b'In a project its owner describes as lunacy, from a number of perspectives, two old homes have been expertly melded into one.Its an ambitious renovation project that has kept the neighbourhood guessing for six years. David Melrose and Bronwen Allen took two adjacent houses on one of Aucklands busy main roads and made them into one.Davidcallsithisanti-propertydevelopment,project.Butdespitehisclaimsoflunacy,the result is a spectacular home and studio complex that has fulfilled his expectations, is perfect for the familys current lifestyle and which reflects the passion and vision with which it was conceived. As an inventor, David is best known for the objects he creates, particularly in his specialty area of bottle design. He is responsible for the curvy fluidity of the award-winning Waiwera water bottle, the Anchor milk bottle and the Powerade sports drink bottle in North America, amongAboveA corner of the kitchen has Art Deco chairs against a Resene Wazzup wall.many others, as well as the technology behind them. With a creative mind that just doesnt stop, it has always been more practical for him to work from home - or next to home, as wasTopThe main lounge has built-in handcrafted cabinetry and a complex the case for many years. He and Bronwen lived in one of the Balmoral Rd houses with theirbungalow-style beamed ceiling. Its two sons Harrison and Campbell while David ran his studio from the house next door.painted in Resene Lemon Grass. LeftThe replica rhino head in the green After searching down long, leafy driveways for the perfect home and work property, Davidroom (Resene Mantis) was made for David concluded that his business needed the main road presence it already had in Mt Eden. So heby Weta Workshop. A rhino is a symbol of power but also something to be set about convincing Bronwen that joining the two houses together would be a good idea. protected. Its a guy thing. 57'