Saratoga House

A tired, brick-and-tile, former recording studio of Eldred Stebbing in a prominent Auckland suburb is brought to the contemporary standard of its neighbours with a high-spec renovation by Verso Architecture + Interiors. An exterior material palette of cedar, plaster brick, board-form concrete and Eurotray standing seam roofing merges with the existing brick and creates a sense of connection with the interior.

The kitchen has a warm, cosy aesthetic with a Eucalyptus veneer island and dark oak flooring. The island bench is topped with Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete from Terrazzo Stoneworks, and features open shelving below for ease of use. The custom-designed, Metalier-coated rangehood is a prominent feature of the space, lending shine and depth of colour. Light spills through the cedar screens that define the pantry. Along with the timber screen that masks the entrance hall, this creates a sense of framing in the lounge, which makes the double-sided herringbone-tiled fireplace feel like a piece of art.

The new sunken lounge, with boardform concrete walls and Artisan carpet spills out onto the front deck. Down the hallway, with its newly relined walls, timber floors and cedar screening which echoes that in the living spaces, the renovated bedrooms feature built-in wardrobes and refreshed paintwork and carpet. The lush bedding was sourced from A&C Home and Citta Design.

The sleek bathroom features a vanity constructed from Mr and Mrs Ward bedside boxes with Slim Jim detailing, topped with Glacier White Corian sourced from Acrylic & Stone Creations and a Robertson Cognac Vessel basin. The walk-in shower is clad in a textured Gubi Wall Cloud tile from Tile Space, which extends to the wall behind the vanity, lending a consistent feel to the bathroom. A bamboo ladder alludes to a Balinese-style day spa, and reflects the Bolshoi ladder towel rail opposite. Above the vanity, a custom brass mirror designed by Verso gives the space a shining finishing touch.

Words by Camille Khouri

Photos by Sam Hartnett