KEY POINTS:
Renovating a heritage house requires patience and an ability to go with the flow, as Daniel and Donnine Belton found. The couple, both dancers and choreographers, bought their historic Dunedin home 11 years ago after returning from living and working in Europe.
Built in the 1880s, it sits in a row of terraced homes that reminded them of their London base. Because it's a terraced house and listed with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, there's not much the couple could do to extend or rearrange the spaces, so they've had to be clever with the limited area available. As they've renovated they've found that they can't be fussy about getting things perfectly straight or square.
"Because the house is so old, everything is on a slight lean. In fact, there's hardly a straight line in the place," says Daniel. "So you've got to set things by eye rather than using a level." And achieving a balance between the home's character and modern comforts can be a testing process.
"By New Zealand standards it's a really old home," says Daniel. "Our challenge has been to make it contemporary without losing its character." Another challenge has been catering for the demands of children Pepa, 12, and Josef, 8, in a small home that is also used as a workspace.
"We've had friends ask how we manage to bring up a family in a shoebox on three levels, but it just means you have to be inventive about how you use the space," says Daniel. "Like any home, it's an evolving story. Our needs change as our lives change and that can happen very quickly."
The renovation of the kitchen is a classic example of how the couple has maximised space and modernised sympathetically. They opted for a pale colour scheme and a stainless steel benchtop. Their retro fridge complements the look.
To create a sense of space, the Beltons chose open shelving. They also cribbed more usable space by raising the lintel above the range, giving better access to the rear burners and creating room for small shelves within the tiled cavity.
The wooden kitchen table, where the family gathers at mealtimes and where the kids do homework, usually sports a Cath Kidston-style oilcloth in keeping with the home's cheery decor. The English designer was a favourite of Donnine's while she was living in Britain and her influence features throughout the home.
Making clever use of the available space, the couple created an office in a nook off the living room that was probably the house's original entrance hall. The computer sits on a desk that Daniel and Josef made from an old door that cost $40 and about $30 worth of timber.
"We've done most of the work on the house ourselves and we've done it on a very limited budget," says Daniel. The conversion of the attic into an extra room also helped the family to spread out a little. Daniel had used the attic as an office and editing suite for his work as artistic director of Good Company Arts.
Now it is the master bedroom, which means the children each have a bedroom of their own. With two growing children, space is always going to be at a premium but the couple wouldn't have it any other way.
"We love our home; it's a darling of a house," says Daniel. "It's a little oasis where we re-energise and reconnect."
Classic style
Balancing act: It's tricky accessorising a historic home - try to strike a balance between vintage and contemporary.
Shared history: Emphasise your home's history by showcasing your old family photos or heirlooms.
Shelf life: Open shelving provides essential storage and also doubles as a point of interest where you can display objects.
* Leanne Moore is the editor of Your Home & Garden. For more on the Belton home, see the issue on sale now, or visit www.yourhomeandgarden.co.nz.
