Refurbishment of a masterful mid-century modern home which stayed in one family for nearly 50 years has retained many of its distinctive features, now blended with a good dose of modern amenity.
This 1964 home created for the late Jeff and Violet Jeffries and their family was originally deftly designed by Jeff, who was in the fashion industry.
The man behind its recent refurbishment, Elliot Groves, says, “Apparently, he wasn’t quite satisfied with the design suggestions of architects of the time. So, having an eye for design and an appreciation of mid-century modernist architecture, he designed this home himself. And I think he did that superbly.”
Elliot’s decision to purchase this home at 12 Felton Mathew Avenue in Saint Johns to upgrade was influenced both by its beautiful mid-century features and its tranquil location within five minutes’ drive of both Kohimarama Beach and St Heliers Village.
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It’s down a recently re-laid concrete driveway, enjoying an almost semi-rural feeling looking out over the expansive paddocks and greenery of Apirana Reserve. The view stretches out from the reserve to the Hauraki Gulf, while a path off this property’s driveway links through to the New Zealand Cycle Trail.
The sunken living room-dining area includes an exposed brick wall housing an open fireplace and a 1960s timber wall. Photo / Supplied
The Jeffries family ownership here ended in 2011. Subsequent owners of a decade had plans for some renovation, largely unrealised because of relocation.
Elliot has extensive experience refurbishing properties. So when he saw this home being marketed last year, still retaining original features but with a rather utilitarian kitchen and bathrooms, he wanted to enhance it.
“I wanted to celebrate its distinctive features while complementing them with some carefully-considered modern elements,” he says.
“There was no way I was going to just march in and, for example, slather the exposed internal brickwork with white paint. It’s a wonderful feature across two stories. It’s history, it’s very appealing and it’s cool.”
Vertical lines in new balustrading on the big north-easterly deck and another deck at rear complement the home’s dark vertical cedar.
The new, bespoke gourmet kitchen with adjoining laundry at 12 Felton Mathew Avenue in St Johns, Auckland. Photo / Supplied
Terrazzo-style floor tiling complements the original floating steel-and-timber staircase set against a 1960s red brick wall. Photo / Supplied
There’s now an additional off-street parking spot, bolstering the partially open-sided basement carport (accommodating one larger car or two smaller ones in tandem). The carport, which accesses a large enclosed storage space under the home, introduces the achingly modernist entry foyer.
Terrazzo-style floor tiling now complements its original floating steel-and-timber staircase, set against the 1960s red brick feature wall. Original polished wood floors gleam through almost the entire upper floor. Clean lines abound with extensive glazing often incorporating the mid-century hallmark of additional upper transom windows.
Highlights of the sunken living room-dining area, which opens to both decks, include an exposed brick wall housing an open fireplace, a 1960s timber wall and the outlook. It flows into a new, bespoke gourmet kitchen with adjoining laundry and new side entrance.
The house has four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a partially open-sided carport for one big car or two smaller ones in tandem. Photo / Supplied
All three upstairs bedrooms, including the ensuited master, open out to the long, sun-drenched side deck. The ensuite, the family bathroom retaining some character mosaic tiling and its neighbouring powder room have been exactingly renovated. Downstairs’ fourth bedroom (alternately an office or second living area) opens to a pergola-topped patio.
Elliot has further enhanced already-established semi-tropical landscaping.
Bayleys agent Glenn Baker, who is marketing the property with colleague Jack Davies, says: “This exactingly renovated home combines the best of classic mid-century modernist features with wonderful modern amenity. It will appeal both to character home fans and to those buyers wanting to enjoy many of the benefits you’d find in a new home.”
12 Felton Mathew Avenue in Saint Johns, Auckland will be sold at auction on May 18.
