KELBURN HOUSE

Nestled in the hills of Wellington, our aim was to create a home that is a celebration of family life, blending the old with the new in a harmonious balance and understated elegance.

In an iconically Wellington story, the hike from the street is a somewhat laborious ascent up 90 steps. Upon arrival you are rewarded with an immediate sense of privacy and serenity and, from the elevated vantage point, the sweeping view over the surrounding hillscape.

While the renovation honors the heritage of the 1910’s villa, it also respectfully reimagines the space to support the evolving needs of a young couple and their two children. Humble yet inviting, the home provides a neutral backdrop for the client’s impressive and playful art collection to truly stand out. An open-plan kitchen and living area take center stage, designed to maximize natural light and seamlessly connect to a sunny courtyard.

The kitchen, crafted with walnut cabinetry and a quartzite stone benchtop, offers a rich contrast to the soft white architectural elements in the room. This space is where the family can gather to cook, entertain, eat, draw, play, and unwind—a central hub for daily life. It also incorporates access to a new spiral staircase providing an internal connection to a lower-level self-contained unit, further enhancing the home’s functionality.