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A major renovation helped to give this family some much needed space

A villa in serious need of TLC got a second chance when the section next door opened up. See how this family used the extra space to create their dream home

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Meet and greet

Andrea Alston, co-owner of Two Smart Cookies, and Paul Alston, CEO of Cavalier Bremworth, Jack, 14, Charlie, 12, and Amelia, 10, plus Spike the dog and Maggie the cat.

A major renovation helped to give this family some much needed space

Andrea Alston and her husband, Paul, didn’t purchase a house so much as buy a patch of land. They’d already seen and vetoed a tired Auckland villa in their search for a home but, six months later, the agent mentioned the adjoining empty section was also for sale and this turn of events sealed the deal for Andrea.

“I knew my boys needed more space,” says Andrea. “When the agent said they were selling the section next door too, I was like, ‘That’s the green space I want. My farm in the centre of Auckland!’” she laughs.

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Problem

– Not enough space for a growing family of five.
– The house was not an entertainer’s dream.
– The villa was old and in need of freshening up.

Solution

– A new addition was built alongside and joined to the villa by a glass corridor.
– An open-plan kitchen, dining and lounge area was created, which opens out onto a large deck and pool.
– As well as new paint and carpet throughout, appliances and whiteware were updated and modernised.

Architect Tim Dorrington‘s vision

What was your approach to this build?
First and foremost we wanted to provide a solution that would resolve the brief. We were also interested in introducing a bit of balance and tension in the built form, so we looked at a composition of contrasts to give a different feel to each section of the house: black versus white, old versus new, open versus compartmentalised, traditional versus contemporary.

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Budget

Total spend: approximately $979,000 (excluding pool)

Siteworks and foundations: $143,000
New-build: $517,000
Decks: $35,000
Interior finishes: $284,000, including kitchen and cabinetry costs of $53,450

Andrea Alston and her husband, Paul, bought a tired Auckland villa and the adjoining empty section.

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Andrea and Paul renovated this house with their family, and the specific way they live, in mind.

The zebra mat in the hallway is a souvenir from Andrea’s travels in Africa in her twenties.

Although delighted with her green space, Andrea wasn’t so enamoured with the villa. It needed modernising and was too small for the family.

Rather than trying to build a sympathetic extension, they decided to take a bold approach and construct a new building next to it.

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Andrea says her style is very simple – clean, white and uncluttered.

We have three really good zones (the kids’ lounge, the media room and our kitchen, dining and living area) and that’s what makes this house really work. There’s a place for everyone at any time,” she says.

Andrea chose to add two key features: the floating staircase and the granite kitchen benchtop.

The slatted wall gives the illusion of stairs floating in space and allows a view of the courtyard.

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The children’s bedrooms are in the villa; their parents’ room is in the new extension.

Amelia’s room is a serene space where Andrea opted for shutters instead of blinds on the advice of Brightshine Blinds & Shutters.

As well as giving Jack, Charlie and Amelia their own space, the separation of areas means they can also wake early without disturbing Andrea or Paul.

The Alstons lived on site in the two cabins for the duration of the build.

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Andrea insisted on installing wall-to-ceiling tiles in the bathroom. “I’m huge on it. It looks grand, plus it makes it a wet room, which is great for kids. It’s also easy to clean.”

Andrea got the landscapers in early, knowing that creating effective outdoor areas would provide the x-factor for their home.

The yellow metal wall adds a zing of energy and interest and eases the juxtaposition of the old and new parts of the home.

Words by: Debbie Harrison. Photography by: Helen Bankers.

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