Tucked into the hillside of a Banks Peninsula valley, this sympathetic renovation from Armstrong Interiors reflects the soothing beauty and calming influence of its rural garden setting.

WORDS Shelley Sweeney PHOTOGRAPHY Anna McLeod

It was love at first sight for the owners of this idyllic French Farm home. The striking house and rich horticultural history of the land caught the imagination of this empty-nesting couple, who saw it as a rare opportunity to live their dream lifestyle.

The imposing property was built in the 1990s. Its original owner was internationally acclaimed New Zealand watercolour artist and garden designer Nancy Tichborne. Over many years Nancy and her husband transformed the steep hillside into a verdant paradise. In 2011 the garden earned the distinction of being a Garden of Significance by the New Zealand Gardens Trust.

The new occupants, who are enthusiastic gardeners themselves, were happy to be custodians of this treasured sanctuary. Due to the size of the property, the abundance of plant life and large vegetable garden, they have a local gardening company helping out once a fortnight.

“When the owners of this amazing property reached out to us to help them execute a large renovation for their home, it was clear that they wanted everything just right,” says Angelique Armstrong, director and principal interior designer with Armstrong Interiors.

The setting of the home was an important consideration for Angelique and her design team.
“It made us really mindful about being able to keep this home in a very classic form. True to its surroundings and true to its form of architecture. It’s an absolutely beautiful home, and we really wanted to do it justice.”

Timber shutters by Weathermaster Canterbury are an eco-friendly and durable choice that perfectly suits the charm of this home’s interiors, while the Whisper shades add a softness and offer super-efficient insulation

When it came to the interiors, the homeowners were inspired by their previous properties in Europe and their much-loved collection of furniture that came with them to New Zealand. They chose a modern English country interior with a soft colour palette throughout the home.

When approaching the design, Angelique says, “We drew inspiration from original features. In the main lounge the exposed timber beams, which had been dark, were whitewashed to match the soft colour palette and enhance the country feel.”

This comprehensive interior renovation included reconfiguring the kitchen and living areas with new joinery. The original cedar window joinery was kept for its natural warmth, while elsewhere in the home blue aluminium joinery was recoloured to dark grey.

The main dining room was brought back to life with crisp new paint. The main stairwell was reworked and fitted with new American Oak floors and a stunning feature balustrade can now be seen from the main entrance area.

Both the ensuite and guest bathroom were completed with quality fittings, floor-to-ceiling tiles
and subtle LED strip lighting around the vanities and showers. Newly created spaces in this refined rural home include a loft area, an office, a home gym and a walk-in-mudroom with direct access from the back garden area. Angelique and her team also updated the exterior colour of the house to match the interior palette. The thorough renovation extends all the way to the old out-house in the garden, which has been given an update with a copper pan.

“The refreshed layout of the kitchen, utility room and bathrooms have resulted in very functional and attractive spaces that are a pleasure to use,” say the homeowners. “The timeless shaker style cabinetry suits the character of the home. Without changing the bones of the property too much, it has been brought beautifully up-to-date with traditional touches.”

“Our design process focused on infusing warmth and elegance into the interiors, creating English country sophistication with light, bright spaces,” says Angelique. “I love the way the home is situated on the land and
is surrounded by bird life. This project was all about drawing the eye outside while creating an easy living feeling inside the home.”

It’s no surprise that the main living room of this elegant property, with its high ceilings and light-filled space, served as a working studio for its former resident artist. “It’s spectacular,” says Angelique. “We worked around the original elements of the terracotta floor and the walls which were bright yellow. The owners really wanted to keep the floor, so I colour-matched the walls with softer terracotta tiles.”

Another one of Angelique’s favourite moments in the home is the reading nook under the stairs. “It’s painted dark and the homeowner has put beautiful things in there. It had been a cupboard, but we just wanted to give her a reading nook so she can sit in that cosy space and enjoy a good book.”

The owners couldn’t feel more at home, saying, “The results of the renovation perfectly suit the furniture and artwork that we have collected over the years. There is a seamless flow through the house, with natural textures of timber and linen, and warm neutral tones.”

The homeowners enjoy relaxing in the light and airy space of their freshly renovated home. They appreciate the way the spaces smoothly transition into a warm and inviting atmosphere in the evening when the shutters are closed and curtains are drawn.

These enthusiastic custodians of the land are thoroughly enjoying their new life in rural Canterbury. “We love how the property nestles at the end of the valley, and the neutral, earthy tones of the interior are congenial to the surrounding environment of native bush and pastureland that can be seen from all the windows.”

This beautiful valley home with its magnificent garden and heavenly setting has given its new owners everything they dreamed of – an inspiring, harmonious life in the country.