Our clients home located in Jackson Street, Petone; a mix of bungalows and 1950’s homes, the area is slowly being rejuvenated. Their home is a working man’s bungalow, with plain exterior features, the existing family home was disconnected from the street, with an entry coming in through the west side, through a verandah, that had been closed off. The clients wished to reconfigure the entry, add in an ensuite, new kitchen, guest suite, office and main bathroom. The home was to be extended at the same floor level height. The living and dining were separated by a large brick fireplace, utilised as a room divider. The kitchen was built within a lean-to, with one of the bedrooms being internal, window opening into the kitchen. Although we talked about having a strong overlay of traditional style, we also wanted to create a modern family home.

With a blend of traditional and contemporary elements, we have created an open plan, sunlit, energising family home. Building the new extension and guest suite on a concrete pad, the footprint is increased, but has lowered the sense of scale to the rear. Creating a well utilised, sun-soaked and private courtyard, with the indoor-outdoor flow. The Architectural fabric and integrity of the original character remains but embraces flexible, modern open plan living.

Creative Solutions
A front verandah and a new bay window designed, replicating a neighbours bay. The existing house towered about the backyard, we built the new extension and guest suite on a concrete pad. This increases the size of the home but lowers the sense of scale. We chose materials such as weatherboards, metal roofing, timber flooring and grooved panelling, in reference to the bungalow roots, however, the new kitchen adds drama with a traditional style with a contemporary twist. Large bi-folding doors open out onto the sun-soaked private courtyard, allowing indoor-outdoor flow. The main bathroom and ensuite, designed to be reminiscent of the era, with tiling details and materials selected. The old entry was closed off to create a new ensuite bathroom, with a large shower and feature tiling. The internal bedroom has a new skylight and the old interior window closed off. The old brick fireplace room divider was removed, opening up the dining room and existing living room. Large contemporary barn doors close of the spaces for privacy and conceal internal steps down to the sun-soaked kitchen. We reused all but one of the windows, renovated the leadlights, renovated the existing timber floors and installed new timber floors to match. We retained and strengthened the old brick wall to the demolished garage to utilise as a fence, even the old french doors were reused in the new shed. The Architectural fabric and integrity of the original character remains but embraces flexible, modern open plan living.

Project Team Credits:
• Architecture – Robyn De La Haye from Essence Design, décor by Clients
• Structural Engineer – Seajay Consulting
• Builder – Made Construction
• Photographer – Asset Imagery