What was once outdated is now outstanding after a remarkable renovation. This Waikato home is striking, character-filled and showcases cherished pieces of the owner’s history. Details in the rejigged layout tell part of the family story — reclaimed bricks and tongue-andgroove flooring from the client’s late father’s estate ground the open-plan kitchen, dining and living space in nostalgia. Bold floral wallpaper in autumn tones serves as another focal point, reinforcing the fact that the colour palette is rich, organic and moody. Sage green, muted blue, timber, stonework, earthy tiles, dark kitchen cabinets… each hue and material adds to the property’s cohesive, rustic appeal.

Among the four bedrooms in the reimagined layout is a main suite that’s as dramatic as it is intimate. Dramatic because it’s not every bedroom that has a grand staircase with timber treads and black balusters leading to its own mezzanine. On the ground sleeping level, there’s a trio of industrial pendants, ceiling wallpaper, sliders leading to the outdoors and walls painted a shade of green created by the client. The colour extends to the walls and pitched ceiling of the private upstairs retreat. This renovation seamlessly blends history, style and thoughtful design, creating a home that is as personal as it is beautiful.