SCHOOL ZONES:
Takapuna School, Belmont Intermediate, Takapuna Grammar.
CONTACT:
Prue de Bie, Bayleys, 021 521 242.
If you are an architect, it must be terrifically satisfying to come back to the family home you've lived in most of your life and restore it. Architect Simon Stracey, of Enclosure, has had the chance to do this twice for his family's 1905 bay villa.
"The first project 10years ago was to replace a falling-down old garage on the street, and add a self-contained studio at the back of the house," he says. "It was a big decision ... but gave us the chance to terrace the lawn, create a service deck and an afternoon deck at the back of the house."
The Straceys were just one of a series of owners who had worked on the house. Originally a square-fronted cottage on one of the highest residential streets on the side of Devonport's Mt Victoria, the house had a grand bay windowed wing added in the 1920s. The lean-to utility rooms at the rear became a better kitchen and laundry in the early 1980s. The Straceys bought the house in 1983, when Simon's father, former Royal Navy commander Mick, emigrated to work with the navy here. The rather ramshackle old house was affordable, with potential -- Mick and wife Penny were much taken with the views and there were plenty of other kids in the street for their two sets of twins, Charlotte and Virginia, then 10, and Simon and Henry, 3.
"Devonport was still pretty rough back then, there were still Hells Angels around. These were working men's cottages, and my dad had to find a do up. My parents were always working on the house," says Simon. Mick was the meticulous engineer, repiling and insulating, sorting out electrics, while Penny, who died 11 years ago, had the flair. The other kids have long left home, Simon returned from London last year to help his dad refurbish the house this summer.
Image 1 of 5: Architect's task a satisfying one. Photo / Ted Baghurst
Simon says much of his work on the house is a homage to Penny's taste. He has brought his London eye, painting and updating but, like previous owners, carefully retaining heritage architecture. His mum's kitchen cabinets were so well designed all Simon had to do was update them with a palette of smoky green ("Penny's colour" he says) and modern grey, adding striking granite counter tops, brushed pewter handles and cool industrial light fittings. There is an airy dining room here, with traditional doors opening to the long, grand sitting room. The house was repainted throughout with a clever combination of greys.
Simon admits that as an architect he could have done a lot more structurally -- widening doorways, rearranging space, redoing the bathrooms, even dig out the basement for a full room -- but reckons new owners might like to tweak to suit themselves.
There are two front bedrooms -- one used as a study, so his dad could watch the shipping -- a guest room off the living room (with the main bathroom) and, on the sunny back corner of the house, the master suite with dressing area and en suite. Everywhere are stunning views of Torpedo Bay and the sparkling Gulf. The back lawn has an enormous old pohutukawa tree, perfect for climbing kids, or shade for socialising adults.
The self-contained studio on the back corner was Simon's when he lived at home. Both it and the street-level garage are made from concrete. The open-plan bedroom also has a kitchenette and bathroom, opening with french doors to the sunny deck. Simon added a circular window for fun, and devised a careful palette of greys, smoky greens and a soft lavender for the exterior of it all.
The spaces always worked well for the family and the huge entertaining Mick and Penny did, and Simon remembers this as a great place for kids, with plenty of adventures in the locality.
