Remuera: Low-key elegance

VICKI HOLDER checks out a classic Remuera family home where traditional elements sit happily alongside modern design features.

A major renovation to a family home takes its cue from its handsome traditional neighbours in one of Remuera's older streets.

Two years ago, Matthew Chaplin of Sumich Architects was charged with the task of extending and revamping a home on a large property between Newmarket and Remuera. His clients were keen to see the ground floor living areas opened up to bring in more light. They also wanted a more modern flow between the internal living areas and several outdoor entertaining terraces.

While ringing the changes, they wanted the home to remain sympathetic to the existing 1940s architecture and the timber weatherboard and slate homes at the top of the street.

Together, the traditional materials and pitched form of the roof play it coy, revealing little of the major changes that have taken place behind closed doors. The casual observer would be forgiven for thinking the alterations were entirely internal. Quite the contrary; everything you see from the road, if you peep over the fence and security gates, is new.

Internal-access double garaging was added, along with a huge formal lounge. On the upper level, three large additional bedrooms, one a lavish guest suite, have turned this into a substantial family home.

While the exterior flavour is classical, inside the character is strongly contemporary with a charcoal and white theme enhanced by natural stone floors and dark-stained oak fittings.

Unfolding from the entry, a glazed gallery acts as a light-filled passage travelling through to the large family living area at the rear. Light is also thrown into an adjoining formal entertaining lounge, which steps out beneath a pergola to a sheltered west-facing terrace along the opposite wall. Crisp drapes in a bold, black and white plaid design draw across the french doors to keep in the heat of the gas fire.

When the weather is fine, guests can move freely between the lounge and the terrace. An outdoor fireplace on the wall means the terrace can be enjoyed well into the evening. Even in winter, it's pretty to look at with a water feature surrounded by planter boxes filled with leafy native varieties.

Many structural walls were moved to make one big, voluminous space in the kitchen/family area. French doors open to a sunny, private, north-facing pool terrace landscaped with pale terrazzo tiles and easy-care subtropical planting.

Set along the rear wall, the kitchen brings a traditional stamp to this modern space with a classical profile in dark-stained oak cabinetry. A huge island with granite top and tubular pendant lighting above separates the kitchen from the all-encompassing living space. Here, the dining area and casual sitting merge, and there's still plenty of space leftover to give that comfortably open, expansive feeling that older homes are renowned for.

A double Fisher & Paykel wall oven and Fisher & Paykel fridge sit neatly on either side of a deep cooking recess. Fitted with a bank of tall cabinetry housing the food and crockery pantries, the side wall offers more storage, including a recess for tea and coffee making. Balancing the strong, dark tone of the timber kitchen, white plantation shutters filter the light through the windows.

Discreetly hidden off to the side, a laundry incorporates a bathroom with a shower, so the children can come straight in from the pool without dripping through the house. They can also escape the household noise to watch television or read in the library, where the windows are framed by heavy linen drapes to cut out the light by day. Oak shelving and cabinets continue the theme from the lounge.

Upstairs, a long, broad passage joins a study and four large bedrooms. All the windows are dressed in beautiful curtain treatments featuring crisp fabrics to suit the individual decors. Some hang on eyelets, while others are set off with New York pleats. Every one is different. The children's rooms, well-endowed with storage, sit between two enormous suites - the master and guest accommodation. These incorporate huge bathrooms and the master has a dressing room. Altogether, there are four bathrooms in the house. Each one is tiled with underfloor heating, beautiful oak vanities and frameless glass showers.

Combining low-key traditional elegance with a host of modern luxuries, there's not much more a family could ask for in a property. In a street of beautiful homes, this totally updated residence is perfectly located for a city family.

Vital Statistics

ADDRESS: 6 Arney Rd, Remuera.

FEATURES: Traditional family home renovated and extended by Matthew Chaplin of Sumich Architects; formal lounge with gas fire; family living area and new kitchen; all areas open to sunny terraces; swimming pool; garden shed; four bedrooms, including two suites (master has air conditioning and dressing room); double garaging; security gates; dark oak timber shelving and cabinetry throughout.

SIZE: Floor area 480sq m.

AUCTION: September 11 at Barfoot & Thompson's Chancery rooms.

AGENT: Leila MacDonald, Barfoot & Thompson. Ph 524 0149 bus; 021 928 926 mob.