2026

The Stage and the Cave

Completed

Ponsonby | Villa Renovation

An award-winning villa renovation on the Ponsonby and Grey Lynn border. A long, narrow site and a classic character villa became the starting point for something quietly triumphant. Rising to the challenge of the site, this Grey Lynn villa transitions beyond the original character rooms into a contemporary "stage" for living. Inside, you barely know if you're in or out. Out front, we added carefully considered character details so the home looks as pretty as a picture from the street. Here, the heritage and the new sit comfortably side by side.

A cave, then a stage

Beyond the original hallway and bedrooms, the clients’ love of mid-century modern sets a sumptuous tone throughout. Between the existing house and the new addition sits a gallery of cave-like spaces — a storage-packed scullery, laundry, and media room. Together, these give the home a sense of depth, sequence, and discovery as you move through it.

A sun-drenched addition, built for entertaining

The new living, dining, and kitchen addition features a high timber acoustic ceiling and full glass walls. These dissolve the boundary between inside and out. Beyond, this connects immediately to the north-facing garden. Sheltered terraces with outdoor fireplaces sit alongside a lap pool running the full length of the addition, turning the garden into a genuine outdoor room. Throughout, every corner of this site was planned with care — relaxing, sophisticated, and thoroughly liveable.

Recognised for the quality of the result

This villa renovation won the 2019 NZIA Auckland Housing Award for Alterations and Additions and a Silver Pin at the 2018 BEST Awards. Alongside these, it also received two NZ House and Garden Interior of the Year Awards recognitions, plus features in Houses magazine and Home New Zealand.

All projects

Next project

Mid-century modern interior, Grey Lynn villa renovation

Award-winning Grey Lynn villa renovation, Ponsonby border

A classic Grey Lynn villa, extended into a contemporary stage for living — where you barely know if you're in or out

Open-plan kitchen and dining addition, Ponsonby / Grey Lynn villa

High timber acoustic ceiling, new living addition, Grey Lynn, Ponsonby

Cave-like spaces give way to a sun-drenched addition with a high timber ceiling and a north-facing garden

North-facing garden and outdoor entertaining, Grey Lynn villa

Character villa street frontage, Grey Lynn Ponsonby renovation

Winner of the 2019 NZIA Auckland Housing Award for Alterations and Additions.

Ponsonby Heritage villa exterior, Grey Lynn and Ponsonby border

Lap pool running length of addition, Grey Lynn villa

A lap pool running the full length of the addition, sheltered terraces, and outdoor fireplaces — a garden built for entertaining

Sheltered terrace with outdoor fireplace, Grey Lynn garden

Renovating a villa or character home of your own?

f you have a villa or heritage home in Ponsonby, Grey Lynn, Herne Bay, or the wider Auckland area, we would love to talk. Whether you want to extend or transform it without losing what makes it special, get in touch to start the conversation, or browse more villa renovation projects for inspiration.