The modestly sized villa is quietly tucked away in the Grey Lynn landscape. It was falling apart, dark and had no connection and flow between the spaces. Due to the special character nature of the villa, the exterior was to remain sympathetic and untouched as much as possible, while still giving it a fresh look. This is in contrast to the brave and electrifying nature of the clients.

As you approach the villa, the traditional porch features and entry stand proud giving a sense of belonging and history. The bold blue door and stained-glass panels give a hint of quirky personality to the traditional façade. The bright hallway with classic white walls set the backdrop for the fun and expressional art pieces on display. The rear lean-to has been opened up to create connection between the living areas, while a pair of carefully placed skylights at the rear allows light to fill the space drawing you through the home.

Its modest size meant that every corner needed to be carefully considered. The living room giving off a sense of cozy yet elegant charm. There is no TV in sight with furniture nestled around a small fireplace, encouraging conversation and a place of peaceful bliss. The bold kitchen sits anchored in the back with beautiful dark timber finishes against the light natural timber flooring. The natural earthy tones and textures once again setting the back drop for the energised and colourful artwork. The moody bathroom daringly contrasts the light and airiness of the rest of the home, once again a reflection of the clients love of colour and texture. The skylight above bouncing light down onto the dark tiles below. The second bedroom becomes a fluid space, designed as a library and music room while still allowing it to be a bedroom for guests to stay in when they visit.

True to the client’s personal touch, the rear outdoor area does not open onto pristine lawns framed by a display of perky hedges. But rather encourage nature to sit proudly with a wealth of vegetation and plants hugging the snug and intimate outdoor area.

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Margaret and Rob

We engaged Romé at Buildology to design and plan a renovation for a small villa. Because we didn't want to extend the footprint, the space was tight - and we required a lot from it. Romé developed a design that included everything we needed, and offered some really clever thinking to do so - the layout works, every day, and is exactly what we sought but couldn't imagine for ourselves... There's nothing we'd change.
With Romé in charge, the renovation flew through Council approvals. Romé was fully aware of all the potential issues regarding Heritage status homes, and able to supply solutions that satisfied both the council, and us. Tricky, when introducing skylights and new windows to a street's identified as having architectural heritage value to Auckland.
As another reviewer has stated, our builders spoke often of how great Romé is to work with - her designs are practical, clear, and need to interpretation. As a result our work was completed in a short time frame, and costs were managed.
Romé was fab to work with. Clear communication, a problem-solving mindset, and calm attitude with this first-time renovator and my last-minute requests. All you can ask - very happy to recommend.