b'bathroomShe may have fallen for the sweet, rustic charm and beautiful craftsmanshipof her 1920s arts and crafts-style bungalow some years ago, but ownerFiona McKenzie certainly wasnt blind to its imperfections.An impractical layout saw the original bathroom tuckedaims of the revamp was to try to achieve a nice lodge feel down the far end of the house and well away from theto the house, she says. To work hand-in-hand with this bedrooms. Fiona frequently entertains, and has friendsconcept, the bathroom has been designed to double as and relatives from all over the country regularly cominga guest bathroom and powder roomhence its position tostay,soaswellasbeinghighlyinconvenient,thecentral to the spare bedroom and main living areas. bathroom was literally on its last legs. Visitors enter the space from the bedroom or hallway via It was really quite old and decrepit, she laughs. Therea tiny alcove.was an ancient copper toilet with a big chainit wouldThis reects one of Andy Coltarts rm beliefs, and a use about 20 litres of water each ush and, in doing so,thoughtful one that I agree with: That people like their privacy, shake the whole house! and rather than making a public departure, they prefer to So, after three years of putting up with these less-than- discreetly slip away to the bathroom, she explains. desirableconditions,shedecideditwastimetotakeWith the space being completely internal and without action and renovate. Designer Graham Bull was enlistedwindows, achieving the right balance of light was essential. to come up with the architectural drawings, based onAbove one side of the bathroom door, slotted between initial concepts by Andy Coltart, founder of Black Barnthe top of the dado line and the ceiling, a horizontal Vineyards in the Hawkes Bay.window borrows natural light from the hallway, providing It was also Grahams job to oversee the entire projectajust enough illumination during the day. And on either complete revamp that saw a major part of the homesside of the Mexican mirrordiscovered by Fiona in a local layout recongured to better suit Fionas lifestyle. Themarket some 12 years ago and featuring a striking frame sun porch was pushed out to make way for an ensuiteof beaten metalare two little lights. As well as being in the master bedroom, the original kitchen was moveddecorative, these provide the soft, subtle glow that lends sideways, a laundry was addedand what about thethe bathroom its powder room feel. bathroom? Demolished to create a larger living area, itsIt was also important to Fiona that the space featured now repositioned at the front of the house. Its a smart,clean, classic lines and a character that tied in with the new space, which sits snugly off the hall and is very handyrestofthehouse.Forexample,theoriginalwooden to the guest bedroom. joinery and board and batten ceilings are just some of the The whole home had to be re-plumbed, but the job didntfeatures lovingly preserved throughout.pose too many challenges, says Graham. Because all theIn keeping with this, HardiGroove interior wall linings renovation work was done at once, rather than in stages,Resene SpaceCotegive the new bathroom a traditional tongue-and-grooveLow Sheen Kitchenall the plumbing could be commissioned and carried outlook, with the long, vertical panels also adding dimension& Bathroom combines at the same time. A generous crawl-space underneathanti-bacterial silver and height. The new lining of the ceiling has been leftprotection and the house made installing pipes and drainage easier too. exposed, with the material specially chosen to echo theMoulDefender mould inhibitor, perfect for Although the new bathroom is relatively compactjust underboard and battens elsewhere. The bathrooms surfacesminimising unwanted two metres by two metresFiona had specic criteria to behave been painted with Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen innasties in kitchens, bathrooms and met, in terms of both function and aesthetics. One of theResene Double Sisal.laundries.60 |'