Guarantee of a warm welcome

A bright orange front door makes this renovated villa stand out from its neighbours, writes Penny Lewis

The bright orange front door at 30 Summer St has earned compliments for Rhona and Martin Clark. “We get so many people commenting on it,” says Rhona, who chose a bright colour to “set our villa apart — and the orange complements our stained- glass windows”. The decorative security grille Rhona had specially made for the entranceway has also been a hit. The grille allows the couple to keep their front door open and let fresh air into the house. Its design was inspired by the work of Glaswegian artist and architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh, appropriate since Canadian Rhona and Martin met in Scotland.

Martin says there’s a lot about Ponsonby that reminds him of his hometown of Corstorphine, a suburb 10 minutes’ drive west of central Edinburgh. “There’s such a good community feel here,” he says. “And the local shops have that sense of community, too — there are something like three bakeries and even two fairy shops.”

It’s fair to say Martin and Rhona were more interested in bars, restaurants and shops on the Ponsonby Rd strip, rather than fairy shops, when they first moved to Summer St seven years ago, but the arrival of 19- month- old Cora has put fairies on their radar. The couple both love Ponsonby and were thrilled to buy this, their first house in New Zealand, after renting in various Auckland suburbs when they emigrated from Scotland a decade ago.

They lived in the house for a couple of years before making any changes. “It’s good to live in a house for a little while to figure out the quirky things that grow on you,” Rhona says.

4

30 SUMMER ST PONSONBY SIZE: PRICE GUIDE: AUCTION: INSPECT: SCHOOLS: CONTACT: ON THE WEB: * 2 OSP.

3