Project Awards:

• NZIA Architecture Award 2008, Small Project Category

Cramped and dated kitchen and family rooms did not do justice to this large house or the harbour views.

An extension was created for the new kitchen, allowing the existing rooms to be made into one large family space.

The views are complemented by light from new roof windows and the edges of the “floating” kitchen ceiling. The kitchen opens directly to a new deck overlooking the harbour and receiving morning sun.

"Our home was a hodge-podge of different styles brought together over 30 years of renovations. With our family growing up we needed more room to accommodate the sprawl that is teenage boys. We also wanted to take advantage of the fantastic views of the harbour that the property enjoyed. Finally, we knew that our existing kitchen was too small and lacked the features we required in a modern hub.

Working with John was an excellent experience. He sat down and listened to our brief, prompting us where necessary. He then came back with two sets of drawings that addressed our needs. A round table discussion soon settled on a preferred option that ticked all our boxes.

However, it was not just the design process that was a hallmark of the service provided by John and his team. Our builder was extremely impressed with the quality of the working drawings and said he wished all architects ensured that their work was as straightforward and practical. In no small part due to the quality of the design, the project proceeded without incident. Where clarification was necessary John was only a phone call away and made regular site visits to check on the progress.

As owners, we couldn't have hoped for more. A design that met our needs and was straightforward through the building process. We were not surprised that John and his team won awards for this project. It was a winner from start to finish."

Photography credit: John Wright