It would be completely inaccurate to describe as a renovation the enormous project that Peter and Donna Redward undertook at this Category 2 listed home at 18 Huia Street, Devonport, Auckland, because it was truly a complete and utter restoration – undertaken with a great deal of care, and no expense spared.
Barely a detail has remained untouched, yet the newly re-finished Arts and Crafts home, designed by well-known architect Lloyd Bates and built in 1929 for sisters Alice and Ethel Inglis, who owned a sweet shop in Queen Street, still remains absolutely true to its heritage.
With architectural designer Patrick Malloch on their team, and Dionisios Matiatos from SIR Builders, the Redwards essentially gutted the house.
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“The original concrete tile roof hadn’t lasted well in the salty sea air, so it was replaced with Spanish slate tiles early on,” says Peter.
The distinctive round stones that are worked into a wall at the front of the cedar shingle and weatherboard house (and into its indoor fireplaces), are thought to have been ships’ ballasts, thrown overboard when a vessel sailing back out of the harbour with a cargo of kauri no longer needed weighting for balance. They were retrieved from the water by the Inglis’ brother, and it’s possible they may have come originally from the USA although others suggest they’re from London.
The windows and doors have all been rehung, rerouted, and the glass treated with Clear Shield to prevent water stains. Insulating strips stop heat escaping.
Heat pumps, a central vacuum system and gas water heating keep the house even more energy-efficient, and it is insulated to beyond code standard.
The layout sees visitors arriving at the handsome front door, via imposing outside steps. It opens into a combined entrance and reception lounge. There’s a bedroom on this level along with a formal dining room with sensational wood panelling, for which new tools had to be specially manufactured and then there’s the kitchen.
This is one of the rooms that required the most thought and expert input from specialists working on the restoration. Newly built oak joinery by McKean, Carnell and Associates looks as if it’s been in place for 80 years, as does the herringbone benchtop, and the solidity of the wood is beautifully offset by delicate screen-printed William Morris wallpaper
However, the star of the show is undoubtedly the stove, a fully restored cast-iron commercial-grade Quickmeal model from the 1920s with no fewer than 3 ovens, imported from the USA, and standing on specially reinforced flooring, due to the fact that it weighs 350kg.
“Getting it here was a challenge,” says Donna, in what’s clearly an understatement.
She says that she never dreamed how many decisions had to be made during a project like this.
“You often have to finish one aspect before the next can start, and I learned so much along the way – I’d really never done anything like this before, but I came to enjoy it.”
The vast master suite with its freestanding clawfoot bath, and dressing room is on the top level of the house, along with the master bathroom, which has a Thomas Crapper toilet, imported from the UK. The views from here are just beautiful.
Downstairs are two further bedrooms, another perfectly period-style bathroom, plus a lounge and a media room. There’s also a cute little kitchenette, dating back to when the lower level was rented out, and Peter and Donna decided to keep it as a handy storeroom.
With access to a patio here and an elevated deck opening off the kitchen, there are plenty of places for relaxing outside or al fresco entertaining.
Bayleys sales agent Linda Simmons says the home has already attract intense interest. “It’s such a beautiful house, it’s practically in the village and minutes from the ferry and to be honest, properties like this don’t come along often.”
With the current owners heading in new directions, they say it’s time for somebody else to purchase, love and nurture this unique property.
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