Renovation saves the day
Designer Kirsten Ford’s clients had a choice: sell their 1950s home or begin a major refit. The growing family realised they loved the neighbourhood too much to leave, writes
When the Clash sang ‘‘Should I stay or should I go?’’ the 1980s band probably weren’t talking about real estate. But that’s the issue this family faced a few years ago.
Kirsten Ford, the design director of KFD Interiors, an interior design studio, says her clients were thinking of selling their 1950s home in Milford on Auckland’s North Shore.
‘‘They’d lived in it for 20 years and were getting to the stage where they either moved on or stayed and renovated it so that it met the needs of their busy family,’’ says Ford.
After realising they liked the area too much to move, the decision was made to undertake a major renovation.
That included extending the living area by 30m2, pushing out the entrance another 5m2 and revamping the ‘‘tired and dated’’ interior.
Ford, who has worked on both renovations and new builds since 2016, was called in to create an overall vision for the space, from paint colours and furniture to cushions and towels.
‘‘The brief was to create a bright, comfortable family home that would stand the test of time for a growing family, a dog and a cat.’’ She was inspired by the lush, semitropical landscaping of the 700m2 property.
‘‘We used the garden as the basis of our colour palette, so various shades of green are used throughout.’’
That includes the open-plan kitchen and scullery which features peacock blue/green finger tiles in the splashback and above the cupboards, as well as on the adjacent scullery wall.
‘‘But we painted the tongueand-groove cabinetry in black on one side and white on the other. That contrasts well with the green to provide a crisp finish.’’
When it came to the flooring, Ford opted for light-coloured solid oak planks.
The colour green makes more appearances in the once dark and cramped living space. A feature wall has been painted in a dark green, under which black wall-mounted cabinets provided much-needed storage.
The ottoman, from David Shaw Furniture, is covered in a dark green fabric while the generous sectional sofa stops, also from David Shaw, add a pop of brightness. ‘‘We added the boucle swivel chair in a burnt orange shade to add contrast.’’
The built-in window seat provides more storage and is a favourite spot for reading.
‘‘We had the cushions covered in outdoor fabric, which is super durable because this area gets so much sun,’’ says Ford.
‘‘The advance in technology means that outdoor fabric can also be quite soft.’’
The wooden dining table was one of the few pieces to make the cut from the previous layout. Ford sourced the sleek black dining chairs from Citta.
As the family bathroom is quite small, the key was to keep it light and airy to help enhance the room’s proportions.
‘‘We added terrazzo-look tiles on the floor and partway up the walls, then finished it with crisp white finger tiles.’’
But all bets were off when it came to the small hallway toilet. ‘‘l always say to clients that you can have a bit of fun with a small powder room, so we’ve gone for this beautiful wallpaper handmade by Wairarapa company Paperhands. It features ka¯ ka¯ po¯ and always makes guests smile.’’
The expanded entrance also features Paperhands wallpaper – this time in a print depicting native plants. Ford perfectly matched the lighter shade on the wall opposite the front door, using Alto Paints.
The mustard-coloured powder-coated wire bench came from Kiwi brand Ico Traders.
Ford opted for a Japaneseinspired look for the main bedroom, installing a wall-towall headboard that she covered in a Mokum fabric.
The green glass pendant lights add a touch of whimsy, while the oval-shaped bedside tables were found at Radfords.
Ford also added white shutters rather than blinds throughout the house and had the exterior painted in white with contrasting black joinery.
Ford, who has recently launched her own homewares range, says people planning to renovate should seek advice from interior designers early in the process.
‘‘Get an interior designer involved sooner rather than later because they can help to work towards creating a shared vision before the building starts.
‘‘And make sure you have a strong, clear vision for the project so you can carry that consistently from one room to the next and into the outdoors.’’