Homeowner Diaries: a designer’s makeover of her mid-century home

ArchiPro’s Homeowner Diaries series follows homeowners’ renovation journeys to discover the value of working with skilled professionals and finding the right products to bring their dream spaces to life. As an interior designer currently working with other professionals to renovate her own home, Katy Rolleston has plenty of advice to share.

Katy and her husband have had three previous homes renovated – a villa, a bungalow, and a new build. Each slightly different, they’ve enjoyed living in and redesigning different types of homes from different eras.

“This is probably going to be our biggest project to date, and this is our long-term project – our long-term home,” shares Katy. “We’ve never had a mid-century home before. It’s a very different style to what we’ve had in the past, but I do really enjoy working within the era of the home. It requires a completely different take on it.”

Just as with any project, Katy started with a vision board: “It’s so easy to get off track without one, and I continually come back and look at it. That’s what I ask clients to do as well, so I try to practise what I preach.”

Compared to Katy’s client work, though, she’s experimenting more and pushing the boundaries.

“I like to try different ideas out. Sometimes if there’s a concept I’m interested in, but I’m not sure how it’s going to unfold, it’s quite nice to be able to do it in my own place before I do it in someone else’s. I like to see where an idea takes me, but I keep it within that overall vision.”

A word that is constantly repeated by Katy to her clients is ‘texture’, and it’s certainly a key ingredient of Katy’s own home.

“It creates so much interest in a home without having to go crazy with colour if that’s not your thing,” she says. “I also just love imperfectly perfect – it makes a space feel homely and like everything belongs. It has a bit more of a relaxed vibe to it as well.”

Taking her own advice, the interior designer has introduced texture through furniture, decor and accessories, and even on the second living area’s ceiling.

“We want the overall vibe for this house to be really comfortable and relaxed with lots of texture, and to bring something a little bit unexpected as well.”

With the house being a concrete structure, Katy explains that it is difficult to change too much of the existing floor plan or lighting. Instead, it’s been about working with the home’s existing mid-century features – such as the dropped ceiling in the second lounge area.

During discussions about what to do with the space, the idea to use bamboo on the ceiling came about, extending from indoors to out: “It’s something a little bit different. There are some eaves that come directly out from where the bamboo ceiling is indoors, and that’s a really lovely way of bringing that indoor-outdoor flow which I’m always talking to clients about as well.”

Designed to be a living room in the cooler months and a pool room in summer, this room will be furnished to accommodate both uses. The bamboo has also influenced further use of the material in other areas of the house, such as the bamboo side table from A&C Homestore.

Texture continues into the main living area, with a Hume Stone coffee table from David Shaw taking centre stage.

“It’s fun to come across different materials,” says Katy.

This space also features a natural linen pear pendant from Corcovado. Handmade using natural linen and a rattan frame, it adds texture in a subtle way – similar to the cushions on the lounge, including a heavy linen jute cushion from Città.

“Doing different pendants throughout has also really changed the feel of the spaces in this home. You can play on different ideas – it’s been quite fun to bring in some mid-century feel in a relaxed way. It’s where you have the opportunity to make a house have a bit more of a contemporary feel, but while still honouring the era of the home.”

The most significant change to the home that Katy has made is in the kitchen. While the existing stainless steel bench has been retained, Pink Magma tiles from Metro Floor make a statement.

Installed by M H Tiling, the pink splashback is something Katy knew she wanted – despite having a house full of boys.

“I love pink. It’s not crazy pink, but as I always say to my clients, if there's something you really love, then do it because it’s what makes you happy. There’s a little bit of pink in this house, but it’s not overwhelming. It makes me happy and my husband is very tolerant,” she laughs.

While Katy has plenty of industry experience as an interior designer, this isn’t the case for the majority of Kiwis wanting to give their spaces a refresh. So, what’s Katy’s advice for other homeowners embarking on a renovation project?

“Have trusted professionals that you work with and take your time. It’s really important to think about what you want out of your home for you, and to honour the era of the home.

"Don’t fight what’s already there that you can’t change – embrace the uniqueness of every home.”

Get the look from Katy’s renovation.

Words by Cassie Birrer