The renovation of this heritage home in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland's Herne Bay is a testament to the power of design and a unique client-architect relationship. Maggie Carroll of Bureaux and her client, Tim, share a long history, creating an instant trust that bypassed the typical getting-to-know-you phase in client-architect relationships. Tim's dream was always to work with Bureaux, and when he and his wife Paige acquired this 1906 villa, they reached out to Maggie to make it a reality. The project's remarkable design took a fortuitous twist when expansion plans were curtailed by heritage constraints. Instead of going up and out, they focused on creating exceptional spaces within the existing footprint. The team gutted the interior, reorganized the rooms, and transformed the central hallway, resulting in a stunning open living area with a unique marble wall. Key design moves ensured privacy in the bedrooms, and the house became a "jewel box" with tonal colours, rich textures, and meticulous detailing. The result was a complete and luxurious transformation without adding significant square footage, proving that smaller footprints can be just as effective with clever design. The project was not only awarded a Gold Pin in Residential Interior Architecture but also became a personal triumph, as Tim and Paige realized they loved their newly renovated home too much to leave, making it a great success story for Maggie and Bureaux.

Designer: Bureaux

Photographer: Samuel Hartnett