Home of the Month: Full of treasures, memories and art, this is no stock-standard apartment.

A bespoke apartment full of very personal art and objects tells the story of a life

Brenda Young had a clear idea in mind when decorating her purpose-built Wellington apartment, filling it with colourful, interesting pieces as a form of stimulation. “I read something somewhere once that the older you get, the more you need around you.”

The result is a vibrant 198sqm apartment with a sweeping view of Wellington’s waterfront from Te Papa museum on the right to the city’s buildings to the left. At night, Brenda feels like she could be in Hong Kong or New York, when the Michael Fowler Centre glows blue and the city lights flash.

Brenda already lived in an apartment in the historic Odlins Building when the Studio Pacific Architecture apartments at One Market Lane began to be developed. She wanted somewhere that took dogs; her poodle Schatzi is an agility dog and flygility champion. Her partner Collin Post also lived nearby.

Brenda had about three years to design the interior working closely with Dorian Minty of Studio Pacific. Working off the plans, they removed walls such as the one between the ensuite and the main bedroom. Brenda had several demands: the hallway

needed lights to showcase her and her partner’s extensive New Zealand art collection, the laundry needed a built-in cage for her dog and Brenda was adamant she didn’t want light switches, thermostats or air-conditioning grills near her Don Binney and Colin McCahon paintings. She also turned one of two outdoor verandahs into a dining area but saved space by integrating her barbecue into her stovetop.

She laughs that the generous timing meant she frequently changed her mind about style. “I was going to do minimalism, and then I was going to do Versace, and I decided in the end that I wanted to enhance my past through my objects.’’

The open-plan living and kitchen area is where she spends most of her time, and where stories about her life can be seen in many of the art and objects she has carefully curated.

Brenda had what she calls a working class childhood. She was born on a farm, then lived in a state house in Te Awamutu, then in Hamilton. She trained as a hairdresser, setting up businesses in New Zealand and Australia. A Diesel Cage light hanging over the dining table reminds her of the wire fences of the farm where she was born. She opted for dark kitchen cupboards to remind her of the black sand at Raglan where she spent weekends. The chair in the living room with a view of the promenade has a skirt around it, recalling the iron

day bed with a skirt in her grandmother’s sun porch when she was a child.

Tin can artworks are inspired by Brenda’s trip to Antarctica a decade ago. “I saw those tins in the snow when I went to Antarctica. One has to wonder whether those old cans lying around are waste or is it going to be history?”

Travel has been a big part of Brenda’s life; she has visited most countries in the world. Albums and story books created from many of her trips are lined up on a bookshelf in her living area. “I love wildlife and culture so a lot of the places we’ve been to are because of those interests. I love sitting in my chair and reminiscing by looking at one of my books.’’

Brenda’s master bedroom also makes her feel excited to get up each day. “Bedrooms to me are where you sleep so I didn’t give them a lot of space but they are colourful so when you wake up you do feel alive,’’ she says. The yellow Spanish Gan rug beneath the bed adds a pop of colour, and Brenda had a similar one turned into a bespoke runner in her dressing room.

“I love being here. I’ve mixed a few colours that have clashed. But it’s been totally worth the risk. I came from a state house. I wanted to keep it low key and rustic. I’ve had an interesting life and my apartment is now full of memories.”

Q&A

Best renovating or building tip: Give yourself enough time and be prepared to change your mind. You have to live with what you choose for a long time. Think carefully about where to put switches so they don’t interfere with your aesthetics.

Lighting is important: I don’t like general lighting and prefer to have lamps that are both stylish and functional. Every light has a purpose, lighting an artwork or an object. The laser blade lights by iGuzzini in the gallery hall and kitchen are great as there is no glare in your eyes. Favourite things to do in Wellington: I love walking everywhere around the city, along the waterfront with my dog or up Mt Victoria. I also eat out about four nights a week and love my location for being able to walk everywhere.

Brenda Young

THIS PAGE The hallway of Brenda Young’s Wellington apartment functions as an art gallery; the eye-catching artwork at the end is by Charlie McKenzie, an emerging Wellington artist.

THESE PAGES (from left) Brenda loves to drink tea from her Aaron Scythe pottery and Japaneseinspired cups and saucers. Brenda bought the wooden cabinet against the pillar from Trade Aid; she took a long time to source the Monster chairs by Moooi, at the kitchen bench, but loves them for style and comfort.

THIS PAGE (clockwise from top) The 1960s TV-Chairs by Moroso add colour around a Rod Arad metal dining table. A sculpture by Bronwynne Cornish; Brenda wanted concrete-look walls in her apartment for an industrial feel so she found a fibreglass product sold in sheets. This cast glass vase was made by David Murray.

THESE PAGES The B&B Italia cabinet against the wall hides Brenda’s printer, computer, files and stationery; the black Space Waka hanging from the ceiling are by Brett Graham and Rachael Rakena; the Silver Lake sofa by Patricia Urquiola for Moroso reminds Brenda of the green couch in her childhood home; a wire caravan sculpture on a shelf is inspired by her parents’ days travelling around New Zealand in a caravan.

THIS PAGE The ensuite is integrated into the master bedroom, with potted plants used as a divider: “I now have an open-plan bathroom, which means I can lie in the bath and look at the view or the cricket on TV,” says Brenda; the bath and bathroomware are by designer Patricia Urquiola.

THIS PAGE (from top) Window (right) by Philip Clairmont features in the art gallery hallway. Schatzi peeks out from her custom-made bed in the laundry where her agility and flygility ribbons are on display; baskets from Trade Aid are used for storage.