Posted by ArchgolaNZ | Thursday 01 Apr, 2021

When a home has uninterrupted water views, making the most of them is usually the focus of any renovation project. But for Vanessa and Shawn Wistrand, designing a private and enclosed back courtyard was just as important. “We wanted a private space for our family to enjoy, a space where we could relax during the day and entertain at night,” says Vanessa.

Homely renovation

No strangers to the renovation and build process having undertaken projects before, Vanessa and Shawn have transformed their family home, bringing the 2002 house into the present decade. “We really wanted to make a point of difference in a line of houses that were all built around the early 2000s,” says Vanessa.

“We have two young children and the location and views suit us well. We knew we didn’t want to move so we changed the entire house instead.”

Recladding of the property came first, with BGC fibre cement sheets chosen to contrast with cedar panelling. Polished concrete also added to the modern style of the home’s surrounds, reinforcing the subtle industrial look that Vanessa and Shawn wanted to pull through.

“There are industrial tones both inside and out. We really like the grey and nautical colours and chose Resene Colour for our internal walls. But we’ve been very minimal in our approach to bringing the industrial look through. We haven’t gone overboard because we wanted to keep the comfortable, warm family home feel we’ve got too.”

But the piece de resistance is the transformation of the former tired looking courtyard into an extension of the home, achieved by the installation of an Archgola and some beautiful outdoor furniture and finishings, completed with Vanessa’s own design flair.

“We have given ourselves a dining room, an extra lounge outside, and an evening entertaining area, all in one. In the evenings, we find ourselves sitting down in the courtyard and literally exhaling. It’s such a nice place to relax. We still have a lot of work to do to complete the renovations, but we’re getting there and the year of work has been worth it!”

Entertainment space

Vanessa and Shawn’s selection of the ebony Archgola reflects the home’s contemporary look, and with the addition of curtains enables the courtyard to be used at any time of the day or night, and in all weather.

“In the evenings we pull the curtains down and get great indoor-outdoor flow with the heated courtyard. It becomes a real entertaining area.”

“The polycarbonate roofing is great acoustically for when the boom boxes are going!” she laughs. With just the garage, the spa pad and a bit of landscaping to go, Vanessa and Shawn are on the home straight to achieving an incredible transformation of their family home. For anyone hoping to undergo a renovation, Shawn and Vanessa have some tips: “Choose your builder wisely, be patient and take your time to get things right and when people have got good advice, be sure to listen.”