This Freemans Bay, Auckland renovation is a wonderful example of revitalising an existing lovely villa. This villa was completely modernised, transforming this home’s appeal but maintaining the look of the existing villa’s charm. The owners of this villa are also renovating the adjoining villa. They were clear they wished to keep the integrity of both villa’s but also wanted these homes to have appeal commercially. The owners also wanted to have the optionality of running these properties as boutique B&B accommodations.
With a clear vision in mind, they consulted with Lewis Build and Jones Architecture. This project required precision thinking and clever design innovation that blended both the old and new seamlessly. Ben Lewis is the Director of Lewis Build, a bespoke family-owned building company. Lewis Build has earned a reputation and name for outstanding excellence in architectural new build and renovation. These builders have won many awards in recognition of their commitment to complete quality projects at the highest possible industry standards. Ben and his incredible team have been working on these two architecturally designed houses in Freemans Bay, both villas and side-by-side. Both homes feature three bedrooms and two bathrooms. These projects were renovated simultaneously which took some well managed coordinating.
Next Level Joinery also brought their set of expertise to the table with their customised timber windows and doors. This has enhanced the overall quality of the home but kept the feel of yester year. The kitchen and bathrooms have been designed with painstaking attention to detail and have been tailored for the best in living. The kitchen/dining area is built to capture the natural light while at the same time maximising indoor/outdoor flow. This enclosed area is cosy yet an entertainer’s haven, made even more beautiful by the Millboard decking from Forte. The entire home has hydronic underfloor heating throughout, Making this home a fabulous sanctuary all year around. This home is not only clever but there has been no compromises on comfort. Outside, the back of the property features an outdoor entertainment area with louvres from Aurae, a pergola with seating, and a large 10m long, fully heated and covered pool by Pools by Design. The grounds which have an understated timeless elegance are the concept of Hoods Landscaping. The grounds complement this home perfectly. As `Ben explains, these homes were big projects and required considerable engineering and planning, “We took the featured home from a single-level to a three-level property, adding a level above and below, and slid it backwards from its original footprint”. This feat could not have been achieved with out the invaluable input and experience of the team at Auckland House Lifting.
Reuben and his team at Auckland House lifting are able to slide houses or relocate them on the same section with millimetre accuracy, using their custom built track and skate system. With this system, they can also rotate the orientation of the building to suit any location on the property. Freeman’s Bay is a gorgeous central suburb in Auckland and the top level is dedicated to a full master bedroom suite with sweeping views of the city and Skytower. This panoramic vista is simply stunning and is one of the highlights of this build. Trinity Interior Design is a leading Auckland-based studio and have partnered successfully with Ben and his team on numerous high-end projects. Trinity Interior Design specialise in interiors that are both aesthetic but designed intelligently based on their thoughtful and functional interiors. These award-winning interior designers have definitely achieved a an effortlessly cohesive outcome, which they have become known for throughout New Zealand.
Lewis Build placed high importance on keeping the special character of the villa where possible, including keeping the original fretwork and creating replica chimneys. Lewis Build really do take pride in the expertise that goes into a renovation. They are a team dedicated to meeting design needs and creating on trend, high-end spaces that reflect the owners’ unique taste and style. The owners of this superb Freemans Bay property say “our trust that every aspect of this project would be executed to the highest standard has more than been proven and this project has surpassed our expectations”. Ben would like to give a special mention of thanks to all the team who have worked on and supported this build. Great results rely on great teams, and this example is no exception. This company builds legacies not just homes.