The renovation of this mid-century Christchurch home by Yardley Architecture and Stu Lindsay Builders was inspired by its mature garden and the organic curves of nature.

WORDS Shelley Sweeney PHOTOGRAPHY Supplied by Yardley Architecture

When Maree Hunter and her two young children moved into this Fendalton home 27 years ago, there was work to be done.

“I cried when I brought my children here,” says Maree thinking back on the rundown 1950s home. “I used to live across the road and thought this patch of land had so much potential.”

Back then, Maree with her hands-on approach and keen eye for design, set about creating a home for her children. “I plastered the art-deco fireplace in the lounge and inset some French tiles which totally transformed the look of the space,” says Maree. “The old lino floor containing asbestos had to go, as did the carpets, hideous wallpapers and rusted metal louvre blinds. The rimu floors throughout the house were sanded back and polyurethaned to a matt finish to accentuate the beautiful grain in the timbers. New paint, curtains and furnishings completed the look.”

Maree’s children grew up in the three-bedroom brick home and have years of happy memories. “People have always said they love coming here – that it just has a lovely feel,” says Maree. Now both of Maree’s grown-up children have children of their own. Four-year-old Olivia and one-year-old grandson Jack love chasing Maree’s dog, Zoe, around the newly extended home and have their own special bedroom. Maree’s son’s bedroom has been changed into the main bathroom, a practical position between the two guest bedrooms, with a laundry cupboard built in.

When it came to renovating her home for a second time, Maree says, “I knew I had to do it. I would visualise what could be created. Whenever I stood at the kitchen sink looking out at my garden there would be this urge to push the wall out.The garden lent itself to a home that had a seamless indoor-outdoor flow. My garden is my gym and that magical tranquil place that I can escape to. It was the impetus for change." Maree is a keen gardener and, after 27 years, has created a beautiful mature garden that she was determined to keep.

Maree chose Nick Yardley from Yardley Architecture to design the extension for the home, which includes a new master bedroom with ensuite at the back of the house that looks out on the garden and a new office on the other side with a garden view, both with a curved wall that forms the shape of the exterior. The extended dining and living space off the kitchen is at the centre of the extension, with a partially raised ceiling to take full advantage of the large steel cantilevered window that maximises the garden view.

Nick says, “My father and Maree worked together, they are both passionate primary school teachers and share a love of teaching, so it was through my father we met.”

“Maree was rather specific on what was required. I remember curves being the foremost feature request, along with a direct connection to the garden. Maree’s love of her gardening naturally led me to use a more organic approach, not only in form but plan. I like designs that tend to lean towards an asymmetrical rhythm.”

Maree’s builder from Stu Lindsay Builders was recommended by a friend before they both realised they had met many years prior through Stu’s brother-in-law, and they are now great friends.

Stu says, “Maree was a pleasure to work for, very organised, very particular. She had a clear vision of the home that she wanted, and everyone worked well together to achieve that.”

CALM SANCTUARY The French Wash in a duck-egg blue tone from Paintspecs brings a cool calm to the bedroom with its feature curved wall and view to the garden beyond.

“Maree managed the build with Stu; they both did an excellent job of interpreting the overall design vision,” says Nick. Maree adds, “Stu would let me bring in all my tradesmen and worked well with them. We were going through Covid-19 during the build as well. If he was having a bad day, you would never know it.”

The 12-month renovation project began with removing the old bricks from the exterior that had been damaged in the earthquakes and needed to be replaced. Maree and her son did much of this work as well as removing the Halswell quarry stone piece by piece from the banks of the stream and stacking it for the stone mason to create the stunning paths at the front and back of the house with a mid-century aesthetic. Maree had the striking new black bricks imported from Spain to match the Japanese inspired timber cladding on the curved exterior walls.

Creating the curved walls presented a unique challenge for Stu. “Curves from a construction point of view have their own set of challenges, and I like that Stu overcame these,” says Nick.

“I remember coming down here one day when they were getting ready to curve the gib for the walls,” says Maree. “Stu had done all his research on what they did around the world. He made an incredibly clever contraption like a wheel. He wet the gib board and the wheel was the perfect diameter of the room and it worked out perfectly. I don’t know how in all honesty he got the rimu skirting so perfect.”

Stu worked alongside tradesman Steve Phillips, and his two sons Tom and Jack worked as carpenters on the build. “There’s that love feeling when you’re onsite with Stu and his boys. He’s just so good at his trade,” says Maree.

SET IN STONE The mid-century home is complemented by stonemasonry and brickwork by Anderson Bricklaying with Halswell Quarry Stone in the paving and garden edging, and Spanish Corto Nero brick cladding with Jet Black mortar.

The original footprint of the home ends at the kitchen, but the restored, recycled rimu in the new extension is seamlessly matched. Venetian plaster on the curved wall of the kitchen island creates a smooth concrete look. Beautiful paint effects were used in the master bedroom with a soft blue wash. The copper textured paint provides a feature wall in the office, which shines in the afternoon sun.

Thanks to the addition of a new retaining wall, the home could be extended right up to the stream in the garden. “The stream by far was the biggest hurdle,” says Nick. “It is a very long council story, but the extension and the stream now sit harmoniously side by side.”

POLISHED PLASTER The curved kitchen island was given a hand-applied, polished Venetian plaster finish by Claddagh Plastering who used Marmorino KS by Novacolor in a custom shade to match the floor tile.

“My favourite moment comes transitioning from the hall in the original house, breaking out into the new open plan extension; the oversized doors and windows take your attention directly out into the garden,” says Nick. “I like this idea of playing with the comfort of being inside, yet you have the feeling of being outside.”

“I think the use of good design and quality materials creates something quite special,” says Stu, who loves the views back to the house from the garden.

This stunning renovation with expansive views of the garden has exceeded Maree’s expectations. “It’s lovely sitting here at night looking out over the garden.”

Having chosen the right team to help her bring her vision to reality, Maree will continue to enjoy creating new memories here with her family for many years to come.