Expect the unexpected

Passersby would never guess what lies beyond this home’s stately porch.

Business-as-usual in the front and party-ready in the back, there’s more to this villa than anyone would suppose from the street. Thanks to a thoughtful renovation driven by the finest design details, it gently embraces the best of both while catering impeccably to its inhabitants’ interests.

Looking pretty passé after an update in the early 2000s, the circa 1910 Ponsonby villa wasn’t Amber Coulter and Andrew Lewis’s dream home when they discovered it, but they signed up knowing one day they’d make it ‘them’. Eight years after moving in, they moved out into a rental across the road, ready to roll with a reno.

Along with builders Crate, cabinetmaker Cameron Grey and landscape designer Andy Hamilton Studio, Jose Gutierrez (who’d previously designed two award-winning office fit-outs for their insight agency TRA) was their go-to collaborator, leading the architectural design. “Jose is an old friend of ours and although they say never to work with friends, children or animals, it suits us!” says Amber. “There’s mutual trust and respect from day one and we have lots of fun.”

The overall vision was to create something beautiful from a design point of view that championed flexible, maximised spaces and enduring materials. This saw the home almost

“Although they say never to work with friends, children or animals, it suits us!”

ABOVE The design and elevation of the home’s frontage remains completely unchanged (the only additions to this area being an off-street carpark and concrete staircase); it’s painted in muted grey Resene Stack, with Resene White highlighting the intricate villa detailing. Amber says she and Andrew love the playfulness of this light-dark contrast between front and back. PREVIOUS PAGE Landscape with Figure Reflecting on the Confines of Space by Alan Ibel from Sanderson Contemporary catches the light in the living area.

EXTERIOR The extension’s dark shell (in Resene CoolColour Black) is alleviated by the lightness of the interior materials (including American oak, custom-stained veneer by Cameron Grey, anodised aluminium joinery and steel) and predominantly concrete outdoor elements.

LIVING The interior colour palette sees a grey base warmed with oak, sage and lilac accents. “We made the decision to replace pretty much all of our existing furniture in one go, so the renovation had a fresh and integrated look and feel,” says Amber of her decorating strategy. “Jose designed much of the cabinetry and we also chose pieces from BoConcept, ECC, Homage and Simon James.” Some of the other items seen here include cushions from Città, an IC F1 floor lamp by Flos, vintage ceramics from Babelogue, a pedestal bowl by Rachel Carter, and vessels and objects by Monmouth Glass Studio.