Old and New
A beautiful character villa with warm, sunny rooms; no condensation on the windows and fitted with all the modern conveniences. The only hitch is that this Rangiora character villa is a replica but that brings some great benefits.
Words: Pattie Pegler Photography: Dorothy McLenna
Imagine a beautiful character villa with warm, sunny rooms; no condensation on the windows and fitted with all the modern conveniences. That’s exactly what Lee Sinclair and partner Peter Butcher discovered tucked away on a suburban street in Rangiora. The only hitch is that this character villa is a replica rather than an original, built just a few years ago by Mike Greer Homes.
But that also brings some very important benefits. “We had looked at some character villas,” says Lee on their house hunt, “but they were never quite right. They were either too small, or the layout wasn’t right, or they just needed so much work to be able to live in them”. So when they found this new home with all the timeless style and attention to detail of a character villa but with the comfort and convenience of modern living, they knew it was the place for them.
That was four years ago and they now share the 4-bedroom family home with son Jack, two and a peaceful looking cat called Mouse. They have done some cosmetic work, stripping wallpaper and painting and Lee has made it into a truly stylish family home – effortlessly blending old and new. She starts with an advantage when it comes to interior design – an experienced graphic designer turned talented jewellery designer, she’s clearly got an unerring sense of what looks good. “I just love anything design” she says.
And it’s clear from the entrance hall that this is a home that has been put together with some thought. An old, folding metal chair sits neatly in the corner a dark, lush green plant in a woven basket is placed on the seat and an earthenware style pot is tucked on the floor beside it. On the side wall an intricate cream coloured macramé wall hanging holds its own against a neutral background and on the wall ahead a big, bold print of a protea on a black background manages to be eye-catching but not overwhelming. Natural fabrics, muted colours and a love of nature dominate.
In the sunny, open plan kitchen and dining area all the charming features of an old villa are present. There are dado rails and architraves around the doors; a beautiful fireplace in the lounge and high ceilings lend a sense of space and grandeur. A cosy window seat is Lee’s favourite place to relax. The space is sunny, light and bright with gleaming white subway tiles in the kitchen, white walls and pale oak wood floors. But all this is punctuated with some bolder features – between two dark blue couches an interesting wicker coffee table is from local shop Niche. It sits on a patterned rug and close by a more heavily black and white patterned wooden storage trunk catches the eye but these busy patterns work together in a subtle style.
In the dining area a replica retro sewing cabinet takes pride of place, its black metal bulk roughly written with chalk style numbers and letters on its little drawers. “I saved and saved for that, it was my first big purchase,” says Lee. In the lounge area an old replica Chesterfield sits in the corner, the battered and faded leather lends a homely touch to the room - her second big purchase.
But Lee also loves the genuinely old when it comes to shopping. There are little pots and vases dotted about that she’s picked up at op shops; in the bedroom a perfect wicker peacock chair and matching bedhead were a Trade Me find. As a child she spent many weekends going to garage sales with her grandparents and that interest in preloved pieces continues to this day. “I love second-hand shopping, fossicking about in second-hand stores,” says Lee who is often found browsing around in the Salvation Army store and the refuge shop as well as The AuctionRooms in Rangiora and shops like Twine in Waikuku.
Throughout the house each room has its own personality but clearly fits in the overall theme. In Jack’s room natural muted colours dominate accentuated with light woods. In Lee’s home office where she works on designs for her business, Cloud Nine Jewels, pastels and light woods make a bright, sunny work space with one wall covered in magnetic paint – perfect for hanging jewellery pieces. The master bedroom brings in a little more drama with dark blue walls acting as a feature with the striking white of the dado rail.
Lee and Peter may have bought a ready built house, but with her talent for design Lee has done something more valuable – she’s created a home filled with the warmth and personality of the family.
Four Home Design Tips from Lee
Stick to neutral colours on walls and window fittings. Painting walls and changing curtains can be expensive and time-consuming jobs so steer away from bright colours and bold patterns that you may quickly tire of.
Add in pops of colour with smaller items like cushions or a rug that you can change quickly and cheaply.
Scout around second hand shops for some unique and reasonably priced homeware pieces to accessorise your room.
Don’t be afraid to be bolder with some things - if you love something you’ll find a place to make it work. After all, a home is about you and what you like.