Renovations

Taking a double height slice out of the existing home allowed for a light, open, more approachable interior for this comprehensive makeover

This grand home has been subtly transformed. The reworked formal lounge is one of the most elegant spaces – now with great through flow.

'Don't touch the interior!' ran the rally cry for this renovation where the aesthetic and function of the home's exterior has been fundamentally reconsidered

This new home contributes to a rejuvenation – or renovation – of the neighbourhood. The street facade is in tune with the existing urban narrative yet the home opens up at the back, offering all the advantages of a relaxed, open-to-the-outdoors residential dwelling

A link between past and present, this renovation and extension is a testament to the owner couple’s dedication to honour the architectural heritage of a quaint cottage by giving it a second life

How does a celebrated architect go about creating his own perfect Manhattan apartment? Alexander Gorlin, of Alexander Gorlin Architects, recognises the good bones of a dated apartment and then brings out its best

Creative connections. This rear outdoor rooms morphs into the open pergola, while the beautiful wood floors are echoed on the soffit ceiling

Everything in this light, space bringing renovation was bespoke, from the chairs through to the kitchen and stairs. 

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Evoking the beauty of natural travertine, with prominent veining, the tactile Stream tile from Casa Italiana is available in Silver and Bone

This renovation makes most of a limited space, with the resulting three pavillion home a picture of contemporary, economical design and filtered natural light

This restoration involved a cluster of Cape buildings in a valley beneath the Swartberg mountain range, consisting of a main house and two barns, plus a store. 

This renovation and expansion expands on the original home's functionality while better aligning the home with neighbouring properties. Part of this was creating a new façade that skirts around a mature tree

Subject to a major makeover, this home is painted in the colours of a nearby forest. Much has been redesigned with only a central supporting wall and stair left on the ground floor

With the original home stripped back and three new wings added, this renovation optimises natural light and spaciousness while opening up to the beautiful verdant bush surrounds 

This dramatic home has been transformed by design duo Cortney & Robert Novogratz – collectively The Novogratz. Here they also share some effective interior design shortcuts that informed the project

In uncertain times it makes sense to optimise assets. Here's how one couple subdivided their home to rent out one area and live in the other

The ground (and grandest) level in this historic townhouse has been transformed – turning the previously cramped and partitioned space into a free-flowing living-and-dining area

This home's coach house origins are retained mainly in the form of ruby brick courtyards. The reinvented interiors are a mix of 1960s-meets-contemporary elements. The outcome is a charming home that successfully blends old and new  

So you live next to the sea, but why not get closer? This renovation facilitates open connections to the water and also celebrates hand made

A three-storey extension is added to a compact Anglo-Italianate townhouse, expanding the living spaces and creating a restful, elegant place to come home to

Pantone has revealed its Colour of the Year, and it may not be quite what you expected. 

Kiwis are looking to spend on renovations. That’s according to Independent Economist Tony Alexander’s November 2020 Spending Patterns Survey, which shows more than 30% of respondents are looking to spend more on sprucing up their homes. This isn’t a one off. It’s been a notable trend in the monthly data post-COVID-19

Babe Ruth once walked the floors of this apartment but it's unlikely he would recognise it now. A transformative interior design interwoven with exotic wall treatments and artworks has given this riverside eyrie a rich, opulent air

Take a classic log cabin and add a contemporary addition – on top! See how the architects approached this tricky renovation move. The outcome speaks for itself

Along with a new guest house, this home has been comprehensively reinvented with only accents and the original floor slab retained. The new home boasts space, light and a character all its own

Part of a major renovation and extension, floor-to-ceiling sliders open the main living areas up to this rear deck which is sheltered from the street by the carport. Feathered slats on the carport soften its form and admit natural light while a pergola roof defines the deck area

Sitting behind this former shopfront facade is a new three-storey addition that prioritises sustainability and natural light 

A three storey addition and dramatic rear garden architectural spaces all work well together in this far-sighted and sustainable project

A classic sandstone cottage is opened up at the rear with a complementary yet contrasting extension in this light-bringing, sustainable renovation by Sanctum Design

This renovation could have lacked natural light. However with a roof section removed and a skylight in its place, the home takes on a light-filled air

Continuing the tradition of refurbishment of Auckland’s heritage housing stock, this renovation is a re-interpretation of the ‘lean-to’ form. Traditionally used as service spaces, the ‘lean-to’ here is re-cast as living space, opening the house up to the north facing backyard

Not-so-little moves like appropriating and demolishing the next door house along with tucking another floor in under the existing roofline, were just two aspects of this makeover which has brought a grand-looking manor house back into its rightful glory. Another design move has future-proofed the house well into the future

A large circular mirror ties in with the rounded stone basins as well as other fittings in this renovated bathroom

The owners of this townhouse contacted Montreal architect Guillaume Lévesque for a unique renovation project. They wanted to transform an old 1880s duplex into a multi-unit and harmonise the original style of the building with a decidedly contemporary and uncluttered addition.

In a home renovation with plenty of timber finishes – the floor included – a little more has crept into this white kitchen's cutlery drawer. 

Opening the interiors up like a doll's house, this renovation and addition has transformed the owner's lifestyle, not least in terms of indoor-outdoor flow. The dramatic floor-to-ceiling bi-folds that make this possible are drawn to one side, out of sight. 

