Remuera Villa

Brief: Modernize look and feel, maximize layout for better flow and more space, relocate the guest bathroom entrance from the kitchen area, better connect to outside areas and garden for entertaining.

I reconfigured the floorplan by changing existing rooms to improve flow and usage. A downstairs bedroom was changed into a lounge/TV room providing much needed additional living space. Knocking out part of the bedroom wall opened up what were cramped and awkward rooms allowing a more natural flow and creating a feeling of spaciousness.

The existing formal dining room was changed into an office area where deliveries and clients could enter the room via easy back access. A new hallway was created to relocate the new bathroom entrance.

The kitchen was reconfigured and extended to include a new conservatory that overlooked the new back garden courtyard. The downstairs basement did not get any natural light. Walls were taken out to make one large laundry room with lots of storage, the exterior wall removed and replaced with floor to ceiling glass doors flooding the area with natural sunlight.

To better connect to the outside gardens and create more entertaining spaces, the existing pool was removed and replaced with a verdant garden courtyard and the front garden redesigned into include outdoor seating. This allowed the entire property to be used for entertaining either in smaller separate spaces or in its entirety for larger groups of guests.

The final result was a light filled characterful villa with a contemporary feel, richly composed of layers of cream and neutrals with highlights of metallic for glamour and velvets and linens for softness. Sophisticated in its simplicity.