He likes modern; she tends toward traditional – style decisions in this Ponsonby home are the result of robust discussion.
Blending their individual styles into a pretty Ponsonby villa gives a couple of dentists plenty to smile about
Tony and Serena Dey are both dentists, and share a passion for design and interiors. But they are often drawn to opposing styles: Tony tends to go for modern pieces while Serena has a preference for the traditional. “Bringing a new piece home is usually accompanied by some robust discussion and plenty of deliberation,” says Serena. “Rarely are things bought on a whim.”
They’ve made the combination work, creating a look in their Ponsonby, Auckland heritage villa that is all theirs, without having to endure the upheaval of a major renovation, which was fortunate, because their refresh of the house coincided with the decision to start a family. Now there’s plenty of room for three-year-old Ivory and Boston, almost two.
It was the need for extra space that lured the couple from their two-bedroom cottage nearby to this four-storey home in 2013. One of a row built more than a century ago, the villa overlooks the city and harbour. Although narrow, it gradually reveals itself – “The high ceilings help create a real sense of space,” says Serena – and the gallery-white walls act as the perfect backdrop for the couple’s furnishings, both classic and contemporary. >
The couple met 12 years ago at Otago University’s dental school. Now, Serena works part-time and Tony has forged a career in cosmetic dentistry, with a busy Ponsonby practice just five minutes away. He also travels to Gisborne once a month to treat children with serious dental problems and every summer does pro bono dental work in Wairoa.
He says there’s a similarity between cosmetic dentistry and his interest in design and architecture “They are both creative fields. What I do at work is about making teeth look better and it’s the same thing with making improvements at home.”
Tweaking the home to suit them required very little structural work inside, but the backyard demanded a more invasive approach. “Previously there was a small courtyard out back which wasn’t going to work for our future family. We wanted enough space for kids to play but also to create an outdoor room for entertaining,” says Tony.
He designed the area himself, and luckily a laneway behind the house allowed access for a digger for the extensive earthworks. The result has been a huge hit, with both adults and children enjoying the new space. “I love being able to watch the children from the kitchen bench,” says Serena.
The new outdoor room seamlessly links to the rear extension added some years ago by previous owners. This open-plan addition includes a generous skylight, one of Tony’s favourite features.
“It’s a really nice solution to getting natural light into this part of the house. I like the way they’ve kept the volume of the ceiling by inserting the skylight into the roofline.” >
Serena and Tony made a few minor changes to the kitchen (new cupboard doors, handles and a splashback) but the downstairs bathroom required a more extensive makeover. “It was hideous,” says Tony. “It looked like a public swimming pool changing room.”
Creating a family home that looks good but still has a relaxed vibe was important to the couple. Functionality has been given as much consideration as style, and sturdy pieces of furniture, such as the leather sofa in the lounge, can handle the demands of small children. “We like things neat and tidy,” says Serena, “but not to the extent that the children have to be precious around things.”