The owner of this deliciously quirky triangle terrace lived and worked for 20 years between New Zealand, London and Australia before moving back to Australia to create a home for herself. The house would leave most people scratching their heads as to how to make it work. Wrapped around a central courtyard it is built to the boundary on three sides between another terrace, the street and a bluestone laneway angled at 45 degrees away from the street. The resulting building is full of unusually shaped spaces with two tiny triangle rooms at opposing apexes. Rooms follow on from one another, the bathroom, laundry and spare room are through the master bedroom.
Alice enlisted the skills of Nicola at Drawing Room Architecture to resolve the functionality of the spaces and design the new bathrooms and laundry, cosmetic renovation and a courtyard fit-out. She applied her project management skills as a TVC producer with gusto - managing the renovation in a harrowing timeline with a baby on the way.
The modest but transformative renovation ensured every space was carefully considered to centre around the courtyard garden and for life with a young son. The previously dark and masculine spaces were softened with new tiles and paint colours. Last year, Megan of Brave New Eco had the pleasure of styling the home for a shoot with Australian born, UK based photographer Penny Wincer.
The triangle kitchen is our favourite part of this house. Surprisingly functional for such an awkward shape, the timber cabinetry is the original 1970's fit out.
New tiles and openable windows were added for cross-flow ventilation. A collection of Alice's iconic NZ Crown Lyn pottery lines the shelf above the window and Alice's collection of teapots get a good workout in this lovely space.
Designed by Nicola from Drawing Room Architecture, The west facing outdoor courtyard features built-in seating and garden beds, a beautiful tall slatted fence and oversized gate and a shady pergola to protect from the hot summer sun. Alice filled the space with a table tiled in vintage Art Deco tiles, a huge range of plants, mirrors and shelves to vertical surfaces.
An interior palette of rinsed-out early 20th century tones chosen by Nicola was used, to soften the classic spaces and create a classic backdrop to Alice's eclectic furnishings. Vintage light fittings were installed throughout and Alice has furnished the home lovingly with her collection of vintage English and New Zealand objects and furniture. Brave New Eco made some lovely linen curtains trimmed with a vintage Japanese obi.
Alice is an intuitive and disciplined collector, and the home is filled with delightful vintage pieces from her native New Zealand, and Australia and England. She takes a considered approach and really adheres to the William Morris idea that we should only have things in our homes that we find to be useful or consider to be beautiful. The result is a unique and cohesive space, full of humble charm and interest.
A teeny-tiny bathroom/ laundry and toilet were reconfigured by Nicola, making them functional despite the spatial challenges, graphic detail in the vanity and tiles adding interest. Trims and mouldings were painted white to contrast with the timber floors and provide cohesion.