This John Street villa renovation is a proud juxtaposition of yesterday and today because, as architect Jose Gutierrez points out, “it makes sense to make the new extension feel new”.
“I think it’s important to draw the line and say, ‘we’re going to do something of the time, instead of a faux 100-year-old extension,” he says.
The four-bedroom Ponsonby property is owned by Amber Coulter and Andrew Lewis, who lived in it for around 15 years before calling on old mate and frequent collaborator Gutierrez to help rework it for them six years ago.
“We renovated just before Covid, which was quite fortuitous,” says Amber.
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“I had been saying that I was looking forward to spending a bit more time at home because I’d been travelling a lot, then in March, I was really spending a lot more time at home. It was a little old villa with a lean-to and we lived there for a long time before the renovation, learning about the light and what we wanted from a family home.”
The couple had enjoyed a fruitful working relationship with Gutierrez so knew he was the man for the job.
“This is our fourth project with Jose. He’s done three offices for our business TRA (The Research Agency) and this was our personal project. We’ve got a history of working closely together on ambitious projects so we had that confidence, plus we’re old friends so that makes it easy as well.”
Their brief was to modernise the villa and create functional, family-friendly spaces with indoor-outdoor flow. It also had to be a great party house. The original heritage frontage flows to two stacked monolithic masses at the rear, with a custom-designed and crafted stairwell connecting the two levels.
Three bedrooms, the family bathroom and the living, dining and kitchen are located downstairs, with the master with ensuite and separate office located upstairs. The inside flows to outdoor living, landscaped gardens and inground swimming pool. The property also comes with an off-street park at the front.
Architect Jose Gutierrez: “I think it’s important to draw the line and say, ‘we’re going to do something of the time, instead of a faux 100-year-old extension.” Photo / Supplied
The extension is warm and inviting, with a light-filled, timber-heavy interior palette and bespoke furniture pieces thoughtfully crafted throughout. Photo / Supplied
The home has four bedrooms, two bathrooms, off-street parking and multiple living areas. Photo / Supplied
While the extension has a minimalist feel, it’s still very warm and inviting, which is down to the light-filled, timber-heavy interior palette and bespoke furniture pieces thoughtfully crafted throughout.
Amber and Andrew, along with their now teenage kids, have adored the way their house has worked for them.
“It’s been such a great family home but it’s time for a change. We’re still staying in the area but the plan is to move into another project. We love Ponsonby and we love John Street, it’s got a really good community and is very central. It’s perfectly positioned between Herne Bay and Three Lamps.
“When we moved here about 15 years ago, Three Lamps wasn’t quite as busy but there’s a lot more going on now – restaurants, bars and shops. So you can walk everywhere really easily.”
Gutierrez says he has great synergy with the couple, which is why the project is such a success.
“They’re very trusting and value good design. They gave us a good brief and trusted our work. The house is very much a collaboration with them – it’s a team effort.”
The inside flows to outdoor living, landscaped gardens and an inground swimming pool. Photo / Supplied
Bayleys listing agent Ed Pack says the master has a view which is quite rare in Ponsonby. Photo / Supplied
He says the bespoke touches enhance the feeling of the home and the inviting ambience. “The staircase is a real piece of art and there’s also a central unit for Andrew’s record player that also houses the TV and divides the dining and the living room. It’s little things like that – you can’t really go out and buy that off the shelf.”
Ed Pack, from Bayleys, says that the design ingenuity here speaks for itself.
“Jose is a special architect and he’s done some pretty incredible projects that have gathered a lot of attention in the residential space over the last few years. What he’s created here is awesome and the layout is appealing to a wide demographic of buyers.”
Pack says the master has a view, which is quite rare in Ponsonby.
“It’s also got what everyone wants – that large kitchen/living/dining that flows seamlessly out to a flat lawn and swimming pool. It certainly doesn’t feel like the middle of Ponsonby when you’re there.
“You feel like you could be somewhere super removed, it’s quiet, private and sunny and very peaceful.”
- 48 John Street in Ponsonby, Auckland, heads to auction on June 24
