Adding Ambience to Inner City Apartment Living in Wellington

Inner city living in New Zealand’s capital certainly has appeal when you’re surrounded by Wellington coffee outlets, restaurants, retail shops, and the characters of Cuba Street. Jeffrey had lived the inner city lifestyle for 20 years and although the capital had changed during that time, Jeffrey’s apartment hadn’t… until now.

Two decades without any renovation meant Jeffrey’s apartment was outdated, dark, and a little shabby. He wanted to modernise the space, upgrade the bathroom and ensuite, move the laundry, and create a central kitchen island that was far more suited to entertaining than the existing breakfast bar.

Knowing he needed help to transform his inner city abode, Jeffrey reached out to Refresh Renovation Wellington Consultant Lia Boersma and Design Consultant Tina Daisley.

Design in the city

Jeffrey’s apartment was 140 square metres in size, big enough for the renovation he wanted to undertake but small enough that it required Tina to be considered with the design. This meant the planning stages were important.

Following the Refresh Renovation five-step process, Tina met with Jeffrey to consult on what it was he wanted to achieve with his apartment refresh and the budget he wanted to work to. During the design and scoping phase, Tina also drew up costs for the project/, which increased slightly with additions requested by Jeffrey later on. These included the replacement of all power points and switches as well as other minor upgrades.

Once the design and budget were approved, Tina oversaw the planning and scheduling of the build, project managing it from start to finish.

Challenging access

The location of Jeffery’s inner city apartment proved to be a slight challenge for Lia, Tina and the wider project team. Everyone on the job, including the builder, electrician, plumber, painter, floor layer, and tiler, needed to access the apartment but with only one key and one car park, scheduling timeframes and access was a juggle.

Coordination and communication was essential, not just between Tina and her contractors but between the contractors themselves. On some days, one contractor would pick the key up from the office and need to coordinate with other contractors throughout the day.

Then there was the challenge of only one garage parking spot available; not ideal when more than one tradie was going to be on site. Supplies needed to be dropped off in the foyer or the garage and additional parking had to be found elsewhere in the city.

Despite the challenge of access, the project ran smoothly and Jeffrey had his modernised apartment completed within the proposed eight week timeframe!

Contemporary apartment living

The original decor of Jeffrey’s apartment was reflective of trends 20 years ago. Beige and orange made up the colour palette with geometric vinyl in the bathroom and outdated fixtures dating the interior.

Tina was excited to bring Jeffrey’s apartment into the modern era with contemporary fixtures and fittings, and a neutral palette accented with statement tiles, splashbacks, and contrasting colours.

A favourite part of the project was stacking the laundry’s washer and dryer in the bathroom to make space for a statement wine fridge where the laundry had previously been.

Making a statement

Reconfiguring the bathroom was the first part of Tina’s refreshed design for Jeffrey’s apartment. Gone were awkward angles and in their place are straight lines, statement mirrors, vertical subway tiles, and floating vanities. Modern fixtures and faucets complement the royal blue splashback above the sink while the bathroom now boasts both a free standing bath and shower.

Tiles have also been used as a statement design element in the apartment’s kitchen. Olive green in colour, the tiled splashback is offset with natural timber-look cupboards and wooden flooring and an extended marble benchtop that doubles as a kitchen island and breakfast bar. The kitchen is now very much a hub of the home.

Living in style

Tina’s design influence doesn’t just extend to the kitchen and bathrooms; it’s evident in the modern lounge that Jeffrey can now relax and entertain in. With sliding doors that step out into an enclosed deck, outdoor wooden deck tiles create a natural feel to the outdoor space and maximise the feeling of inner city living.

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The transformation of Jeffrey’s apartment, from a dated living space into a stylish and contemporary inner city abode has been achieved on time, within an agreed budget, and to great quality, and Jeffrey is thrilled with the result:

“Lia, Tina and the team at Refresh Renovations completely and beautifully transformed my apartment. I am so grateful for the professionalism, skill, and patience. Recommend 100%.” - Jeffrey, Refresh Renovations Client

Would you like to discuss your home renovation ideas?

Get in touch for a free consultation with your local Renovation Consultant.

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