b'Eschewing the current mania for opening up the back ofAlthough Eva swears she is not design-a villa into one big barn with an island kitchen, Jonathan created a pair of more intimate wings off either side of theminded, it is clear she had a sure handhallway, one for the kitchen and one for dining, opening intoin the dcor. She insisted on all white.the generous living room. He used changes in ceiling height and skylights to introduce light and airiness, and to deneremain standing, but Eva recalls returning from a trip and the separate spaces. And then, as in an old country house,wondering what on earth she had done as she saw what he wrapped the square living room around with a verandahseemed like the bomb-struck shell of her house. Only the on three sides; a touch that further enhances the sense offrontbay-windowedbedroomremainedun-touched. balance from the hallway. The side verandah has the addedBattened ceilings were replaced, most walls were re-lined benet of affording intimate glimpses of the garden framedand insulated, the wiring was restored, and windows by long, narrow windows at the end of each wing. were re-worked. However, by the time she moved back The satisfying square symmetry of the living room is thatin, there was nothing left to do and the house was ready of a classical house, with a replace on one side balancedfor another 100 years of occupation. by a series of slit windows on the opposing wall. TheAlthough Eva swears she is not design-minded, it is clear she back wall of bi-folding doors opens onto a courtyardhad a sure hand in the dcor. She insisted on an all white deck, edged by fast-growing planting. Jonathan and Eva Resene Black White, the architects favourite, of courseare still debating whether the original ivy should becolour scheme for the walls, deepened to Resene Tea on the allowed to grow back on the plastered brick wall. Thekitchen cabinets. A palette of large matte-glazed charcoal house abuts one of Aucklands early tram depots, withand sandstone-look tiles provide a luxury nish in the ensuite the wall providing a crisp backdrop to the villa. Jonathanand main bathroom, trimmed with Resene Tana. She had a rather likes the industrial crispness of an unadorned wall;couple of goes at the dark-stained oors, settling nally on she prefers the softening effect of greenery. a custom-mix based around Resene Walnut with a touch of The six months of renovations were not without theirblack. She has not tired of the palette in four years, and her shocks. Jonathan says architects casually speak of a gutcollection of paintings and sharp modern furniture pops out and go project, where little but the front walls and oorsagainst the neutral background. 50 |'