Martinborough Renovation

Set among the vineyards of Martinborough's Golden Mile, Waitohu Lodge is a two-storey Edwardian homestead with a remarkable history. It was built in Lyall Bay around the turn of the twentieth century, relocated to Martinborough in 1999 and carefully restored. In 2022, its current owners bought the property sight unseen while living overseas, then set out to renovate it so the house would work better for modern life. Working with Aspect Architecture, Scotty's Construction was briefed to update the home while retaining the character and presence of the original Edwardian architecture. An outdoor bathroom was brought inside the house, and a new boot room was added at the rear. The former commercial kitchen became a laundry, and a sheltered, sunny indoor-outdoor entertaining area now opens the home to its vineyard setting. Renovating a character home means balancing what makes the original property distinctive against the changes needed for contemporary living. In a house with as much history as Waitohu Lodge, new work has to feel considered rather than compete with the existing architecture. The completed renovation gives this grand Martinborough homestead a more practical layout and a stronger connection to its outdoor spaces, while keeping the character that has defined it for more than a century.