Above: While the renovation stayed within the
footprint of the original home, the existing back
porch was repurposed as part of the internal floor
space. The open, perimeter-hugging kitchen sets
the scene for the wider open-plan design with
vistas enjoyed right out to the back yard. For
larger occasions, the long dining table can double
as extra bench space if required. Desk space was
included at the far end of the kitchen bench, too,
so that computer or writing activities and casual
kitchen work can happen side by side. The desk
also hides a discreet place to store wines.
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table all came from the existing house in
some form. Whether stud wall framing,
tile battens, skirting boards or door frames,
any untreated timber – mostly rimu – that
could be reused was, often in a fresh way.”
As another example of green reuse, the
galvanised steel splashback is made from
old roof trays from the flat back porch roof.
“From a layout perspective, removing
several internal walls enabled us to create
a large, family-friendly, open-plan living,
kitchen, dining and study space that also
links to a new deck at the rear of the home.
Relocating the kitchen to the sunnier side
of the home was a key part of the redesign
and led the rethink of the wider space.”
Plus, Higham’s addition of a new full-
height glazed door between the entry and
resited kitchen means the latter now has a
better connection to the front of the home
and the flow is more intuitive generally.
“Rather than choosing a U-shaped
or island bench kitchen, we opted for a
design that incorporated the dining area,”
Higham says. “This arrangement creates
an easy connection between the cook and