2026
Pop-Up Book
Completed
Westmere
A renovation and rear extension that brings light, warmth and family life back into a much-loved Auckland bungalow From the street, this Westmere home reads as a storybook-pretty bungalow - its familiar stucco facade quietly holding its place in the neighbourhood. Freshly painted in a soft, warm white, the exterior keeps the charm and nostalgia of the original character home, while setting the tone for the transformation that unfolds behind it.
A rear extension that respects the original roofline
The renovation moves gently toward the back of the house, where a subtle extension continues the existing roofline so the old and new read as one seamless form – a deliberate approach for homeowners who want to extend a character home without losing the architecture that drew them to it in the first place. The concept takes its cue from the layered quality of a pop-up book, where pages lift and overlap to create depth and moments of discovery. That idea plays out in the exterior materials too, with flat sheet cladding layered over slender timber battens that cast soft, shifting shadows across the facade through the day.
Solving a classic Auckland renovation problem: the south-facing site
Inside, the home opens into a light-filled, open-plan living space designed specifically to counter the site’s south-facing orientation – a common challenge in renovating older Auckland homes, where original layouts often shut daylight out rather than let it in. Rooms that were once dark and disconnected now step down to connect directly with the garden and swimming pool, turning a previously underused backyard into the heart of family life.
Colour and warmth, layered like a story
Soft, playful colour tones move through the interior like moments within a pop-up story, adding warmth and personality while keeping a calm backdrop for everyday family living. It’s a renovation that balances character and comfort – true to the home’s bones, but built for the way the family actually lives now.
Together, the layered whites of the exterior and the light-filled, uplifting interiors create a home that feels both timeless and joyful – where architecture, light and colour unfold like pages of a story being gently revealed.
Spaces that were once dark and disconnected have been reimagined as a bright, open-plan living environment that steps down to connect directly with the garden and swimming pool.
Inside, the home opens into a light-filled interior designed to counter the site’s south-facing orientation.
Together, the layered whites of the exterior and the light, uplifting interiors create a home that feels timeless yet joyful, where architecture, light, and colour unfold like pages of a story being gently revealed.
Renovating or extending a character home of your own?
If you’re sitting on a villa or bungalow with good bones but a layout that no longer works – too dark, too closed-off, too disconnected from the garden – we would love to talk about what’s possible. Get in touch to start the conversation, or browse more renovation projects for inspiration.
Photography
Simon Wilson
