A home for the senses
A mix of modern and traditional has been perfectly achieved here, writes Robyn Welsh
With fragrant lavender, young cabernet sauvignon grape vines, a fish smokehouse and a courtyard perfect for openair movies in the summer, this is a home for all senses and all seasons.
Certainly Angela and Tim Kinnersley believe it and in the 10 years they’ve lived here, they have never tired of its offerings.
From the antique French pedestrian gate, down to the heritage double front doors and the wroughtiron balustrades, this home epitomises the French provincial style, which was the brief of the previous owners to their architect Linda Clapham 12 years ago.
The soaring form of this house beneath a terracotta- tiled roof embraces a mix of modern materials and traditional elements that have achieved architectural integrity and wellproportioned spaces for the New Zealand lifestyle.
Its exterior is a plaster system with aluminium joinery, finished with traditional architraves painted in a similar tone to complete the European aesthetic.
Inside, its three- level floorplan has entry- level informal living and the kitchen off the courtyard as well as adjoining formal living and one guest bedroom with a bathroom.
Upstairs, the master suite plus two guest bedrooms take in the expansive views west across Macleans Reserve, towards Bucklands Beach. Downstairs a large study/ lounge, a spacious laundry and multiple garaging with storage all address family- sized needs.
The rich tones of the jarrah timber floors in the main kitchen/ dining/ living area are picked up in the timeless timber accents.
These include the cabinetry in the feature granite- topped island bench, built- in display shelving nearby and the matching built- in swivel shelf for the television in the informal lounge.
“This whole area just glows with warmth and people love that,” says Angela.
Inside and out, the detail still never fails to impress her either.
She points out the mosaic tiles in the courtyard and the three- storey laundry chute, which includes a discreet en- route kitchen cupboard for dirty tea towels.
There is the tall, bespoke concrete mantelpiece, the elegant Juliet balconies and full- height double front doors.
As Angela understands it, the entrance was designed around the front doors, which were a chance acquisition when the previous owners saw a building in the city marked for demolition and inquired about the fate of the doors.
“The previous owners put their heart and souls into this home and you can tell by all of the detail and the quality of the fittings. They did a really good job,” she says.
Angela and Tim, an engineer, moved here with their then- teenage sons Daniel and Andrew, now 31 and 29 respectively.
“It has been one of those really great homes that worked when the boys were home and it works just as well for us as a couple. It’s a sign of good design when there are just two of you and you still use the whole house.”
In summer they move the barbecue to one side and use the tall plastered courtyard wall behind as the “screen” for outdoor movies.
The perimeter gardens add to the experience too.
“When the wind blows you can smell the lavender and it’s beautiful,” says Angela.
At the bottom of the garden, several young
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cabernet sauvignon grape plants have been planted by Daniel Kinnersley, an award- winning winemaker with Waiheke Island’s Goldie Estate.
These vines are into their second year now and would normally be expected to crop after their third year, he says.
All up, they add to the bountiful legacy that Angela and Tim will hand over to new owners as they shift north to their holiday home at Matakana.