A damp basement and a dangerous staircase aren’t music to a homeowner’s ears. And Emily White and husband David McKellar were mightily glad to say goodbye to both when they renovated their house in Belmont, Auckland. “The reason we decided to renovate was to replace the spiral staircase with a normal one, as we had all taken a tumble down it,” Emily says. “We got a bit carried away with the rest!”
1| BACKGROUND
Their bungalow, built-in 1925, was moved onto the site from the outskirts of Auckland in the 1960s. Emily and David bought it in 2012 and almost immediately noticed water dripping through the ceiling. However, a new roof and a fresh coat of exterior paint wasn’t the end of their problems – a retaining wall collapsed and there was the ongoing issue of the awkward spiral staircase in the middle of the house. “It was a death-trap,” Emily says.
In 2016, Emily’s father, Ron, who’s keen on restoring houses, came to stay from the UK. “When he saw our house, he got stuck into it,” Emily says. He drew up plans, detailing how they could make their home better suit their needs. The couple then sent the drawing to an architect to refine.
2| A CASE FOR CHANGE
The first major change the pair’s builder, Guy Davis, made was to remove the dodgy staircase and install a pine one. “The original was cast iron so it was tricky to get out,” Guy says. “We maximized the width of the new one and ensured there was a larger landing at the bottom.”
To improve the sense of flow throughout the home, several internal walls dividing the upstairs living areas were removed. “We wanted open-plan living and didn’t have it before the renovation,” Emily says.
3| FROM DARK TO LIGHT
Denne historien er fra March 2020-utgaven av Your Home and Garden.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra March 2020-utgaven av Your Home and Garden.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Baby, it's cold outside
How to embrace winter mornings
THE HIGH NOTE
Opera costume and set designer Tracy Grant Lord is setting the scene for her best show yet
Wintering OVER
The 10 best things you can do for your garden and plants this winter
A fresh change
A couple move cities to embrace a new lease of life, not just for themselves but for a 1920s home as well
SAVING GRACE
Keen to care for the planet, a savvy designer revamped a harbourside home destined for demo with a light touch - no bulldozers required
A triumph of COLOUR
This year's Resene Colour Home Awards winner couldn't fit in with their neighbours so they went all out instead
Bowl me over
Nothing is more comforting than a hearty soup on a chilly day, especially when you add next-level accompaniments.
Scents of place
A peek at Auckland designer Kristine Crabb’s tropical paradise
In the FRAME
Using Resene wallpapers or murals as a framed print is a fantastic way to add drama
Second time AROUND
A stylish renovation, 10 years after the first one, has transformed this bungalow into an open-plan oasis