Clever design creates space

This former warehouse has undergone big changes, writes Penny Lewis

These days, well- known Kiwi department store Farmers has its distribution centre in East Tamaki, but 70 years ago, its furniture warehouse was in Akiraho St, Mt Eden. That’s what architect Kate Beilby understands of the character building that now houses the apartment she bought with her friend, Mikhal Norriss.

They bought their two- bedroom apartment in February 2014. Facing north and on the top floor of the three- level building, it had plenty of character features, including steel- framed windows, timber floors and exposed brick walls.

But there were drawbacks — there was one good- sized bedroom, but the second one was tiny.

The kitchen was housed in an awkward space under the stairs, with a benchtop that was only 1.5 metres long. There was also no storage.

Luckily, as an architect Kate was able to visualise — and then realise — this apartment’s potential, which was featured in Your Home & Garden magazine.

The renovation saw a new set of dark- stained ply stairs with tension- wire balustrading installed in a position that allowed a new, larger second bedroom to be built upstairs. The bedroom, which became Kate’s, has a section of louvres