Kohimarama 1

This home had all the right bones, but it had become a little dark and dingy over the years. There was a lot of timber panelling, and it was making the spaces feel heavier than they needed to be. It was definitely ready for a fresh start.

With five bedrooms and four bathrooms there was plenty of space to work with, and that generous scale brought its own challenge. Furniture, lighting, finishes and artwork all needed careful consideration so that nothing felt lost inside the larger rooms.

The aim was to bring lightness and energy back into the house while respecting its generous proportions and the character of the neighbourhood.

A new custom kitchen was designed specifically for this home, with materials and detailing that felt right for both the architecture and its Kohimarama setting. All of the bathrooms were renovated, which did more than update them individually. It gave the whole house a lighter, more cohesive feel from one end to the other.

The best addition was the new swimming pool alongside the kitchen. It brought a wonderful sense of connection to the outdoors and introduced subtle echoes of the beach just down the road. It instantly made the home feel more relaxed and better suited to its coastal setting.

We also spent time on the less glamorous spaces. The laundry was designed with raised washing machine and dryer units, which at the time felt like we were ahead of what has since become the preferred style. It has proved to be one of those small decisions that makes everyday life noticeably easier.

The finished home feels lighter, fresher and much more connected to its surroundings, while still keeping the generous scale that made the original house so appealing. The work was about taking a home that felt closed in and giving it a new sense of light, space and easy coastal living.