With respect to the past

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This colonial villa has been restored and improved, with some contemporary elements woven into the mix

View of a renovated kitchen with granite benchtops, cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, floor, flooring, hardwood, interior design, kitchen, real estate, room, wood flooring, gray, white — View of a renovated kitchen with granite benchtops, oak and stainless steel cabinetry, appliances, timber flooring, lighting.

View of this traditional lounge - View of ceiling, floor, flooring, hardwood, home, interior design, living room, room, wall, wood flooring, gray

View of this lounge with ceiling chandeliers & ceiling, dining room, home, interior design, living room, real estate, room, gray

The bedroom of this traditonal home - The bedroom, ceiling, curtain, floor, home, interior design, living room, property, real estate, room, suite, wall, window, window covering, window treatment, gray

View of the stairway after renovations - View ceiling, dining room, floor, hall, home, interior design, living room, real estate, room, stairs, wall, gray

Inner view of this kitchen features fireplace, cabinetry ceiling, countertop, cuisine classique, daylighting, interior design, kitchen, real estate, room, window, white, gray

View of a traditional dining area - View chair, dining room, furniture, home, interior design, kitchen & dining room table, living room, room, table, window, white, gray

Exterior view of this traditional home - Exterior architecture, cloud, daytime, estate, garden, home, house, landscape, property, real estate, residential area, sky, tree

Traditional bathroom before renovation - Traditional bathroom before bathroom, bathroom accessory, bathroom cabinet, floor, home, house, interior design, plumbing fixture, property, room, tile, toilet, toilet seat, wall, window, wood, gray

Interior view of this traditional lounge - Interior ceiling, estate, floor, flooring, hardwood, home, house, interior design, laminate flooring, living room, property, real estate, room, wall, wood flooring, white, orange

Interior view of bedroom - Interior view of bedroom, ceiling, door, floor, flooring, hardwood, home, house, interior design, living room, property, real estate, room, sash window, wall, window, window treatment, wood, gray

View of this unique stairway - View of door, floor, flooring, furniture, home, interior design, room, stairs, wall, white, brown

An important part of a period renovation is accentuating the charm of the original home. Even subtle changes can help emphasise past glories.

This turn-of-the-century villa renovation is by interior designer Vicki Whittle, in close partnership with architect Bruce Shadwick and owners Dawn and Chris Anderson. The project was substantial, with many period elements restored or replaced, and new rooms added for improved functionality and to bring out the original character.

"On the outside, a new double front door was added, filigree restored and an original dormer reinstated," Whittle says. "Interior work improved the flow of spaces, introduced a new kitchen and dining room and brought more natural light into the rooms."

Exterior view of this traditional home architecture, cloud, daytime, estate, garden, home, house, landscape, property, real estate, residential area, sky, tree — Exterior view of this traditional home

At the heart of the interior, a kitchen and dining area were swapped and a wall knocked down between the new kitchen space and an existing flat. Whittle says that removing the wall allowed them to claim the adjacent area for the kitchen and a new family room, and flooded the enlarged space with light from new external windows and doors.

A bulkhead was added in the kitchen to help disguise differences in ceiling heights and the modern pantry was built around an original brick flue. This was partly to retain a reference to the home's past in the new kitchen and also to enable ongoing use of the fireplace in the living room, on the other side of the wall.

"Another area of focus was the stairwell," says Whittle. "This was raised and rebuilt on the central landing to free up ceiling space for the kitchen and to help reconcile the ceiling levels. We increased the size of the entrance to the attic and added a window."

View of a traditional dining area chair, dining room, furniture, home, interior design, kitchen & dining room table, living room, room, table, window, white, gray — View of a traditional dining area

The residence's master suite was also revamped, and an adjacent sunroom was transformed into the master bathroom. The old bathroom became a walk-in wardrobe.

"Where possible, existing details, such as the living room ceiling battens, were restored, and windows added to bring more light into the interiors," Whittle says. "As a result, the refit celebrates the original atmosphere of the house. Even though the kitchen is almost entirely new, the colours help draw everything together."

Story by: Trendsideas

27 May, 2010

Renovation

Trendsideas

Home kitchen bathroom commercial design

Home Trends Vol. 26/7

NZ2607