Same space, better flow 

Renovating for improved flow and modern functionality will destroy the delicate heritage of my home, right? Not if a professional designer like Donna Hunter becomes involved, as was the case with this fisherman's cottage renovation.

Internal glazing at the entrance to this bedroom means that natural light can spill into the adjacent corridor. A curtain can be pulled across when privacy is required in the bedroom

Hidden behind the original facade of a former shop is a beautifully considered family home. Discover how it manages to make a dramatic statement while treading lightly on the land

Here, we take a look at some of the things to keep in mind when beginning a home renovation

The renovation of this classic Victorian home celebrates heritage style and modern living with a beautifully refined palette and expansive extension out the back

Classic design meets a modern monochrome palette in this townhouse. See how a major renovation and custom-made furniture have created a home with timeless style

Featuring a carefully chosen colour palette, arched window frames and patterned brickwork, this home's new extension opens the interior up to the back garden in an architectural way 

This mid-century brick cottage has been transformed. Discover how the lofty lounge and kitchen space was created by removing the floor above

This sleek bathroom by LSA Architects feels bigger than it is and a long vanity plays a part in that. Find out other aspects of this 'super-size me' renovation story

How do you deal with privacy issues when your home is on a busy street? Fibreglass screens are the solution for the two large new windows on the second floor of this renovated inner-city home

Following on from an upstairs rethink, this renovation opens up the ground floor of the home front-to-back with a deft reworking of the existing rear spaces

This home came out tops as our most popular renovation story of 2020. Step inside to see why. 

Ruby red brick and oh so pretty but if the ceilings are low and outdoor links limited then a solution is called for. Who would have thought removing a floor could add so much more?

Tasmanian oak floors run right through this renovated home, blending in with the original sandstone cladding and contrasting the new black joinery

An 1850s heritage sandstone coach-house is given a 21st century makeover that highlights its rugged origins

This architectural home with its over-aching roof forms and see-through heart is the result of a comprehensive renovation and extension – hard to believe the residence had its origins in the 1970s

For this bathroom and matching ensuite, antique penny rounds in the showers, artistic swirls on the Corian vanities and the choice of rose gold fixtures all combine to elegant, matching effect

Natural, textured materials give this renovated kitchen a strong connection not only to its wooded outlook but also to the rest of the home

A dramatic cladding rethink and manipulation of internal spaces, including raised ceilings, has brought this home a more contemporary sensibility

A complete refurbishment turned a small, unhealthy building into a functional family home

After living in their apartment for over a decade, this family of four decided it was time to renovate. The result is a practical home that uses colour to create separate yet connected spaces

Looks can be deceiving – that's definitely the case here. Hiding behind this historic villa's traditional facade is a much more modern home, thanks to its contemporary extension

This home renovation emphasises natural materials and sustainability with the wrap-around living area feature in recycled wood left over from the upgrade

After years of muddled renovations and ad hoc alterations, Bijl Architecture stepped in to overhaul this inter-war cottage

The villa is a timeless New Zealand style that, when renovated, can look every bit as good as the day it was built

During this renovation, the designers decided to retain most of the charming Victorian cottage and add modern functionality

One highlight of this renovation was transforming the many small rooms into larger, light-filled spaces. Plus, as well as having a tree at its heart, the home is a zero-energy building

This cottage was transformed into a modern beach house with a sophisticated interplay of natural materials and considered volumetric arrangement

What started as a simple renovation of a workers cottage turned into a substantial, multi-year project. The results are impressive

On a compact suburb site, this extension to a 1920’s bungalow seeks to provide new north-facing living space and a master 'retreat' area to a landscaped courtyard.

In this major renovation project, a narrow single storey addition sitting at right angles to the existing home, terminates in a large window framing the view of the pool and garden beyond

Creating a sense of space within a small footprint became the central challenge for the architects behind this project

Refinished, repainted and with existing architectural detailing expanded upon, this renovation celebrates the past while accommodating a modern lifestyle

Contemporary extension to traditional Californian bungalow in major renovation project provides large open-plan family living area, lap pool

It started out as a tired stone house and a number of outbuildings – but extensive renovation and additions has turned it into a character home that stays true to the original farmhouse style  

This indoor-outdoor entertaining space meets pool house features a semi-industrial palette and a rooftop terrace, while the new pool alongside has an eye-catching feature of its own

Around the corner from London's Hyde Park, two upmarket townhouse front doors open to a combined, transformed lux interior 

The interior design brief for this villa makeover was for modern spaces while maintaining refined character villa details and finishes for a warm, sophisticated and luxurious feel. The reinvented bathroom, kitchen and living space have all been transformed

A new home by the lake makes a statement but it is the interiors that really respond to the views – the dramatic great room in particular

Will working from home become the norm? If so, commercial addresses may well become more appealing as private residences. This transformative makeover provides inspiration

A major renovation project is not just a chance to replace a dated decor scheme – even more important is the opportunity to right the wrongs of the original space planning and circulation pathways

This white and wood kitchen in a new light-filled extension to a 1920s cottage melds into the wider colour palette, while standing out in terms of texture