Michele and Barry Wright absolutely love France. So much so they make an annual trip to their beloved destination to soak up the food, wine, design, culture and everything else the country has on offer.
You're never likely to see Michele carelessly fling her hand luggage about on the flight back to Auckland. She and Barry love to pick up mementoes of their travels to bring home. This year's trip saw her carefully pack a glass snail ornament in her carry-on bag.
Last year it was guinea fowl figurines from a village near Uzes. Previous trips have seen Michele carry delicate vases from Paris. A painting was too cumbersome for the plane, so the Wrights shipped it back and it now graces their master bedroom.
Their delight in French style can be seen in their Mission Bay home, which they renovated with the help of Michele's friend, interior designer Paula McIntosh. What started out as some minor improvements turned out to be "quite major", Michele says, as the couple saw the potential of the circa 1995 house.
Paula suggested opening up the interior to make the space feel more generous. The footprint of their home hasn't changed, but the flow is much improved, thanks to raised door heights, larger skirting boards and a reconfigured entrance atrium with a rejuvenated wrought-iron balustrade on the stairs.
On Paula's suggestion, the project also saw two rooms - a downstairs bedroom and a dining room - reborn as a large wine room with custom-built shelving that doubles as a library and dining room, big enough to accommodate the French 10-seater antique dining table Michele has had for years.
The couple lived in the house during the renovation. "It was throughout winter," Michele recalls. "We were sitting here in our parkas, with the house wrapped in plastic.
The builders said we were nuts." Barry says they initially thought they would redo the bathrooms later. "But John the builder said to me, 'Forget about that, do it now'." As soon as the renovation was completed in June, 2013, they were off to France.
Image 1 of 8: 11a Cullwick Rd, Mission Bay, Auckland. Photograph/Ted Baghurst.
When they got home they could relax and enjoy the Juliet balcony added to the master bedroom, which has views over the neighbourhood to Bastion Point.
The two upstairs bathrooms, which the Wrights are pleased they renovated at the same time as everything else, are both tranquil retreats.
With Carrara marble tiles and elegant fittings, they're both easy care. The master en suite and family bathrooms both have walk-in showers with no doors, so there's no glass to scrub. The family bathroom also sports an elegant standalone bath tub. There are two guest bedrooms, both doubles, allowing plenty of room for family and friends.
Downstairs, the living area and kitchen spill on to a wrap-around courtyard, which features elegant formal planting and an alfresco dining area. "The garden was quite eclectic before," says Barry, but they've pared it back and made it more akin to French style, including a fountain in the courtyard that provides the soothing sound of water. "It's a green and white garden now," says Michele.
The living room is cosy in winter thanks to a gas open fireplace that's the centrepiece of the room. The kitchen has a pale granite benchtop in keeping with the pale palette used throughout the house, including the washed oak floors.
The Wrights have loved their French-inspired home in this quiet street, but are looking to do more travelling. No prizes for guessing where they are going.
