridded battened ceiling. Says Julian: "A stainless-steel work bench provides a classic modern work surface that works in with stainless-steel kicksteps and appliances. A separate free-standing island table has been built using a solid blackwood butcher's block top and solid rimu legs.

"Placing this unit on legs makes the kitchen and dining areas more unified and allows it to be moved to a wall position if you wish to open the room up completely."

Adding to the functionality of this light and airy space are large pot drawers and sliding shelves in the pantry.

A new bathroom is found in a former storeroom. Classic white gloss brick wall tiles are complemented by the wooden floors, and Duravit Happy D porcelain fittings offer a modern design with a Deco look. And, says Julian, mirrored medicine cabinets recessed in the wall are another classic feature that suits the style.

The interior colours provide a warm neutral backdrop for modern art and set off the floors and character details, says Julian. "Off-white has been used on all ceilings and trims to keep a light classic style."

While Julian is not a big fan of feature walls in character houses, the central hall is a dramatic dark coffee bean colour, which was chosen to contrast with joining rooms. "Painting the darkest space in the house in a dark colour has increased the sense of light in the other rooms and never fails to attract comment from visitors," says Julian.

Outside, the front garden has been completely rebuilt. New tiled concrete steps abut the original timber stairs leading to the entry porch. Bullnose terracotta tiles tie in with the brickwork of the garage and back courtyard, tiered plastered planter boxes with a clipped topiary step up to the house and a front wall is followed by a low clipped hedge with a grove of gardenias below two mature olive trees. Says Julian: "This garden provides a beautiful green mass between the house and the street and the formality adds presence to the house and to the streetscape."

The rear garden is more relaxed with natives, a glass pacific curtain by Jenny McLeod, and a small lawn.

Julian says: "The house has been loved by its owners since it was built and we like to think we have left it ready for another proud owner to enjoy. It offers the opportunity to build up to catch the harbour view or to create a double garage with internal access into the large hall.

"We love living there as it is a minute's walk to Parnell Rd or down to the waterfront, and a minute's drive into town. We are only prepared to give this up because we have found a vacant site that still offers these virtues but will allow me a fresh architectural challenge."



Vital Statistics

ADDRESS: 7 Churton St, Parnell.

FEATURES: 1920s character home with two bedrooms and a study or three bedrooms revamped in neutral colours; wood floors; beamed ceilings; large entrance and hallway; modern kitchen and bathroom in keeping with style of home; en suite; landscaped gardens; potential to develop under home or go up; one-car garaging.

SIZE: Land area 290sq m.

AUCTION: On site, noon, March 26.

AGENTS: Richard Hart and Greg Gibson, Unlimited Potential, Remuera. Ph Richard 529 4059 bus; 524 7768 ah; 0274 973 474 mob; Greg 529 5216 bus; 521 3124 ah; 0274 940 049 mob.