A boring, beige 1940s home is given a top-to-toe update

Article by Your Home and Garden

A smart eye for potential has seen an Auckland couple refresh this beige Orakei house into a light and airy home that includes plenty of pops of colour

Who lives here?

Jenni Shields (lady of leisure), and Wayne Shields (manager), plus their dog, Lillyjack.

Problems and solutions

Problem: The kitchen, though functional, was showing its age with pine cabinetry, Formica benchtops and old appliances. It was time for a fresh new look.
Solution: They got rid of the outdated cabinetry, benchtops and well-worn appliances and replaced them with contemporary fittings and fixtures in glossy white.
Problem: An outdated bathroom just had to go. Plus they wanted to add a separate guest toilet next to the guest bedroom upstairs.
Solution: They gutted the old bathroom and started afresh, installing a stand-alone bath, glass shower and marble-look tiles on the floor and walls. They also created a separate guest toilet.
Problem: There was a distinct lack of storage throughout the house.
Solution: Relocated the downstairs laundry to a nook in the garage, freeing up space for a large storage cupboard in the downstairs lobby.

Lessons learned

Don’t take shortcuts; do it once and do it properly.
Do not compromise on quality.
Be prepared for the unexpected and have a contingency fund.

Expert Q&A with builder Josh Dowling from Fine Finish Homes LTD

How long did you work on the project?
Approximately 14 weeks.

What was the biggest challenge you faced?
The main bathroom.

None of the walls were square and the old shower had been leaking, revealing significant water damage. It turned into a major. The clients wanted the bathroom to last forever so I lined the walls and the floors in 10mm fibre cement board, which was a bit of a mission as it was time-consuming, dusty and hard as anything to cut.

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

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Before. In the living room and throughout the house, every wall was beige.

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After. Against an all-white backdrop, Jenni has introduced pops of colour throughout the home via soft furnishings, art and furniture.

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A large canvas takes centre stage in the home’s entrance, its bold hues giving visitors a taste of what lies beyond.

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Before. The original kitchen was a case of out with the old and in with the new.

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After. The Formica benches were replaced with practical stainless-steel worktops. To keep the budget in check, the couple opted to keep the cupboard carcasses and add new, glossy white doors and drawer fronts and sleek chrome handles.

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Painting the entire interior white has created a gallery-type space in which to showcase the couple’s bold art and fun accessories.

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Jenni had coveted a Miss Lolo ‘Peacock Chair’ for a long time. The gorgeous armchair upholstered in peacock fabric with a sky-blue base now sits in the corner of the living room.

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‘Projection’ wallpaper (from the Perspectives collection by Camengo) defines the dining area. Jenni has completed the mid-century look with a replica Tulip table and chairs from Nood.

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The installation of a huge cupboard – with vibrant blue doors – has solved Jenni and Wayne’s storage woes.

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“Our artworks chop and change around the house, depending on my mood,” Jenni says.

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Before. The spare bedroom.

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After. A simple scheme in the spare bedroom is energised with neon-bright bed cushions and random cubes of colour on the bedding.

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High-impact accessories such as the fluorescent rhino and pineapple complete the look. Cut-glass pendants over the bed bring an unexpected touch of texture.

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A plaster rhino head with an embellished horn is a novel way to display jewellery.

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The stained and worn carpets were removed and replaced.

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Disliking the beige walls, Jenni chose to paint every wall and ceiling in Resene ‘Black White’, instantly modernising the spaces.

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Before. The couple’s biggest project was the main bathroom. Unfortunately, once all the old walls had come down, it became apparent that not a single wall was straight. Also, after removing the shower they discovered significant water damage to the floor and joists beneath.

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After. The couple chose large marble-effect tiles for the walls and floor. A freestanding bath with a floor-mounted mixer, a custom vanity, chandelier, magnifying mirror and a hand dryer completed their design.

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Jenni has created a feeling of luxe and glamour with floor-to-ceiling tiles.

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For the neighbouring guest toilet, Wayne chose a gorgeous wallpaper featuring New York skyscrapers (from Resene’s Walltrends III collection).

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The wallpaper in the guest toilet brings big impact to the small space.

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Before. The mixed slate tiles in the front courtyard and entry were one of the first projects tackled by the Shields.

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After. Although it was a labour-intensive job for Wayne and his son, the old-fashioned slate patio has been replaced with a plaster version, transforming the front garden and improving the indoor-outdoor flow.