Photography: Rachael McKenna
One might step into the formal lounge of this 1925 brick bungalow and expect to see F Scott Fitzgerald pouring himself a glass of Prohibition-era liquor. With walls painted a deep midnight blue and decorative accents of gold and silver throughout, it’s a glimpse into the Roaring Twenties, revitalised for a new generation.
Richard McWha is no stranger to a thoughtful restoration. His job as a business improvement consultant for local councils has seen him work up and down the country restoring and preserving important heritage sites. He also has a plethora of renovations under his belt, so when a long-term stint in the country’s southernmost city materialised, it created the perfect opportunity to put his stamp on a gorgeous home.
“It was fine when I bought it, but I thought, here’s a bit of fun to restore it and pay homage to that heritage,” says Richard.
“I’ve done the upholstery, I’ve done the woodwork and paintings, which has been really great. It feels like a sense of achievement that the house deserves. I think sometimes we are so worried about a quick fix that we don’t pay homage to the original intention and design.”
Home Profile
Meet & Greet: Richard McWha (business improvement consultant for local government) and his dogs, Oscar and Bosie.
The Property: A 1925 brick bungalow in Invercargill.
Colour me this
The hallway and formal lounge evoke smoky speakeasies of yore with its blues and golds, but the rest of the house boasts a more subdued palette. The kitchen and bedrooms are mostly whites and greys, with hints of soft blues peppered throughout.
“It is actually a simple palette that just has different intensities,” says Richard.
“My philosophy is that you’ve got your liveable spaces and your transitional spaces. So things like hallways should always be dramatic and over the top, because you’re not sitting in the hallway for hours and hours. I believe in decorating to live in rather than for the next buyer.”
A nod to art-deco
Metallics also feature heavily throughout the home as a more overt nod to the art-deco movement. The ceiling of the formal lounge is the showstopper, but there are also elements in the form of lighting fixtures, furnishings and decor in every room of the house.
“There’s mixed silver and gold and bronze throughout the entire place, then the blue cools things down.”
Fixer upper
One joy for Richard was being able to buy furniture for the home, instead of moving in existing purchases and trying to make them work with what was there. The simple palette meant that furnishing it from scratch was easy.
While restoring the property to its original glory was the priority, Richard did not want his home to look like a museum. Because of this, he favoured newer pieces or older gems that could be upcycled. A perfect example is the couch in the hallway that was bought secondhand, then restored with a modern fabric.
Similarly, the vanity in the bathroom is vintage, but Richard swapped the original countertop for a granite one and added a gold basin. There’s an element of historical accuracy, but given a more approachable touch. If he has a particular piece in mind, he’ll scour stores both in New Zealand and internationally.
“Sometimes I’m aware that what I’m asking for is ridiculous. Of course, they’re not going to have it, but I’ll give it a go.”
Richard credits his days in the theatre industry with teaching him some DIY hacks that are sprinkled throughout the home.
“It gets so cold down here, so I’ve used a lot of upholstery fabric for curtains, then put different trims on them to make them feel a bit more special and luxurious.”
Richard also made more permanent additions to the bones of the home.
“The archway in the hallway has original detail in the woodwork. I’ve copied that and had the doors lasered with the same pattern, so all the inserts of the doors match.”
Art house
Hanging art throughout the home was a must, but for Richard, it was more than just a decor choice. Every single piece is rich with meaning and adds a distinctly personal touch to every room.
“I tend to collect art based on life events or people that I’ve met, so each one’s got a significance to me personally, as well as what the artistic intention was,” says Richard.
Forever love
As well as indoor details, Richard also put a lot of effort into landscaping. He added brickwork and worked on the garden, making the most of an otherwise small section. While he’s stuck to his own palette and preferences, it was all done with his restoration expertise in mind. The changes he’s made are designed for future living and to keep traditional architectural details in existence as long as possible.
“I wanted to make sure I paid homage to the actual building. I take the view that we are just caretakers of heritage properties, so for me it’s about finishing it to a standard that it should always be.”
“The next owner might look at the colour scheme and want to repaint. But the woodwork and the bones will still be there and retain their beauty for another 100 years.”
Home truths
What did you save/splurge on? I spent a lot of energy on the lighting design. Each room has a feature light, as well as directional pin spots and lamps that create drama through the contrast of light and shade in each room.
Best lesson learned? Bold colours don’t need to be overwhelming. There are a lot of different wallpapers and paint colours in this house, but by using a consistent palette of oatmeal through to gold and blue /grey through to teal, the rooms feel connected and complementary.
What would you never do again? Hand-gilding the plasterwork on a ceiling with a 5mm brush. It kept me in pain for weeks on end.
Any DIY disasters? I was in the roof cavity and put my foot through the ornate ceiling plaster of the entranceway. I had to repair the plaster and recreate the design, but luckily, it’s now undetectable.
What are you most proud of? The kwila herringbone entrance parquetry and hallway tramline have defined the transitional spaces and provide a respite to the blue floor. I milled the timber down to 10mm over cement board and the raised profile means the carpet sits flush to the wood and there is no need for ugly metal transition strips.
What’s one thing you’d change if you could? I took my time on this renovation and made decisions based on how I want to live in the house and what I want the environment around me to look like. It’s been a joy to create and I honestly wouldn’t change a thing.
Read this next:
- Inside a light-filled bungalow renovation on Auckland’s city fringe
- A 100-year old Auckland bungalow gets a Scandinavian-inspired revival
- Inside a stunning art deco revival in Western Springs
