SCHOOL ZONES:
Pt Chevalier Primary, Pasadena Intermediate, Western Springs College.
CONTACT:
Ben Meiring and Victoria Williams, Bayleys, ph 021 708 083 (Ben) or 021 678 884 (Victoria.)
*Off-street parking for two cars
Rowena Smith and Kleme Vela reckon they were born in the wrong century. They're both lovers of antiques, and are especially fond of the Arts and Crafts period.
"Actually, obsessed is probably a better word for Kleme," says Rowena. "He loves everything to do with it."
Kleme's passion was triggered many years ago when he first went flatting and bought a secondhand Arts and Crafts dresser. His appreciation grew and when he bought his 1923 Californian-style bungalow in Pt Chevalier 24 years ago, it was the perfect place to show off the style he loves so much.
In 1998 he carried out a major renovation, extending the back of the house to create an extra large living area and guest room, and made sure the new part seamlessly matched the old. It's hard to believe that the architect-designed living room, with its wood-panelled window seat, traditional fireplace and pillars, isn't original.
The extensive use of rich timber for windows, architraves, pillars and lintels is in keeping with the Arts and Crafts movement, down to the noggins Kleme made for the lintel over the fireplace, which match those in the hall at the front of the house.
"The thing we like about Arts and Crafts is finding beauty in simplicity," says Rowena. "And the fact that everything is both beautiful and functional."
The window seat is a case in point. Not only is it a striking feature of the room -- and a great spot to enjoy the sun that streams into the house -- but it provides storage space, as does a built-in seat tucked in alongside the fireplace.
Another feature of the Arts and Crafts movement is a connection with nature. Kleme, a house painter by trade, has cleverly used colour throughout the house to enhance that connection.
"I love the warm, earthy tones that you get with Arts and Crafts homes," he says. "There's not a lot of white in this house."
In fact, apart from the fittings and tiles in the bathroom, the only white objects in the rest of the house are the plug sockets and the fridge.
The kitchen was part of the original home but has been enlarged. It has a mixture of new cabinetry and a wall of cupboards that have been there since the house was built. They include old-fashioned storage bins and a hatch plus two-way drawers that go through to the former dining room next door. That room is now used as Kleme's office, and what was once the original living room next door to that is a workroom for Rowena, who was
a costume maker for Shortland Street until she set up her own business last year making ball and bridal gowns. Both rooms can easily be returned to their original use or converted to bedrooms.
Kleme and Rowena's bedroom features
a dressing room that could be converted to an en suite. It also has another window seat, and a leadlight window that looks like it dates back to 1923 but is, in fact, a more recent addition.
"It used to be a plain window but Kleme had it specially made," says Rowena. "He has put a lot of thought into little details like that."
Kleme's attention to detail is also evident in the built-in shelving in the hall and old-style light switches throughout the house.
Image 1 of 6: 150914 NZH HOMES. 46 Huia Road, Point Chevalier vendors Rowena Smith & Kleme Vela. Photo: Fiona Goodall/Getty Images
The garden, too, is testament to his vision.
"I went on holiday to Bali years ago and the tropical gardens blew me away. I have tried to recreate that -- I even built a Bali-style stone temple like the ones the homes there have."
