In this renovation of an ex Auckland tram bach now situated on the coast, the client wanted to capture the feel of their childhood home and the style evocative of the era of the trams, while taking advantage of its great situation. The challenge was to also create a modern and functional kitchen in the very compact space that was available, while creating a place to relax and recharge away from fast paced city life.

Following strict building rules for the site and retaining the existing building footprint with typical kiwi bach addons that had gone on over the years since arriving in this spot some 50 years ago, walls were removed adjacent to the kitchen to open it up. Where once there was a rusting water tank is now a picture window with a view to sea and wonderful sunsets from the dining table.

Original tram features were retained including the sliding door which was restored with Resene Woodsman oil stain in Resene English Walnut, and the tram end is seen ‘nudging’ through the wall into the new kitchen space.

In keeping with the retro style, appliances are hidden where possible and a Smeg Fab fridge was specified. Tram 53 lives on.

The walls throughout the tram were painted in Resene Alabaster, the kitchen and bathroom in the very practical low sheen Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen Kitchen & Bathroom. The exterior weatherboards were painted in Resene Lumbersider also in Resene Comfort Zone, with the original tram itself being painted in Resene Silver Chalice and base boards in Resene Gunsmoke with Resene Wan White for barge boards and soffits. Trims including original tram windows were painted in Resene Enamacryl in Resene White.

The inspiration for the colour scheme came not only from the 50s, but also from the sky, sea and earth. The Resene Comfort Zone blue of the cabinetry combined with the related and complementary muted blues, greens and browns of the mosaic tiles, flooring and terrazzo like benchtop combine to create a place to relax and just be, reminiscent of a bygone era, the perfect place to be slow, talk with neighbours, read, fish or watch the sun go down.

The chartreuse green accents in the squabs and fabrics add some punch and the colours of the Crown Lynn crockery seen through the reeded glass cabinetry doors add to the charm, while silver accents and glass reflect light and views, to delightfully meet the brief.

Building contractor: Chris Brodie Builders
Interior designer: Lynn Plom, Kitchen designer
Kitchen painter: Total Coatings
Painting contractor: Ray Howell
Photographer: Kallan McLeod
Project: Resene Total Colour Awards 2013

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