Trends New Zealand Trends Volume 32 No 2 New Zealand | Page 104

Above and facing page, top: A result of earlier remodelling work, the back rooms step down at the rear. The designer retained this setup to preserve zoned ceiling height limitations. A feature wall of decorative, glazed bricks between the relocated kitchen and lounge adds a Moroccan flavour and lets in natural light and fresh air. Far right: Another breezeblock wall provides a bannister and screen for the new ground-level stair landing. capture more light and views. Other exterior work included adding the pool, spa and garden to the rear, with the updated carport beyond. The interior remodel, however, was even more comprehensive. As the house slopes down from the street, barely visible basement windows seen at the front become part of a full ground level at the rear. The kitchen at this level was removed and relocated above to the first floor, freeing up space for an expansive games room and a larger informal lounge with a generous indoor-outdoor connection out to the pool and garden at the rear. A stair landing was also search | save | share at trendsideas.com added at this ground level, replacing an unsafe, overly steep section of the staircase. Now better positioned a floor up on the first level, the contemporary new kitchen is central to day-to-day family life with easy connection to the reworked dining area and lounge. “As a result of earlier work, the back rooms of the home are set down a few steps – and we retained this tricky configuration to preserve heritage ceiling height limitations. Playing this up, we created a visual link between the lounge and new kitchen using decorative breeze bricks – allowing light to flow through the rooms.”