HERNE BAY ROAD HOUSE

Opportunities were taken to retain the heritage fabric of this handsome villa in Herne Bay, Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland, and work within the existing footprint. Every surface touched has been crafted and textured, from the restored timber floors to the twin motifs of panelled timber and luxurious stone used throughout.

Reworking the floorplan to suit contemporary family life involved rethinking the bedroom and bathroom access by removing the traditional central axis. Concealed by a cavity slider on one side, two of the bedrooms now share an ensuite-esque bathroom, to enhance privacy and create a retreat-like ambience. The main bedroom access slips past the fireplace in the living room. As such, the home becomes less reliant on the hallway; which instead becomes a lobby that feeds into the main living area.

The kitchen provides two elegant solutions to compact living: the island — a curved plinth for food preparation and casual dining — and the stone slab that extends from floor to ceiling, which serves a practical role in the neat separation of space, with one rear niche accommodating a scullery and the other the laundry. >