In the round, out of the box
A fresh eye up for a challenge has brought new life to a Remuera townhouse, writes Graham Hepburn
Having lived in and renovated a Parnell warehouse, Kelly Galbraith was looking for another project. “I like things that are outside the box; that challenge your thinking,” she says She found exactly that last year when she bought a Neville Price- designed townhouse, one of a group of three on Remuera’s northern slopes.
Designed by the architect in the 1970s, the townhouses feature a series of circles with spiral staircases set in light wells. Curved, plastered walls give the homes an organic look.
“The architecture won me over,” says Kelly. “As soon as I walked in I knew I was going to have a good go at it. The spiral staircase was one of my favourite features.”
With the help of her retired engineer father Murray, she has freshened up the townhouse and highlighted its architectural flourishes.
“We put a lot of thought into what we were doing,” Kelly says. “We haven’t changed the layout. We have upgraded and modernised everything but kept the intrinsic features of the property.”
Kelly’s townhouse is the end one of the three with a garden wrapping around it. She had the metal security gate specially made with a cut- out design that mimics the motif on the downstairs bathroom window, which also faces the driveway.
The gate opens into a small courtyard with a path curving to the front door from where you can either move through to the bedrooms or head up the spiral staircase.
Kelly has refurbished the two bathrooms, which are downstairs, with new tiles and sanitary ware including a standalone bath in the main bathroom. The bedrooms open to the balcony running along the northern side of the home via dutch doors ( or stable doors) — one of the home’s many quirky features.
The curves of the master bedroom bring you around and into the en suite at one end.
LED lights on the treads of the spiral staircase are one of the examples of how Kelly has gone to great lengths to highlight the architecture of the home. She also had the textured wall of the light well restored. Its elegant stainless steel handrail guides you to the top floor, where the dining room and lounge open to another north- facing balcony with sea views.
On this level there is also an office behind double glass doors that opens to a curved balcony overlooking the front entrance.
“I wanted to make the office a statement room so I bought the Florence Broadhurst wallpaper,” says Kelly.
The geometric wallpaper contrasts nicely with the warm tones of the built- in timber cabinetry, which follows the curve of the wall.
Another curvy built- in cabinet, perfect for cocktails, sits in the lounge, which has strip lighting
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highlighting the negative detail in the rounded ceiling and a gas fireplace with original copper surround.
“These circular rooms are really easy to furnish and really usable,” says Kelly. “And they’re great for when you have people around.”
A gleaming kitchen with marble island bench sits between the dining room and lounge.
“I put the mirror the splashback in here to give it the illusion of more space,” says Kelly.
There is also a large basement room with plywood flooring that could be used as a workshop/ studio or for storage. Now, Kelly is on the hunt for her next project. “I hope someone loves the architecture as much as I do,” she says. “I’m really proud of what we have achieved here. Whoever buys it can just move in and enjoy it.”