DESIGN
OLD SCHOOL, NEW HOME WORDS
KATHY
HUNTER
|
PHOTOS
ROBERTO
BUZZOLAN
Five years ago, the Dowling family bought ten acres on Matakana Road. It had river frontage and a random collection of buildings. There was a little bungalow (very old, very cold), a nice little B&B cottage, a rented minor dwelling and a dilapidated school house. “I fell in love with the school house,” says Haidee. “Craig fell in love with the river.”
The schoolhouse was renovated into a vintage store and opened as ‘Old School Inc.’, stocking industrial furniture and homewares. Meanwhile the couple, with teenage twins Texas and Coco, made the best of the bungalow, and collected their ideas and their energy to build their dream home.
Haidee had plans for that cute little building; around 120 years old, it had been the original school in Schollum Road, Matakana. Craig had plans for the river, specifically lying in a hammock under a palm. “Good luck with that,” says Haidee. “He hasn’t had a day off since we bought the place.”
It began in late 2016. Inspired by friends, Haidee and Craig drew up some plans using free software and lots of advice. “It helped that we had the best builder in the world,” she says. Tom Balzat and son Jackson worked tirelessly with Haidee to realise her wildest ideas.
They were used to the character of villas and were terrified that their new home would be a stark, soulless box. “But Tom helped us recycle most of the old kauri and rimu from the bungalow. That old wood has given the house the warmth and soul that’s crucial for any new build,” Haidee says. She speaks of her builder’s skills with reverence. “I’d show Tom a picture of a sliding door I liked and go out for a couple of hours. When I got back, he’d go ‘Like this?’ It would be done – and perfect.” The doors, the concrete sinks and enormous benches (boxed and poured nerve-wrackingly in situ), the shelving, wardrobes and more were handmade by Tom and Jackson.
kate shanahan interiors +64 27 164 075 kateshanahan.co.nz
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