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Make the move to Myrtle

Our featured property is a brilliant example of what happens when you take a classic 1940s home, infuse modern accents and transform it into a contemporary object of desire.

Located in one of Hamilton’s top city-fringe neighbourhoods, 31 Myrtle Street is a harmonious blend of Art Deco and Brutalist architecture that is elegant, alluring and interesting.

Owners Dan and Sonia could not have picked a more convenient location. The threebedroom townhouse is a short stroll over the bridge to the CBD, and the Waikato River is virtually at your doorstep. Offering an abundance of privacy and peace, it represents the acme of central living: wake to birdsong, enjoy your morning coffee at the farmers’ market and have lunch at the boutique cafes nearby.

As you round the front of the two-level house and approach the front door, look up to see ancient ponga ferns guarding the residence. Stepping in, you are struck by the extensive windows, both on the wall and the ceilings, allowing light to cascade into the kitchen, living and dining spaces. It’s also hard to look past the ornate central staircase that sets the emotional tone for the building. French doors offer access to the cobbled courtyard and elevated backyard, creating an ambience that is conducive to effortless entertaining and relaxed living.

The finesse is the result of Dan and Sonia’s meticulous craftsmanship and passion for creative renovation. The home is a culmination of everything the couple had started out to achieve in this dream project.

‘‘When we found 31 Myrtle, it was in a bit of sad state but the character and potential was obvious and both of us started visualising what could be done before we left the first viewing.

‘‘Having previously developed warehouse spaces, we both felt the need to open the living spaces up as much as possible while still maintaining comfort. The original house plan was a cryptic maze, but in the end, every interior wall was moved to create the layout we wanted.’’

The exterior colour scheme took a lot of thought. ‘‘We wanted to accentuate the slightly brutal design elements, and of course coming from an industrial aesthetic with warehouse living, we were happy to go for something a little bold. We settled on dark grey for the main two-storey block and light blue for the accent, creating a bit of visual drama.’’

A key aspect of the renovation was the antique ornate staircase they sourced from a Ponsonby nightclub set for demolition in Auckland. It was a huge undertaking to remove it and drive it down to Hamilton. Then it was a case of piecing it back together. When it was assembled and working, it was a real milestone in the project and gave them a boost to finish.

Having lived in warehouses, the couple wanted to maintain the feeling of size and openness. They installed four large doubleglazed skylights on the ground floor, including a glass ceiling in the kitchen, which is perfect for looking up into the leaves of the ancient pongas in the garden. They also pushed up the ceiling in the front bedroom – which would also make a fantastic home office – to near roof height, which does wonders for creating the open feel. ‘‘We tried to make the spaces multi-functional to allow for a flexible lifestyle.’’

Because all interior walls on the ground floor were rebuilt with new timber, a lot of glorious original rough sawn rimu was removed. ‘‘It felt like a treasure! So we decided to incorporate it into the kitchen design and created five open benches, and capped them with custombuilt concrete slabs. We love the solid and brutal design of them and they feel like something special whenever we use them!’’

The main bathroom is an intersection of industrial design and natural beauty. In particular, they aimed for the feeling of showering between huge rocks as if in native bush, so went for a hidden walk-in shower with dual showerheads.

Having renovated the house from the ground up, every room is a labour of love for Dan and Sonia so it’s hard for them to pick a favourite room. ‘‘We love the tiled bathroom with the walk-in shower, and the kitchen with its light and industrial feel. But we also really like the bedrooms. Each of the three spaces has its own character and layout. The upstairs bedroom is special, having an ensuite, living space and balcony. But the ground floor bedrooms each has its own style.’’

The next owners have the opportunity to enjoy a home that has been fully renovated to a high standard. At the same time, they can add their own vision on some aspects such as the rear garden, which would look fantastic terraced.

If you would like to more information, call Del Bredesen of Lugton’s today.

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2021-07-24T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-07-24T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://fairfaxmedia.pressreader.com/article/282741999825437

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