The important things were to increase all the internal spaces, including the kitchen, living and dining areas whilst getting better visual connectivity to the rural views out towards north-western Auckland.

The original 1990’s house was 2 storey’s in part with the typical compact floor plan of that era. The brick and cedar cladding were not completed to the finishing aesthetics Paul and Alice ultimately cared for but, the property and orientation was perfectly aligned to their New Zealand country lifestyle dream and Alice’s passion for horses.

Some compromises had to been made, but the goals and objectives they set out on have now been accomplished. By moving the laundry downstairs, Paul was able gain the extra space he really wanted in the kitchen and from building partially under the deck and upper bedrooms, we managed to create the extra space for a lower-level second master/or guest suite.

As part of the project, they were able to gain the much-needed space in the main master for a larger, more comfortable bedroom which includes a full-sized double walk-in wardrobe as well as incredible views.

The existing entry and stairs remained structurally unchanged due to cost and external space constraints, however with the new render, entrance door and double-glazed aluminium joinery throughout, it now provides a modern and clear entry point.

The glass balustrade, larger span windows and bifold doors have proudly modernized and uplifted the home as well.

Paul and Alice have navigated a difficult project journey from concept to completion. From dealing with unexpected Covid-19 supply issues, and then Cyclone Gabrielle thrown in for good measure during construction, their build is now complete and they are looking forward to a well-deserved relaxing summer.

This wasn't a simple job, and, (for various reasons including the global pandemic, rising building costs and supply chain constraints), we worked through several sets of plans before landing on our preferred option. Julie was very patient throughout and made lots of highly insightful recommendations.

Our project didn't get any easier when the build got underway and we were grateful for Julie and Diki's calm and efficient approach. Before embarking on this project, we had no appreciation of how much communication there would be between your builder and your architect. Our builders commented on how quickly Diki always responded to their questions and requests. They said they were amongst the most responsive and helpful architecture firms they had ever worked with.

So thank you Julie and Diki. It was a long journey (over three years in total!), but the end result was worth it. We will forever be grateful for the major role you played in helping us to create a home that exceeded our expectations and where we look forward to living for many years to come.

Paul and Alice Cunningham

A simple residential reclad and wall removal, additions and changes opened up the space and gave the floor plan more functionality. The smaller details became eye catches such as the internal glass balustrade, the tiled feature walls in the bathroom and the fixed louvers on the face of the facade.