Homeowners share their renovation journey with Leanne Moore, talking about the highlights, the challenges and the amazing results. This week, Jenna Wardell, founder of baby products range Over The Dandelions.
Jenna Wardell and her husband Andy were instantly won over by the character and charm of their bungalow in Birkenhead,
Auckland.
But they could see some improvements were needed to the living room layout, which was cut off from the backyard.
They created an open-plan, light-filled space with bi-folding doors that provide easy access during the warmer months.
“The new doors in the living area have been a wonderful addition, seamlessly connecting the space to the garden and flooding the room with natural light,” says Wardell.
They also repurposed the bricks from the old fireplace, creating a feature wall in the kitchen. The result is a showcase of style and substance.
Jenna Wardell recommends living in a house for a while before renovating, to get a better idea of what you need to change. Photo / Helen Bankers
Jenna Wardell and husband Andy and their two children, Freya (8) and Fynn (11).
Removing the large double-sided brick fireplace. It completely dominated the room. Taking it out gave us so much more space, opening up the area and creating a beautiful sense of flow. We loved the character of the original bricks so we repurposed them to create a striking feature wall that brings warmth and texture to the space.
The old brick fireplace in Jenna Wardell’s home was taken down and the bricks recycled for a feature wall in the kitchen.
We had originally planned to use the bricks on the front of the breakfast bar, but once we saw it coming together, it felt too heavy for the space. A last-minute decision to leave the bricks off proved to be the right one – the simple white front feels much more balanced, while the brick feature wall stands beautifully on its own.
What do you wish you had done?
Ideally, we would have loved to extend the footprint of the house even further. We added 15sq m and, by reconfiguring some of the internal walls, were able to make far better use of the space. Still, with a growing family, a little more room would have been perfect.
Where did you make savings?
We chose a building company with an in-house architectural draftsperson, which proved invaluable. When challenges arose – as they often do when working with a character home – we were able to respond quickly and find practical solutions that worked seamlessly for the builder.
There’s plenty of prep space in the new light and airy kitchen. Photo / Helen Bankers
We decided to splurge on the kitchen – having a beautiful and functional space was a top priority for me. We invested in a waterfall benchtop, full-height cabinetry and chose high-spec appliances to complete the look.
The open-plan living, dining and kitchen area. It offers a wonderful sense of flow and functionality. The seamless connection between the dining table and the breakfast bar allows the family to spend time together comfortably, while still maintaining a sense of space and openness.
The kitchen/diner is a popular gathering space for family and friends. Photo / Helen Bankers
We went slightly over budget. We had been warned by many that renovating a character home can come with unexpected costs, so we made sure to set aside a decent contingency fund – which definitely paid off.
Best advice for someone about to renovate?
Live in the home before making any big decisions. We gained a much better understanding of how we used our home after being there for six months – and ended up rethinking several of our original ideas.
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