A repolished gem

Renovation by Angelique Armstrong, Armstrong Interiors

From the designer:

An earthquake damaged 70s gem required complete renovation.

The brief was to retain as much 70’s materials and design as possible to keep the home’s modern mid-century character while bringing it up to modern day living and meeting council regulations.

Set amongst an oasis of native bush with towering gum trees, the home commands a presence on the site on which it was built.

The home’s floorplan is an H shape with the living spaces at one end of the house and a corridor leading though to the bedrooms at the other end.

This well considered design utilises the land in every aspect.

On one side of the home there is a lush green canopy of native plants and a large cherry blossom tree that cascades down a layered garden to a stream.

Dark cedar cladding and a kwila deck nestle into nature, offering a private secluded setting to retreat into.

The cladding includes original 70s textured bricks that butt up to dark window frames and rimu soffits.

On the opposite side of the home, the formal courtyard creates a Yin and Yang feeling, with large scale, fully glazed doors and windows that open out on both sides of the home.

A unique feature of the home is the four meter high central cone-shaped brick wall that sits in prominent position – seen from inside and outside the home.

Angelique Armstrong’s eye for detail and appreciation for art and history made this Mid-century home instantly appealing.

“I could see the potential immediately which was exciting, but the home also required a lot of foundation work after the Christchurch earthquake.

“I knew this home would need experienced tradespeople to bring it back to not only its former glory, but also to our current building standards.

A bedroom at one end of the home cantilevers out into the native garden.

The structural support for this room required the slopping section underneath to be dug away and reinforced.

A home gym then replaced the existing cellar underneath the bedroom.

Partial areas clad in brick were replaced with new timber cladding, and the bricks were reused to create feature walls to the entrance way of the home.

All materials were reused wherever possible.

The original wooden louver doors in the bathroom, wooden beams and the wooden rimu ceiling have all been retained.

Subtle textured wallpapers in the master bedroom and dining area feel in-keeping.

The house is warm and light, with a palette of elegant, muted tones.

The internal rearrangement of the living areas and kitchen complement the existing three bedrooms and take full advantage of the northerly aspect and elevated position of the house on this sloping site.

The outcome is a fully updated home, suitable for the changing demands of a contemporary family lifestyle.

It maintains a comfortable and lived-in ambience and pays homage to the best aspects of the original design.

Designed by: Angelique Armstrong, Armstrong Interiors

Story by: Trendsideas

Photography by: Hazel Redmond and Mick Stephenson