Transformer
THERE’S A new jewel in the crown of Oriental Bay.
The three-bed room, four-bathroom villa, at 322 Oriental Pde, dates to the early 1900s but has been spectacularly renovated to exceed The Building Code on a narrow site with a large garage, internal lift and one of the best views in the bay.
Having saved it from demolition, international interior designer Neil McLachlan, of TVs Changing Rooms and Hot Property, has spent the past two years transforming and extending it to create a peerless waterfront lifestyle.
‘‘It originally was going to be bowled and turned into apartments but instead has been entirely rebuilt with a new massive steel framework,’’ says Anji Foster, of Lowe & Co Realty, who’s marketing the three-storey weatherboard-and-aluminium roof dwelling with Amy Allen.
‘‘So it’s virtually a new home.’’ Award-winning seismic engineers designed a new bracing system to exceed current earthquake and wind load requirements in Wellington.
Catherine Ellen Architecture + Design assisted Neil with the plans and the house was extended to about 257 square metres.
A fourth level was built to accommodate a main bedroom suite, the exterior walls were reclad, gas radiator heaters installed, double-glazing fitted and character finishes added, including plaster ceiling roses, ornate plaster scotia and solid timber balustrades.
The breathtaking, strongly contrasting, open-plan interior of the first level above the garage and wine cellar combines stained original floorboards, ceilingmounted speakers and a high stud with a westfacing lounge that opens to the first of four decks and an eastfacing media room that opens to a large, private courtyard. In-between are a dining area off the tiled entertainers’ kitchen, which has predominantly Bosch appliances, a bathroom (wet shower, vanity, toilet) and the first of two laundries.
Two more bedrooms and luxurious bathrooms are on the second level. One bedroom opens to a harbour-facing deck, the other to a private deck that looks out to greenery.
The bathrooms are similarly specified, with one including a built-in bath.
The main bedroom suite occupies the top floor. It has an ensuite, dressing room with fitted storage, powder area, hideaway second laundry and a large deck off the bedroom.
‘‘Neil wanted to save this beautiful part of the bay’s heritage and create a new icon that’s without equal for the quality of its renovation, restoration and security,’’ Foster says.
‘‘It’s low-maintenance and offers all the amazing style and comfort of sophisticated apartment living while being a self-contained home with no body corporate fees.’’
The property has a deadline sale date of December 19.