Seven years ago it was art that convinced Karen Dennis and Nigel Russell this Westmere home was the right one for them. Designed by architect Noel Lane in 1989 and known as the AB Gibbs house, this distinctive home has appeared in numerous local and international architecture publications.
The mix of once-new and reclaimed materials and the bespoke fittings made by artists they knew captured Karen and Nigel. "When we pulled up outside I said to Nigel that it wouldn't suit us, but then we walked through and recognised the artwork of Matthew von Sturmer and Neil Miller," says Karen who, with Nigel, was a contemporary of these artists at Elam Art School. Amongst other metalwork, Miller's pieces include a steel, granite-topped kitchen island, while von Sturmer shaped a sinuous sculpture that forms part of what originally was an indoor water feature. "A lot of our artwork is also from that period," says Karen. It all felt right.
The house's proportions and layout suited them, too. "We ran a tape measure around," says Nigel. "Spatially it worked for us. The bedrooms were all the right size and the kids had their privacy and we had ours."
Karen and Nigel had previously lived in a Grey Lynn villa for 14 years, but with their children Jasper, then aged 14, and Madi, 10, growing up, the family needed a different sort of home. Jasper and Madi are musical - both are now in bands - so it helped to have a little separation between the generations.
