A light, bright home and office with a retro edge

Article by Your Home and Garden

Work and play come together effortlessly in this 1970s inspired renovation of a Freemans Bay villa home/office space

Who lives here?

Andrew Barron (managing director and owner of The Timber Barron, a global timber exporter).

Experts Q&A with interior designer James Peters of Interior Solutions

James, how did you interpret the client’s brief?

The client’s wish was for a light, bright space. He’s a progressive thinker and a successful businessman with a contemporary outlook. I sensed he wanted an understated home, not flashy but imaginative, without being extreme. Not a bland, colourless, safe environment.

I chose feature colours of Resene ‘Fire’ (a burnt brick orange), Resene ‘Moroccan Spice’ (a rich bitter brown) and Resene ‘Himalaya’ (a spicy green-bronze) along with Resene ‘Mongoose’ (a warm pale brown).

I hope the colours depict his personality and vision in both his personal and business life. He was the perfect client who wanted me to push the boundaries a little and ultimately trusted my judgment.

I suggested he also invest in some mid-century furniture – both old and new – for his upstairs domain. Going back some months later to help place some art was a joy as I realised the client was exceptionally happy about what we had achieved together.

What was the biggest challenge with this project?

The upper floor was a challenge as the rooms had different windows at different heights and it was quite a plain space. I removed windows and awkward structures and installed a new kitchen. Luckily,

I work with a great painter (Peter Witton) and builder (David Hansen of Earlswood Builders), who are highly professional and have great input.

Problems & solutions

Problem The upstairs kitchen and bathrooms were very basic and needed modernising.
Solution Upstairs, Andrew installed a contemporary kitchen as well as a luxurious new bathroom.

Problem The downstairs office space had a lot of interior windows that were completely redundant. The kitchenette was tiny and the old-school fluorescent tube lighting was far from easy on the eye.
Solution The downstairs interior windows were removed to create an open-plan office space. Contemporary and functional lighting was fitted throughout and a new kitchen installed.

Problem The upstairs interior windows failed to provide privacy from the downstairs office space.
Solution The interior windows were removed and replaced with walls.

Words by: Annick Larkin. Photography by: Emma MacDonald.

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A unique property in Freemans Bay became the ideal work-from-home space for Aucklander Andrew Barron.

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Andrew has always been drawn to houses with character. “I like older, villa-style buildings. I love polished wooden floors and I like to blend the old with the new, keeping it simple with clean lines,” he says.

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Before.

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A burnt red-orange hue is carried through the downstairs hallway and into the adjoining office space.

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Andrew has combined mid-century and Scandinavian furniture, giving the living spaces character and warmth.

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In the lounge, interior designer James encouraged Andrew to think about introducing colour.

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Olive green feature walls painted in Resene ‘Himalaya’ appear in both the lounge and master bedroom.

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The olive green colour pops up again in the kitchen splashback.

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The old kitchen was removed and replaced with contemporary white gloss cabinetry and a granite benchtop.

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Andrew travels overseas frequently for business, so this unique home-and-work abode is ideal as he can simply lock it and leave.

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For the bathroom James suggested using Resene ‘Fire’ – a rich earthy red – above the similarly toned mosaic tiles.

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Prior to the renovation, the kitchen and bathrooms were tired and in dire need of an upgrade.

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In the residential part of the house, Andrew wanted to maintain the traditional ‘villa’ look, so he ripped up the carpet to expose the beautiful, but battered, rimu floor. He had the floorboards sanded and polished, returning them to their former glory.

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Andrew says James pushed him to try new ideas and, in every case, he was happy with what James came up with.

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Before.

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Although Andrew admits getting an interior designer on board was a major splurge, he says it was the best thing he could have done.

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“Now that the renovation is complete I come home to a place that is peaceful and comfortable,” says Andrew. “It really inspires me and I always look forward to being there.”

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The entire office space was repainted and American white oak panelling was installed in the reception area, nicely linking to the oak flooring and features upstairs.