A beautiful restoration heralds a new chapter for this 1930s Christchurch villa

The main living spaces were clustered along the trajectory of sunlight, maximising natural light to create a bright, open feel. Not only did this approach enhance the functionality of the space, but supports sustainable living by decreasing the need for artificial lighting during daylight hours. 

The original timber floors were preserved, paired with the neutral palette of soft whites, marble, gold and black accents to bring a rich warmth to the space. Crittall doors separate the home’s various sections, distinguishing spaces while retaining natural light flow and line of sight. A butler's pantry was added to the kitchen, closed behind another set of Crittall doors — this time with fluted glass — for a touch of industrialism that feels perfectly in balance with the home’s villa character and inviting, farmhouse feel. With elegant lighting and gold tapware, chic wallpaper and marble tile, the bathrooms have the luxurious air of a five-star retreat.   

Creating a connection between the villa and its garden space was also a priority for the function and feel of the home. “We wanted to create a seamless flow between indoor and outdoor spaces, so we incorporated large windows and doors to bring natural light into the home and provide easy access to the garden.” 

The open-plan living and kitchen area opens out onto a spacious deck through the glazed doors, with plenty of room for children to play and guests to be entertained in the summer months.

Alongside harnessing the property’s abundant natural light, sustainable design decisions centred around utilising the existing space — getting it to work smarter rather than relying on further additions to the footprint. 

“We looked for opportunities to repurpose existing spaces and provide additional amenities without increasing the floor area. Through thoughtful space consideration we were able to include new amenities into the existing footprint, including a new powder room, media room, and pantry space,” Connor explains.

The result of the villa restoration is a modern family home, still referential to its heritage, but now functional — with a cohesive layout, flexible and adaptable plan, and engaging social spaces that meet the needs of the young family. 

“This renovation has created a forever home for our clients, allowing them to enjoy and grow into their new home for years to come,” Connor says. Offering glowing feedback, the clients say they’re beyond pleased with how the renovation came out, “We had a really great experience with Barry. It’s amazing how much the house layout has changed whilst still maintaining the existing footprint. We have had so many people say they’re impressed with what he came up with, and we couldn’t be happier with the end result”.

Learn more about Barry Connor Design.