It was an "ugly duckling" and a "rabbit warren" but somehow a Nelson sea captain and an interior designer turned the duckling into a swan and the warren into a contemporary, modern home – using seaworthy materials and a sense of style.
Meet Johnny Stevenson, 59 (sea captain), Ana Stevenson, 50 (interior stylist/home-stager), Mia, 20, Gabe, 17, and Lennox, 10, plus miniature bulldogs Pablo and Frida, and 'Miradoll' cat Austin.
They had a challenge in transforming their two-storey duplex, a handy 300m down the road from Lennox's school: It was plain and basic, comprising a flat on each level.
Budget constraints meant the roof pitch could not be changed. A dark exterior was desired to transform the duplex into one modern home. The home had to be watertight.
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The family had seen potential in it right away but it wasn't until working with Tony Karsten, of Karsten Architectural Design, that they transformed the two apartments into a modern home in keeping with their contemporary-with-an-industrial-twist brief.
Total spend: $400,000.
"The transformation of the house is quite immense," says Tony. Johnny and Ana add: "We are really proud of the finished product, and the feel and look of the property is just what we imagined when we first bought it as an ugly duckling four years ago."
On the ground floor, a rabbit warren of rooms was removed to create an open-plan living area with a standout kitchen. A steel beam that replaced a load-bearing wall was left exposed to show off the structure of the home. It also mirrors the steel pergolas in the outdoor entertaining areas – two courtyards, one on either side of this zone.
Supplied by Bauer Media
Tactfully, all bedrooms are tucked upstairs out of sight of clients visiting Ana, an interior designer and stager who runs her own company, Open Home Ready.
Part of the solution was in the products used. James Hardie ExoTec Facade Panel created an interesting form at the gable ends of the roof for a contemporary update. In fact, James Hardie ExoTec Facade Panels on the lower levels and gables were a budget-friendly feature in lieu of changing the whole structure while James Hardie weatherboards can be painted any colour, even darker shades. James Hardie cavity systems ensure peace of mind when it comes to durability and stability.
The James Hardie weatherboards on the top floor were more than 30 years old but were in such good condition they needed only a quick paint to match the ExoTec Facade Panel on the roof's gable ends.
"We saved hugely by not changing the roof pitch," say the homeowners. "The ExoTec adds graphic lines and the cavity system gives peace of mind regarding weatherproofing."
Two large windows on the street front were artfully screened by a fibreglass mesh typically used for walkways on commercial fishing boats operating out of Nelson Harbour, where sea captain Johnny works. James Hardie Hardie Flex was used to create the fins for the screens.
So how did the Stevenson's budget forecast compare to actual spend?
Ana: "Badly! With a rebuild or renovation, the unknowns are unavoidable. For us, lifting the ground to the same level as the house to provide unobstructed indoor-outdoor flow, and renewing all the drainage at the same time, were huge unavoidable costs.
Best lessons learned along the way? "Don't try and live on site. What you save in rent, you pay for in sanity and the momentum of the project," she says.
Any DIY disasters? "Having to remove part of my beautiful wall after not being fully clear on council regulations despite researching."
Most memorable experience? "Christmas Day with family – present-opening in the rear courtyard and the absolute ease of moving through to the courtyard on the other side for a sit-down Christmas meal, following the sun and changing atmosphere seamlessly."
Work began on the ground floor in August 2016 and was completed in December 2017.
Interior designer Ana created a moody tonal palette for her renovated home, which was inspired by artworks she'd painted of the Marlborough Sounds
Supplied by Bauer Media
The landscape of the sounds – "quite dark and moody" – was the inspiration behind her colour palette of black, sienna and umber tones, followed strictly to ensure continuity and flow both inside and outside the home. Interior walls are kept neutral to act as a blank canvas for art and the homeware is a proud mixture of items sourced from high-end design shops, cheap and cheerful chain stores and vintage outlets, including the Eclectic Antique Centre in Nelson.
Top Design Tips
Tony Karsten, architectural designer at Karsten Arhcitectural Design
• Work with what you've got and have realistic goals. With the general cost of building at present, it is easy to aim too high and you will end up overcapitalising.
• Look for good 'bang for buck' solutions. Often a set of French doors, a new deck and pergola on the sunny side of a house can be a cheap alteration that has a huge impact.
• Timber decks are generally cheap ways to enhance a house and create character. They can easily contain features such as built-in seating, planters, interesting angles and split levels.
