Picture perfect A vibrant and graphic artwork by New Zealand artist Richard Killeen adds a modern edge to the statement Moooi “Smoke” chair in Sarah and Warren Couillault’s living area. “That painting is one thing I will keep forever,” Sarah says. “It’s our first piece of ‘real’ art and one of my favourite things.”
traditional
with a twist A New Zealand couple transform their 100-year old villa into a contemporary & character-filled family home
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who lives here? Sarah Couillault with her husband Warren and their children Olivia, 10, Jemma, 9, and Charles, 6. Plus, Chico the cat 1 Reno timeframe Four months, during which time the family moved out. “I refused to move back in until the towels were hung on the towel rails, and as it was the week before Christmas, that the tree was up and decorated,” Sarah says. “There were towels but no tree!” 2 Green aspects “Filling our home with natural light was really important to us – we even took wooden panels out of the lower half of all the living area windows and replaced them with glass to allow more light in,” Warren says. 3 Favourite space “Our bedroom,” Sarah says. “I occasionally catch five minutes to enjoy the stunning sunsets from the west-facing windows.”
writer & styling leeann yare | photography larnie nicolson illustration alice gleadow (floorplan)
4 House-hunting tip Always plan your open inspection rounds on a miserable day, Sarah advises. “That way you get to see your prospective new home at its worst, and if it’s great then it’s only going to be better!”
See the light A wall was removed between the kitchen and the formal lounge to allow for better flow and to maximise light. The original floorboards have been stained a dark brown throughout this area to create a connection from the kitchen and the L-shaped open-plan living space. real living
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Soft & sharp The circular black marble tables give a soft edge to the square lines of the formal lounge.
Go with the flow Splashes of bright colour have been added to the comfy L-shaped charcoal sofa with snuggly throws and pretty floral cushions from Paperroom.co.nz. The poolhouse is a quick stroll across the garden.
Original design The kitchen layout remains untouched, and while some of the family’s best moments are enjoyed around the kitchen island, Sarah admits she would love a larger sink.
arah Couillault remembers clearly the afternoon when she and her husband Warren first saw their 1900s weatherboard villa home in Herne Bay, Auckland. It was a typically grey and drizzly winter’s day. “Even in those conditions the house shone,” she recalls. The couple had enjoyed apartment living in both Sydney and London before settling back in New Zealand to raise their family. Having put themselves through a renovation in their previous home, they were a little apprehensive about jumping straight into another one, but this house proved too good to resist. “We immediately fell for the high stud, the spacious yet cosy feel and the stunning views from the top level,” Sarah says. The bathrooms, kitchen design and general layout of the villa got the big tick of approval from Sarah and Warren; the only real issue was the need to accommodate themselves and their three children into a house with only three bedrooms. “We came up with all sorts of minor tweaks,” Sarah says, “but we were determined to keep the original features we fell in love with. The house was in good condition, it just needed reconfiguring to suit our requirements.” The couple tracked down the original architect used by the previous owners and together they planned a few changes. However, one thing led to another and before they knew it they were pulling down a load-bearing wall between the kitchen and formal lounge to create one massive open-plan living space.
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vertical bookshelf = functional feature
Beautiful blend A mix of styles gives the dining room an eclectic and vibrant look. Bold-patterned Phillipe Starck “Mademoiselle” chairs, from Kartell, add a playful touch to the simple timber dining table, while the Ingo Maurer light fitting, from ECC Lighting + Furniture, makes a striking statement above.
Room to move For family time together or a quite retreat alone, this home has plenty of spaces to accommodate everyone’s needs.
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M J K I H C
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F D
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key A Entrance B Library C Bedroom D Master bedroom E Ensuite F Bathroom G TV room H Pantry I Laundry J Kitchen K Living L Family room M Deck
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Luxe & light Brave lighting choices add drama to this character-filled villa. A black Fortuny lamp by Mariano Fortuny, from ECC Lighting + Furniture, takes pride of place in the formal lounge, casting light upwards to create great mood lighting. Large windows and bifold doors create a wonderful sense of space and allow for lots of natural light to flood into the room.
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buttoned leather bedhead = luxe look Go with the flow (below) The easy flow from the living area across the lawn to the gorgeous poolhouse was one of the features of the property Sarah first fell in love with.
Clean character Vintage apothecary bottles give the modern bathroom a touch of personality. Brick-shaped white wall tiles are laid vertically for a point of difference.
Boutique bedroom The main bedroom takes on the tailored style of a boutique hotel, with clean lines and an almost masculine feel. Both the bedside table and leather bedhead were designed by Jules Minkhorst of Premise Design. The Ralph Lauren lamp is from Cavit & Co.
“Once that wall went there was no changing our minds,” Sarah says. “Our ‘minor tweaks’ created major amounts of dust and the house looked like a building site.” After the dust had finally settled the couple set about decorating and painted the interiors a clean, crisp white throughout. “Our aim was to create a contemporary look with a few eclectic touches through furniture and accessories, while retaining the original charm of the villa,” Sarah says. Across the lawn is the poolhouse, which gets used all summer long. “It’s a suntrap until very late in the evening – we feel like we’re on holiday from the house,” Sarah says. “The children entertain themselves in the pool while we enjoy some peace, until everyone is required for pool rugby!” The kitchen is the room that gets the most use, and while the couple decided to stick with the original design – complete with hidden scullery behind – the first thing Sarah insisted on was the installation of a workstation. “The architect went pale when Warren told him we could convert the space previously used for the floor-to-ceiling wine fridge as my new ‘control tower’. Warren got his wine fridge, he just has to walk a little further out to the garage,” she says, laughing. Asked what her renovation high point was, Sarah says it was watching the children’s faces when they saw their new bedrooms for the first time – “It was sheer delight.” And so is their beautiful villa. 96
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real homes Light fantastic Replica Ingo Maurer “Zettel’z 5” pendant lamp, $395, Matt Blatt. The centre of the pendant is made from glass; multiple steel beams clutch sheets of paper.
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FINISHES
Sarah re laxes in her outdoor dining ar ea
All directions Replica Jean-Louis Domecq “Loft” deluxe version floor lamp, $395, Matt Blatt.
Brazillian walnut hardwood flooring (A), from $125 a sq m (supply only), Indusfloor. Granite benchtop in Coral Reef (B), from $700 a sq m (including installation), WK-Quantam Quartz.
Fab florals Replica Phillipe Starck “Mademoiselle” chair in Floral, $195, Matt Blatt.
Sarah’s mOODBOARD Modern & classic with a touch of the quirky Button bedhead Florence upholstered queen bedhead in Beachcomber “Mist”, $999, BedNest. Available in a huge range of fabrics and colours.
photography larnie nicolson (house shots) | still-life styling tahnee carroll
Stepping up Sarah and Warren’s old villa has been transformed into a beautiful, contemporary family home.
Shelf sculpture Verticale bookshelf in Silver (1.82m x 36cm), $510, Aero Designs.
spanish white
manyana
Relaxed elegance Art Deco velvet armchair in Black, from $1200, Bisque Interiors.
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paints
INTERIOR Zylone Sheen in Spanish White, $89.24 for 4L, Resene. EXTERIOR Lumbersider Low Sheen in Manyana, $89.24 for 4L, Resene. EXTERIOR trims Lumbersider Low Sheen in White, from $83.40 for 4L, Resene. For stockists, see page 159.
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