It’s funny how aspects of the past can craft the foundations of a dream home — even if you don’t quite realise it.
It’s not unusual to come across a reimagined villa in Westmere, Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland — a suburb rich in character homes — but there’s something a tad different about this one. On closer inspection, it all becomes clear. This attractive family home is fresh off the blocks.
Lauren Bainbridge had long envisioned a modern home with heritage charm to share with her husband, Glenn, and their children, Carter (8) and twins Jax and Arlo (7). Five years ago, when they bought a small bungalow on a 580sqm section, they were primed for a significant renovation. The couple was disappointed when builders advised too many compromises on their wish list. But not for long. Instead, they made the decision to remove the existing dwelling and build. “I couldn’t let go of the idea of a character home, so we visited many open homes to decipher the villa details we wanted to capture,” says Lauren.
This four-bedroom, vintage-inspired house features the classic villa-style plan, with all rooms leading off a central hallway. This long, grand space with a 3.3-metre stud boasts yesteryear form with a little extra function: a ‘mud room’ complete with a built-in seat and cupboards is hidden behind the ornate wainscotting.
As has become the quintessential way, from the entrance, a glimpse of the high-pitched main window in the living area at the opposite end of the house beckons. Yet there’s plenty to see and admire before that. Light-and-lovely touches are evident in the bedrooms, bathrooms and even the laundry.
Carter’s bedroom (initially planned for guests before the three boys wised up to the idea they didn’t need to share) boasts an ensuite disguised behind panelled walls painted Resene Half Friar Grey.
The same soft hue stars in the main bedroom ensuite, where one of Lauren’s favourite features is the double-head shower space. “We had two shower heads in our last home — it’s where Glenn and I discuss most of our life decisions,” she laughs. In this haven for the adults, skylights for sun and big mirrors ensure this relatively small room feels like it belongs in a resort.
Not wanting the intensity of a full-tiled bathroom, Lauren opted for two plaster walls, then brought in Katie Scott, interior designer at Sticks + Stones, to help capture a dash of personality. The result is a softly dramatic grey backdrop with textural floor and wall tiles, and vintage-style fittings. When open, the doors into the en suite and walk-in wardrobe cleverly conceal a television on the wall.
To achieve the villa feel, Katie explored her clients’ love of texture. “I wanted to avoid having plain walls,” says Lauren.
Along with panelled bedroom walls, there’s tongue-and-groove on the kitchen ceiling, shutters on the windows, and wide architraves and skirting boards. These aspects draw on the past while creamy-brown herringbone floorboards provide a perfect base. “Lauren wanted all the elements of a new house without the ‘new-build’ look. We captured the aesthetic of an old house, without the creaks and wonkiness,” says Katie.
It’s not hard to imagine that this is a busy household so a separate lounge, where the boys can bring out their toys, has sliding doors to quieten down the animation of their play. In the light-and-breezy kitchen and living room, there are more sliding doors, to link to the garden and pool. “It’s a joy walking down the hall, which opens to this oasis — one of the key features we identified when visiting open homes,” explains Lauren. “It’s lovely how the house opens to a different world out back to the north-facing yard.”
Katie helped Lauren embrace extra character by using Patagonia marble on the striking kitchen-island benchtop. “She sent me to look at a sample, and I panicked, thinking: ‘It’s a masterpiece, but I don’t know if I can get my head around it.’ I had to take time to process it, because it was a bit wild for my taste.”
She trusted the process and is glad she did because the marble, in tones of brown and rust which evoke an autumnal feel, became the core foundation for other colours.
Shaker-style kitchen cabinetry combines modernity with a heritage feel, and the gas-strut window and bar, with its café-style aesthetic, was a ‘must-have’ for the couple. “Although we did struggle to find someone to design it,” Lauren says.
In a family of five, there’s plenty of paraphernalia, so storage was at the top of the practicalities list. Dirty clothes remain out of sight in laundry drawers and cabinetry that reaches all the way to the ceiling. “I feel so small in there, but it’s great to have so much storage,” says Lauren, who now realises the need for a shed for bikes and big toys, and regrets not exploring the idea of an upstairs storey as an adult retreat.
One unintentionally nostalgic touch is the home’s exterior design, which draws on Lauren’s roots. “I’m from Queensland and I’ve had Australian friends visit and say, ‘You’ve captured elements of the Queenslander’,” she explains. Aspects such as the rounded bay window in Carter’s bedroom and the curved, bull-nosed verandah out the front are evocative of this architectural style. Although these design features pay homage to her origins, right here is where Lauren calls home.
Words Catherine Steel
Photography Michelle Weir