An Auckland villa renovation that welcomes the outside in.

A design partnership develops over time with this well-considered renovation

More than a decade ago, when Kerry and Leanne Brew were toying with the idea of a return home from their base in London, a quick recce of a Mt Eden villa that wasn’t even on the market yet convinced them to pack up and make the move with their two sons Oliver, then seven, and Samuel, five. “We came through the garden and the wisteria was out. It just had a lovely feeling about it,” says Leanne. Unlike the many “business in the front, party in the back” villa renovations in Auckland that have modern rear extensions, the previous owners had done the opposite. The original house was tiny and built in the middle of the section, so they had extended it forward. A second storey had been added and the facade was meticulously built to match the original villa style.

The first task for the Brews was to landscape the garden and add an outdoor fireplace, which they light year-round. “One of the things I like about the house is that the outside comes in a bit,” says Leanne. “I grew up on a farm so I like the feeling of space. With our big magnolia tree out the back and everything so green, you don’t feel like you’re in the city.”

While the couple have made no structural changes, during the past six years they have tweaked the interiors to cater for the family’s changing needs. With them on their journey has been interior designer Yvette Jay.

Yvette first met Kerry and Leanne when the builder working on their bathroom renovation suggested she help with the hardware finishes. Yvette went on to help with several more projects for the couple, culminating in a full kitchen renovation using some of the leftover marble from the bathrooms as a splashback – even though there was a four-year gap. “It’s been a really lovely project and it’s probably better for the amount of time involved,” says Yvette.

Next up was the interior colours scheme. The existing colours were quite moody, which Kerry and Leanne had begun to find a bit oppressive, so Yvette simplified matters by choosing one elegant colour throughout the whole house, Resene Albescent White. “I describe it as Valium in a can because of the calming effect it has,” says Yvette. “It’s just light and uplifting.” She finished it off with new pendant lights from ECC to brighten the hallway and dove grey linen drapery

with an ombre effect grazing the floors in both the lounge and the couple’s bedroom. “We worked with the fact that it was a beautiful, elegant villa. Nothing needed to be loud,” says Yvette.

Leanne says it’s a relationship that has helped keep her on track. “I’m not the kind of person who likes to go out and look at too many options. I get overwhelmed and confused. Yvette brings us three different scenarios to choose from. We trust her judgment.”

She has also helped Leanne, a pilates instructor who has run her business from home for the past five years, to set up a dedicated studio. Kerry, an investment banker, also keeps a home office. And then there are the boys. Samuel, now 16, still lives in his bedroom in the top storey of the house and holds drum practice in the basement home theatre – complete with a grandstand that Kerry found on Trade Me that can seat 25 when the rugby’s on. Oliver comes home during university holidays.

During the kitchen renovation, the formal dining area was moved into the same room and replaced with a lounge. Says Leanne: “When we first moved into

the house I had a formal dining area in the room next door and a smaller dining table in the kitchen along with a lounge, which worked well when the boys were younger. Teenage boys don’t spend so much time downstairs – they’re either upstairs in their bedrooms or out.”

Leanne wanted a light but not white kitchen, so Yvette added two skylights, moved the sink from the island and extended the island to seat four instead of two. She choose pale grey for the floor to ceiling cabinets.

“Now we have friends over for dinner more and I prefer this set-up to the formal dining room,” says Leanne. “If we’re having a barbecue it works really well with the outdoor area.” With renovations complete, for now, the couple can look back and congratulate themselves on their quick decision to buy the house in the first place.

‘WITH EVERYTHING SO GREEN YOU DON’T FEEL LIKE YOU’RE IN THE CITY’

THIS PAGE The diamond patterned rug, custom-made by Designer Rugs, contrasts with the lines of the Array coffee table from Cult; the Puku ottoman and vase are also from Cult and the Bone bowl is from Simon James. OPPOSITE An earlier renovation saw a new facade meticulously built in the villa style; the wisteria helped convince Kerry and Leanne Brew to buy the house.

THIS PAGE The former dining room is now a sitting area with luxe sofas, an Eames chair and a custom-made wool rug from Designer Rugs. OPPOSITE Leanne sits on an antique armchair in the company of Basil, the family’s border collie.

ABOVE The space opposite the kitchen is now for dining of all styles, casual and formal. OPPOSITE (from top) A sideboard in the new sitting area bears a Simon James vase and a Louis Poulsen AJ table lamp and glass canisters from Cult. Leanne sits on a HAY barstool from Cult; a post in the middle of the kitchen that couldn’t be removed was given an additional purpose with a Flos IC2 light from ECC.

THIS PAGE The master bedroom is an exercise in casual elegance and tranquility with curtains and blinds, bedding, and a custom-made bedhead finished in neutral linens: “The views of the garden though the windows in this room are really lovely and I didn’t want to detract from this,” says designer Yvette Jay; the Tom Dixon Fade pendant is from ECC and the Swan chair is a 60th anniversary edition in blush-coloured leather. OPPOSITE (clockwise from top left) The bathroom cabinetry is in American oak veneer and the Calacatta Vagli Oro marble was also used in the kitchen; the Hamam towels are from Atelier Textiles and the bath is from Spazio Casa. The period-perfect front door looks like it’s been there forever. A large Karl Maughan painting hangs in the entrance hall; the rug is by Designer Rugs and the Flos Glo Ball pendants are from ECC.

THIS PAGE This outdoor living area was the first part of the house to be renovated by the Brews; the Louisiana basket lanterns are from Alfresco Inexterior Living, the Brew Cafetiere is from Simon James and the cups and saucers are from Cult. OPPOSITE The green back garden makes the property feel like a sanctuary in the city, says Leanne.