The mother of makeovers

By VICKI HOLDER

Filled with links to the past, a home on the sunny, northern slopes of Remuera savours many cherished memories.

It was built in 1926 by the parents of the current owner. When the second generation and their two daughters inherited the property in the mid-1990s, they were handed a beautiful English cottage-style home on a huge, flat section, which is conveniently close to six of Auckland's top primary and secondary schools.

The old home needed updating. Sumich Architects were called in to extend the living space and enlarge the rooms to suit a lifestyle that involves frequent indoor and outdoor entertaining. The property also had to accommodate the owners' medical importing business.

Moving out of the house for nine agonising months, the family removed the old, single-storey medical rooms and added a two-storey extension in front. This allowed for a cosy library off the main family room downstairs, and a new spacious master bedroom suite with a harbour view upstairs.

The focus of the master bedroom is a grand, arched, fanlight window, which is a replica of the one that was removed from the front of the house. The plump, silk, sea-foam-coloured drapes, which are the same tone as the walls, add a serene flavour and make the room particularly inviting at night. Lined with Carrara marble, the adjoining en suite exudes glamour with a traditional clawfoot bath and twin pedestal basins.

The family bathroom has been updated with a separate toilet room, and pedestal basins have been installed in the home's three other bedrooms.

Separate, self-contained living quarters were installed at the back of the property on top of the large storage rooms and the three-car garage. Currently used as an office, the upstairs has its own entry and steps up into a lounge with a kitchenette. The lounge opens through double doors to a bedroom with a walk-in wardrobe and a bathroom.

But the real thrills for the lady of the house in this makeover are the large laundry downstairs, which is lined with tongue-and-groove, and the enormous, walk-in dressing room off the master bedroom.

Having ample and easily accessible storage was an important aspect of the changes. The new linen cupboard on the upstairs landing is the owners' pride and joy. The smooth cedar shelves have spaces between the slats so that the warmth rises up through the gaps.

The architect pulled out the eaves and extended the deck around the northern face, supporting the roof with columns.

While the renovation was substantial, the owners were careful to retain the best bits of the original house. Elaborate, neo-classical entablature features over the entry in the form of a large acorn poised above the door. The curved chimney, shutter detail and timber shakes remain, as does the guest bathroom beside the entry, where the original white brick tiles and the pedestal wall basin look contemporary.

The addition opened up the new kitchen area to an enormous informal family room, which extends through french doors to the pool and the Hinuera stone terraces on three sides.

The owner and designer, Jen Pack, went to huge efforts to create a 1930s look for the kitchen. Metal hinges were imported from the US, and Jen designed the fine edging detail on the large piece of Carrara marble that forms the island bench.

Hand-painted light blue, the cabinetry is finished with visible brush marks to give a slightly aged appearance. The free-standing Ilve oven gives a semi-industrial look to the kitchen.

The den off the timber-panelled entry was also enlarged and a gas fire added for winter warmth. French doors open the room to the rear terrace and red-and-white French toile de jouy drapes and romans add a burst of colour.

The garden was redesigned by Suzanne Turley. Simple green borders of hedging and pleached trees trim the well-manicured lawns at the front and around the classically inspired pool at the back.

Combining tradition with the best of modern design, this elegant property is a large, easy and comfortable home with the perfect ingredients for busy family living.

Vital statistics

Address: 54 Bassett Rd, Remuera.

Features: Two-storey 1920s home renovated by Sumich Architects with interior design by Jen Pack; separate addition with three-car garaging and self-contained apartment above; main house - four bedrooms; two bathrooms plus guest bathroom; big open-plan living area off new kitchen; library; formal lounge with open fire; den with gas Jetmaster fire; jarrah floors downstairs; swimming pool.

Size: Land area 1494 sq m; floor area 375 sq m plus veranda and decks.

Price: $2.9m.

Agents: Libby Butler and Cheryl Chisholme-Paine, Bayleys BRE, Newmarket. Ph 520 8888 bus; Libby 377 5454 ah; 021 950 662 mob; Cheryl 520 8890 dir; 021 667 778 mob.