Krista proves old needn't mean ill

Published: 15 May 2014

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Villa gets a healthy makeover

Flying in the face of the assumption that all old houses are cold and damp, one woman and a team of companies, including Resene and led by HRV, have proven that you can combine character and comfort.

The drive behind the HRV Pure Invironment Project came from the fact the state of our housing stock is in a poor and unhealthy condition. So during eight weeks of intensive work a 110-year-old villa in Ponsonby, Auckland, was beautifully restored and fitted out with HRV’s ventilation, heating and cooling solutions, as well as HRV’s latest innovation – a Whole Home Water Filtration system.  The house is owned by Krista Strong, who asked friend and former house mate Zayne to design and project manage the renovation.

What inspired the current renovation project, and the idea to renovate in such an energy efficient way?

Says Krista: This year my parents are moving out from the UK, so the time came to sell the house. I could have sold it as is for a good profit, or do a major renovation, make it cool and restore it to its former glory.

Zayne and I used to sit around in the old kitchen and dream about how we’d do it. I had planned on doing a renovation five years ago but my new business (Barkley Manor dog daycare and grooming) got in the way and took up all my time. 

Last year we got talking to the guys from HRV and the opportunity was there to not only do up the house but be part of a unique project with the goal of setting a new benchmark for the quality and health of New Zealand homes. This house is the perfect example of how you can turn a cold, mouldy and damp old home into a healthy and liveable one.  

Did you know… that normal paints can contain strong-smelling solvent odours that cause headaches, asthma, allergic reactions and even respiratory complaints. On this project, Resene Zylone Sheen VOC Free was used instead. It's an Environmental Choice and Sensitive Choice approved paint to give you a high quality alternative.It has had virtually all odorous materialremoved from it, meaning you can paint an area of the home and start living in it almost immediately. There are no VOCs – or Volatile Organic Compounds – in the paint or in the colour tinters. 

How did you decide on the overall look of the interiors? What was your overall philosophy?

Our philosophy is all about the old and new elements working together to maintain the heritage of the house while creating a modern living space with contemporary touches to make it a truly beautiful home.

I’m very old school and love the history of a place, whereas Zayne is inspired by clean lines and modern design. Yes, we’ve had our arguments, but we meet somewhere in the middle.

I hate it when property developers rip these beautiful old places to pieces, and only maintain the heritage because they have to. We wanted to keep the integrity and charm of the house so we didn’t simply knock the back off it. Instead, we retained the existing roof line at the rear of the house and two traditional french doors which open out on to the deck area.

Perhaps the best example of the old meeting the new is the 100-year-old kauri floors next to the state-of-the-art poured concrete kitchen which is the centrepiece of the open-plan living area.

What Resene colours have you used and what inspired those choices?

We kept it simple, creating a white palette using Resene Black White for the walls throughout, and Resene Alabaster for the ceilings, to allow anyone who moves into the house to make it their own. The house is a sun-trap too and the white grabs all that sun into the rooms.  The idea of using Resene Baltic Sea CoolColour on the outside was because Zayne wanted the house to stand out from anything else on the street – and it does.

What’s CoolColour? Outside, Resene Lumbersider CoolColour combines the gorgeous deep tones of Resene Baltic Sea with a special formula that reflects more of the sun’s heat so that the weatherboards stay cooler than a normal version of the colour.

What part of the house are you most happy with?

Zayne would say the kitchen, and the connection between the living areas. But for me it’s the downstairs master bedroom. I was scared it was going to be too dark, but with the two sets of french doors it’s not - and it’s divine.

Top tip: In the wet areas, Resene Kitchen & Bathroom formulated with anti-bacteria silver and MoulDefender has been used to protect against mould and bacteria.  This is a Sensitive Choice and an Environmental Choice approved product range.

What is your advice for someone trying to achieve a similar outcome?

Put the effort in at the start of the project to ensure everyone is on the same page in terms of how you want the home to feel and look. You don’t want to be rushed into making decisions later on when you’re running out of time. So have a clear idea what the end look is or else you might get lost.

What was the biggest challenge for this project?

Lifting the lid on some of the really old and bad repair work that had been done over the years. Some of it was funny, but some of it was scary. You just don’t know what’s underneath these boards and behind those walls that might need replacing. So be prepared to move your budget to allow for this.    

For more information go to hrvhouse.co.nz

Style statement

Resene Baltic Sea CoolColour was chosen to make a style statement from the street, while the Resene CoolColour technology means that the paint reflects more of the sun’s heat so that the weatherboards stay cooler. 

Warm meets white

The living areas were opened up in the house, and painted in Resene Black White with trims in Resene Alabaster. Krista and Zayne were particularly pleased with how the contemporary and traditional aspects of the house marry so well together. 

Crisp yet charming

The state-of-the-art poured concrete kitchen is the centrepiece of the open-plan living area. French doors were used as opposed to sliding doors to keep the charm and character of the house alive. 

Divine...

Krista is particularly please with the downstairs master bedroom. "I was scared it was going to be too dark, but with the two sets of french doors it’s not - and it’s divine." The walls are in Resene Black White and the trims are Resene Alabaster. 

Keeping it neutral

The bathroom continues the neutral scheme, with touches of aged timber finish for extra character. 

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