You can definitely feel the change in the seasons with the evenings closing in and mornings sporting heavy dew with a chill in the air. But the summer rolls on and on...
Last week, I had the pleasure of spending four days in Auckland connecting with suppliers, visiting a couple of new trade showrooms and attending a seminar, amongst laughter and good company.
In our ever-changing world it is vital to keep up to date with what technology throws at us. It can be anything from chemical and sun smart fabrics and flooring to touch screen technology within our homes. Such a vast difference in technology where one creates product and the other is the technology that runs our homes. Technology to create smarter homes looking towards the healthier future...
But I also had the pleasure of spending time in a gem of a home that to me was pure pleasure. From one extreme to the other. We were invited to view this lovely home, play and photograph. It is hidden from the buzz and throb of Auckland although it resides in one of the busiest areas of Auckland.
Built around the 1930s along the style of Spanish/deco, you enter off a busy road to stunning wrought iron gates.
The gates open and you drive through extensive subtropical gardens till you see a glimpse of the house. It is a grand entrance with four carports and two double garages off to the right and house on the left. The entrance has a covered portico resting on huge spiral pillars leading to a porch entrance then a solid black door.
Wrought iron graces the entrance and is featured throughout this home. Once through the front door off to the left is a small cloak cupboard exquisitely finished with lead light window, wrought iron and timber. The switches, hinges and door furniture throughout the home are original apart from the areas that have been remodelled.
But even in remodelling, the house is still very much in keeping with the original style, apart from the modern kitchen. Many of the light fittings have been changed but still remain in keep with the original.
This home is built of solid concrete with internal and external plastered walls. The entrance is circular to accommodate the stunning spiral staircase of wrought iron and timber that leads you to the upper level of bedrooms and bathrooms. The staircase is beautifully proportioned and lit by arched lead light windows and a magnificent lantern. The entrance and passageways are finished in the original wash and colour from when it was built.
There have been changes along the way with bathrooms being remodelled for comfort and another added off the master bedroom dressing room. The bedrooms are as they would have originally been intended with quaint little fireplaces in some, balconies off others overlooking the pool and extensive grounds.
It makes for an interesting exterior with the wrought iron balconies and spiralled pillars.
The floors throughout are mainly gloss timber with rugs and some of the bedrooms carpeted. The formal lounge off to the left of the entrance is a gracious room. Leadlight windows dressed in stunning full-length silk curtains and trims. This room was a large rectangular room with a fireplace on the far wall from the entrance. It could have been quite a masculine room stripped back to expose its bones if it hadn't been for its beautiful feminine soft curves.
All the corners, including the transition between the walls and ceiling, were curved. It felt almost domelike, welcoming and feminine. I loved it. You felt relaxed and rested when you entered this room.
This floor also housed a library. A small room with floor to ceiling book cupboards on two walls, fireplace and windows on another and a larger window looking out over the drive on another. It was a very masculine room with heavy timber panelled walls below a chair rail with off-white plastered walls above, shutters on small windows and beautifully draped curtains on the main window overlooking the entrance. I imagined two old leather chairs along the fireside, but maybe the room was really intended for one to retreat and read.
The formal dining room was wrapped from floor to ceiling in dark timber panelling with a small centred fireplace on one wall. There was a central chandelier to give it a more feminine touch. At night this room would have been stunning with walls disappearing, the light softened with crystal and silver sparkling under candle light and the chandelier and the table finished with flowers.
I could imagine conversation and laughter as guests enjoyed fine wine and food in the company of good friends.
The kitchen and family room had been opened up and modernised at some stage. It had a relaxed casual feel about it and opened on to three outdoor areas, two for entertaining with a pool and one leading out under a covered in walkway. It was a lovely space but very different from the rest of the traditional rooms, but on the wall as you entered the room was a switchboard with all the bells that would have once been used throughout the house. A reminder of yesteryear and the grandeur of this lovely home!
The main bedroom was also a room I loved. Soft feminine decor and colour throughout, fine detailing on the walls to add interest, timber shutters and again a fireplace. This was a large but didn't feel oversized. Simply beautiful.
The current owners are of Chinese and Japanese decent and built a Japanese teahouse that overlooks the house. This is a beautiful space designed to fit comfortably with the style of the house from the exterior and looks like it was built at the same time, but the interior has a definite Spanish Japanese flavour and the combination works so well. It has two rooms, a small bathroom and the other a lounge area with one wall of sliding shutters. Behind the shutters is storage, the sound system and a kitchenette. The tea house dubs as a meeting room as well, a beautiful relaxing space.
And last but not least the viewing point. Above the carports is a glassed in balcony, purely for safety. From a distance you can't see the glass but the two outdoor chairs and an occasional table. A stunning late afternoon spot to remove yourself with extensive views rolling down to the CBD of Auckland.
It was such a privilege to be invited to this gracious home.
If you have any questions about issues discussed or product supply give me a call on 027 6023298 or
drop me a line on terry@terrylobb.com www.terrylobb.com (website under construction)