Parnell: Delightful

Charm, elegance and immaculate detail prevail in this vibrant Parnell home, as VICKI HOLDER reports.

Several years ago Anne and Miles Coney opened their Parnell home to the public to raise funds for St Cuthbert's College in Epsom.

Many rooms in the Coneys' lovely old bungalow - called Tawari - were treated to an inspirational makeover at the hands of a team of talented interior designers. Thousands of visitors paraded through, pouring over the original classic features lavished with a stylish contemporary update.

Now the Coneys are moving on, and giving a new family the chance to enjoy the delicious spaces, immaculate crafted detail, sumptuous colour and elegant furnishings that belong to Tawari.

Sheltering in a canopy of native trees on a generous, elevated property on Parnell's northern slopes, Tawari is a beautiful, five-bedroom home that reflects Anne Coney's effervescent personality.

The designers who took part in the St Cuthbert's fundraiser were fortunate that the Coneys were art-lovers and partial to a daring approach to the design. Anne has modified what the designers did, but it is no less vibrant nor delightful. Exploring the home is an enthralling journey spiced with layer upon layer of interest - from the architectural to the decorative.

Beginning life as a villa, the original owner, Dr Chatfield, had civic architect Daniel Paterson redesign it as a bungalow in the 1920s. Being a dentist, he was fascinated with intricate detail and imbued the home with captivating built-in timber cabinetry and lozenge-shaped leadlights in the Arts & Crafts style.

These beautiful features form a rich yet functional backdrop to the Coneys' modern furnishings. When they opened the living rooms out for a better flow to the return veranda they took care to make sure the new design blended inconspicuously with the old. Consequently, the interior is an eclectic mix of eras where everything works in harmony. Unexpected quirky touches enhance its classic appeal.

Art begins at the gate where a painted metal kea is perched on the letterbox, by sculptor Jeff Thomson. The entry door is unusual, too. Painted by artist Karl Maughan, it is resplendent with the colours of a summer garden.

A large, pale grey, silk-lined entry hall doubles as an art gallery. Many rooms open from this central point, which once formed part of a hallway when the home was a villa.

Dominating the drawing room in front is a grand stone fireplace. Colefax and Fowler's Peony Linen hangs from the iron curtain rods with delicate finials and tie-backs. Fine stencil work around the top of the mustard-coloured walls recalls the Arts & Crafts theme.

Inspired by a Brunschwig & Fils wallpaper, Anne painted the trellis work on the walls of the bedroom next door. Opening to the veranda, this pretty room - with its original tiled fireplace - was the original entry hall.

The family and dining rooms are fitted with built-in rimu cupboards, drawers and shelves with lift-up tops that conceal secret compartments. The Coneys opened the two spaces up to create one large living area that spills out through french doors to a deep, sunny veranda. From this semi-enclosed outdoor room you can appreciate the harbour views as well as the design of the exquisite Italianate formal box gardens below.

The walls in the sitting area are enriched with gold, while the dining room glows with warm red walls and silky drapes. The two rooms benefit from the heat of real fires in winter. The sitting area has a traditional, original rimu fireplace, while the dining space features a simple, modern plaster design.

A new Binova kitchen by Italy and Kitchens was installed perpendicular to the dining area. Visible from the living area, it is a separate room with a crisp, modern feel. Anne loves the practicality of the horizontal white drawer designs, which are custom-designed for specific storage functions.

Of the four upstairs bedrooms, the master is the largest and most enticing. It looks out to the soft green foliage of a weeping mulberry. The room steps through a dressing room - with walls upholstered in candy stripes - to an en suite. Around the corner, a second bathroom makes a splash with a rolled stainless-steel benchtop, silver wallpaper and floor tiles.

Dr Chatfield used the downstairs area as a dark room. It has since been converted into a large fifth bedroom or rumpus. The adjacent room has always been used for storage but it invites many possibilities.

Outside, a loggia off these rooms has proved ideal for children who come to play. The gardens step down to a full-size, flood-lit tennis court in a native bush setting where you feel as if you're a world away from the city, which is just five minutes away.

Vital Statistics

ADDRESS: Tawari, 16 Taurarua Tce, Parnell.

FEATURES: Bungalow renovation on large property; many Arts & Crafts features; leadlight windows; five bedrooms; two bathrooms, including master en suite; new Binova kitchen; family and formal rooms plus rumpus downstairs; grand entry; deep return veranda and loggia downstairs; harbour views; kauri and matai floors; formal Italianate gardens; flood-lit tennis court.

SIZE: Land area 3421sq m

PRICE INDICATOR: $1.75 million.

AGENTS: Michael Boulgaris, Barffot & Thompson, Remuera. Ph 524 1666 bus; 021 366 366 mob.