THE NEW WORLD
Tyrone Le Roux is well known for taking apart heritage villas and putting them back together again, but in this case Auckland Council heritage rules required him to do a few things differently.
No problem with taking apart the villa’s original chimney, they told him, but it had to be replaced by a nonworking replica.
The result is a chimney that is purely for show, unlike everything else in this reworked four-storey family home, which balances good looks and functionality, heritage features and replica additions as well as original scale and complementary proportions.
The front door and its letterbox slot is original, as is the 3.3m stud height in the front of the house. The 2.3m-high solid interior doors are new, so too the skirting boards, wall mouldings and sliding doors into the second lounge.
As with many renovated villas, the end of the hallway defines the extent of the original dwelling, and that was the case when Tyrone bought this property two years ago.
To create a bigger house, he had the back of the property excavated. Architect John Irving penned the multi-storey rear addition and the open plan living area that extends to the
“The result is a chimney that is purely for show, unlike everything else in this four-storey family home.”
courtyard and beyond to the pool.
New open-tread oak stairs rise up through the centre of the house from the basement garage/laundry. They take in the main living area and front bedrooms, the upstairs master suite/study and the attic-level bedroom/en suite.
A standout feature is the pyramid-shaped shower glass in the master en suite, one of Tyrone’s bespoke choices in a home that features textured tiles, marble and brushed brass tapware.
The island bench in the kitchen makes a statement in Carrara marble, as a contrast to the black perimeter cabinetry and the glass splashback.
In the lounge, there is subtle contrast in the textured plaster wall above the fireplace which hides the workings for an optional television set
“This 350sq m residence is a masterclass in sublime living,” says Blair Haddow from Bayleys. Auction: December 12 Contact: Blair Haddow, Bayleys, 021 544 555