The discovery of a structural fault was a good excuse to tackle all the niggling problems with this Auckland house in one fell swoop. Story by Debbie Harrison
Who lives here?
Jen Morrison (graphic designer), Ben Morrison (lawyer), Mia, 7, Franklin, 5, and Alistair, 4.
Where is it?
Meadowbank, Auckland.
The background
Jen, what did your home look like before?
It was a two-storey 1960s/1970s house – very dated, very peach, very quirky. The bones of it were good, with living areas downstairs and bedrooms upstairs, but a bookshelf in the middle of the living area really interrupted the flow. The entrance to the house was tiny (it was hard for us all to squeeze in to say goodbye to guests) and visitors were always confused as to whether to go upstairs or down, because it wasn’t clear. The floors were cork, the fire was a retro adobe one and the kitchen cupboards had engraved doors. Did I mention the green vinyl benchtop? The house was in serious need of some modernisation.
Text by: Debbie Harrison. Photography by: Jackie Meiring.
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The black pressed-tin wall hides a swag of storage: fridge, pantry, school bag and handbag cupboard, plus a space for cookbooks and vases.

Seeing the kitchen get installed was a definite high point for the Morrison family.

The wooden uprights were architect Sam Atcheson’s idea; they separate the spaces but allow in light and views.

With the renovation, Jen stuck to what she knew, overseeing and designing the kitchen, bathrooms and flooring.

“It was a two-storey 1960s/1970s house – very dated, very peach, very quirky”, says Jen.

The Morrison family resolved the small and confusing entrance and made the living area bigger.

Mia in the light-filled living space; self-confessed clean freak Jen chose light oak flooring because dark wood shows the dirt.

Jen had professional art-hangers come in to hang the artwork, including the arrangement in the main bedroom.

Floor and wall tiles from The Tile Warehouse; bath from Waterware; vanity from Michel Cesar.

The incredible before and after of Franklin and Alistair’s bedroom.

Franklin and Alistair’s bedroom features stag wallpaper from Resene.

Mia chose the giant magnolia decal for her room; her bedside table is a French antique which has seen plenty of use.