A family of five moved out of their character bungalow for a year while it was meticulously transformed into a contemporary modern home.
While some people who buy traditional homes like to keep them true to their era, others see an opportunity to build on what has gone before and Onny Kaulima and Rickie Dee could see their property’s potential in this regard the very first time they set eyes on it.
After four years living in the original bungalow at 16 Pelham Avenue, Point Chevalier with three young children, the family needed more room so the couple engaged architect John Irving who is well-known for his vision and skill in creating homes where the old segues seamlessly into the new.
With Irving’s clever plan came another two bedrooms and the overall footprint of the house was increased substantially. The property has five bedrooms and two bathrooms.
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“John was really good with aspects like the indoor/outdoor flow, and he thinks of all the tiniest details, which is great,” says Rickie, who co-owns the edgy Superette chain of eight clothing stores.
“Who else would have thought of moving the house around the way he did, putting all of our living on the ground level, adding a third level for our master suite and dressing room, which is also an office, and using a light well above the stairs to brighten the house?”
She says that you can look up and see right through to the glass at the top, or vice versa.
“I think this is definitely one of my favourite features.”
The marble kitchen is ideal for a family that loves to entertain, and Rickie says that with the separate scullery, it’s essentially two kitchens, with high spec appliances (including three ovens) and a sleek and streamlined design.
Toni Brandso, of Material Creative, also relished this remarkable opportunity to guide Onny and Rickie in choosing and locating their classic and timeless interior design elements.
With multiple living spaces, there has been plenty of room for the family to spread out and, not surprisingly, the children spend most of the summer playing or relaxing outdoors around the pool and spa, in a beautifully landscaped garden.
Rickie says that the street is quiet, the neighbours are friendly and easy access to the beach is another attraction.
Edward Pack of Bayleys, Ponsonby is excited at the opportunity to market such a unique property, which is to be sold at auction on April 28.
“Both Onny and Rickie have a cool, personal sense of style and they assembled a great team around them to show what can be done with what may have been a very ordinary home. People coming to look at this property will find it full of pleasant surprises!”
Meanwhile Onny, Rickie and their family are moving closer to Ponsonby, where the children go to school, and she says that they aren’t averse to doing another major renovation.
“But it would definitely be the last one!”
