GREAT INDOORS

A carefully thought-out renovation has created a striking kitchen and living area, writes DONNA FLEMING

MOUNT EDEN

28 Elizabeth Street

From the outside it looks like many of the other classic villas in this Mt Eden street. But inside, a stunning renovation has brought a contemporary twist, along the way creating a wonderful living space with a kitchen to die for.

The villa was in good condition when Natalie Watson and Quinn Simpson bought it 11 years ago. But the layout didn’t work for the pair.

The kitchen was in a small extension at the back of the house, the dining room was huge with wasted space, and the bathroom was a long way from the bedrooms. “We knew we wanted to do a renovation but we didn’t rush into it,” says Natalie.

They spent seven years figuring out how to transform the house and saving the money to do it. The work was eventually done four years ago.

The rooms at the front of the house were re-configured and the large dining room divided up to create a family bathroom, and an en suite and walk-in wardrobe for the master bedroom.

The piece-de-resistance is the large atrium-style extension at the rear of the house that houses the living room, dining room and kitchen. The high sloping ceilings make this room feel spacious and airy, and plenty of light pours in through a wall of sliding glass doors and skylights.

When it came to the kitchen, Natalie and Quinn hired designer Suzanne Allen to create a gourmet kitchen with a “cafe´ vibe”.

The kitchen features a huge island with a corian worktop and bar space for casual dining, a long stainless steel bench with a “coffee station” at one end and top quality appliances. Then there is the separate scullery — it’s the size of many kitchens and includes wine storage, plus a large separate laundry with even more storage.

Outside, a heated swimming pool was put in two years ago when the neighbours, who were having their own pool installed, suggested the timing might be right for Natalie and Quinn to get the digger into their back garden. “So now we have a pool, and although I am not a big swimmer, it’s just lovely to look at.”

The home has lots of features that are high-tech, including a water filtering system, network cabling and the central heating.

“But it’s not a big flash house,” says Natalie. “It’s very comfortable, it’s got a lovely feel, and it is a pleasure to live in.” Auction: November 21 Contact: Cheryl Crane, Bayleys, 021 444 149