This traditional bungalow is tucked away in the character filled suburb of Westmere in Auckland. Though it is a corner site which lends itself to be very open to the view of passers by, the clever use of hedging allows it to keep its connection with the street while providing privacy. The house itself was situated to one side of the site and a double garage to the other. There was a pool sitting between the two structures, but the house was high off the ground and there was very little connection between the inside environment and the outside landscape.

The bungalow was built in 1925 and though the bones of the house were as strong as ever, the interior was aged and the spaces segregated.

Stefan and Krissy lead very social, outgoing lives. They needed the home to reflect their lifestyle providing open social spaces to entertain friends and family, as well as more private cosy nooks to relax within. By extending the house to create an open plan kitchen/dining/living area, and keeping the pool meant that they would forfeit their only outdoor landscaped area.

They didn’t want to compromise on the space, so it was decided that we would create a space that offered flexibility. A retractable deck was envisaged that would tuck neatly under the house allowing the free use of the pool, but then extend out to create a spacious outdoor entertaining area that flows on from the open plan living.

The large stacking slider and extensive overhanging eave, creates a transition space giving us a connection to the outside. The glass handrail provides visual freedom, allowing you to see the pool and make the space feel open. By using a two-track system the deck extends out over the pool, unveiling the hidden space beneath. This offers the flexibility of using the pool on those hot summer days, while still having the freedom of a garden deck to lounge and entertain on.

The high ceilings and large open spaces allowed more light to flow in and livened up the spaces. A perfect canvas for Krissy’s creative flare. She cleverly used a bold Resene colour pallet to frame and highlight spaces. The built-in seating nook in the living space was rendered in a way that alluded to a picture framed window. This is in contrast to the slim white blended kitchen window which invites the outside greenery into the space. The white kitchen splashback accentuates the dominant dark cabinets while softly playing with lighting through a textured surface.

The colour theme flows through into the master bedroom and formal second bedroom. The vibrant colour walls are framed by large white accents. In contrast, the bathroom and laundry spaces have been dressed to be light and soft with crisp lines and a more spacious feel. The spaces are well-considered with the overall style continuously flowing throughout. The new home portrays a fun yet elegant interior and Stefan and Krissy could not be happier.

“It was truly exciting to be part of a project where the clients were willing to push the boundaries and try something crazy, and the builders had the skill to come along on the journey and make the crazy a reality. Stefan and Krissy were amazing to deal with. Their energy and style helped bring together the final touches to make this project extraordinary.”

Testimonial: 

Romé and the team at Buildology helped guide us through every step of our renovation from initial concepts then working drawings and council consent and even during construction until we received our code of compliance certificate. They were amazing to deal with as we had many questions being first-time renovators.

We discussed our vision with Allan & Romé for an open plan living area with a retractable deck over the existing swimming pool. We wanted to maximise the entertaining space on a tricky site due to the placement of the existing buildings and pool, Romé took our ideas and created a concept that we loved. Her enthusiasm for our project encouraged us to move forward with construction. We also used a Buildology recommended builder which helped to streamline any construction queries.

Buildology’s communication, professionalism and quality of work was outstanding throughout the entire build and we have no hesitation in recommending their services. We now live in a beautifully proportioned house which suits the way we live perfectly.

-  Stefan and Krissy Le Geyt