Remuera: Two-part harmony

A developer has gone to great lengths to build a new home in sympathy with its venerable neighbour.

49 Arney Road, Remuera.

Creating a new house while restoring an historic one next door has resulted in a unique property sympathetic to its neighbour's heritage.

Developer Bruce Blake enlisted two of the top people in their fields - architect Brent Hulena and interior designer Jennie Dunlop - to work with him on his twin project. He had bought the former Samoan Consulate at 51 Arney Road and wanted to restore it to its original 19th century glory.

Its enormous back section was steep and unconnected to the house, so he subdivided 1000 sq m of it and asked Brent Hulena to design not only the front house's restoration, but also a brand new house to sit behind it.

"The old house would look down on the new one," says Brent, "So I designed a pitched roof for the new house, which is prettier to look at, and we chose darker colours for the exterior and joinery that are in sympathy with the slate on the old house."

The large front door has traditional looking panels, though is made contemporary with modern handles.

Inside, skirting boards and cornices were custom made to lend a slightly traditional look to the modern house. The wrought iron balusters up the wide staircase, and the chandelier in the foyer, are contemporary takes on traditional versions.

Pillars before the front door, and around the rear terraces, are derived from those around the front house's verandahs.

"We borrowed elements from the front house, that were old and classical, and did a modern interpretation," says Brent.

Jennie veered away from white and cream interiors, which she felt would look too sterile, and opted instead for strong taupes that induce warmth and relaxation. A double height wall in the foyer is painted a striking chocolate shade that has a hint of purple, depending on the play of light at different times of day.

A column of beautiful mosaic tiles in the master en suite does the same thing - they are essentially brown, cream and white, but shimmers of pink and purple bounce off them as you move back and forth.

"Bruce took a bit of convincing over those," smiles Jennie. "He thought they might be too glitzy, but I convinced him that they added something special to the master suite while still being in keeping with the rest of the house."

Like the kitchen, dining and main living area below, the master bedroom has glass along both walls for all day sun. It opens onto its own terrace overlooking the pool on one side, and the house's stunning view across Remuera to Mt Hobson on the other.

Two bedrooms and a TV/study area on the south side of the house gaze across the expansive, park-like lawns of a neighbour's historic property.

Stone craftsman Gavin Rivers-Smith contributed two limestone fireplaces to the inside of the house, one outside by the pool, and a water feature by the front door.

"He's the type of craftsman you find once in a lifetime," says Bruce. "He just scribbled his idea for the water feature on the back of a piece of wood, and I had enough faith in his work to say 'Great, go ahead'."

The grey fireplaces are complemented by a white granite and resin benchtop in the kitchen, and a grey, backpainted glass splashback which gives a subtle reflection.

Dark stained oak cabinetry offset the pale American oak floors, and cedar louvres.

Doors open all along the L-shaped north face of the house onto a wide terrace, with its outdoor dining area by the pool.

"It's all fully lit outside - you could have a serious party out here," laughs Bruce.

Down exterior and interior stairs is a fully wired media room, which could be used as accommodation for a nanny, teenager or elderly relative.

"You've got to be quite ingenious when designing spec housing," says Brent. "You don't have a particular end user so you can't just cater for one part of the market."

This trio are proud of what they've achieved with this house, and the one in front of it. They sit beside each other remarkably comfortably, the younger stepping down the land behind the elder.

Vital Statistics

SIZE: Land 1000sq m, house 530sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: $4 million plus.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 12-12.45pm.

CONTACT: Megan Jaffe and Linda Galbraith, Harcourts, ph 520 8103 bus, 021 611 461(Megan), 356 5098 bus, 021 966 028 (Linda).

FEATURES: New three-level, north facing home by top designers with views across Remuera. Formal living area, TV room/study, Gavin Rivers-Smith fireplaces (including one outdoor) and water feature, media room with kitchenette and wine cellar. Master suite has all day sun and its own terrace. Heated pool. Front house is also for sale. Contact agents listed above.