13 March 2025

A Canvas of Fine Finishes

Tucked on a leafy avenue in Remuera, this unassuming 1940s residence holds an unexpected story of transformation. What once presented a modest façade now harbours an interior brimming with glamour and elegance, reimagined by Paul Somerford and Alyssa Helleur of BDG Architects for a family who sought a cinematic vision for their home. 

Images by Sam Hartnett

Originally built in 1947, the house had solid bones and distinct American-modern charm, but years of ill-considered alterations had taken a toll. The homeowners, with their roots in the film industry, envisioned a space that married historical details with contemporary flair—an everyday retreat with the allure of a classic movie set.

Ventura barstools designed by Jean-Marie Massaud for Poliform, are custom finished in tan silk leather.

The outdoor area takes inspiration from the home’s connection to the surrounding landscape. The pool, a statement of modern elegance, is bordered by organically shaped pavers that subtly soften the angles between the existing house, a new bedroom wing, and a pavilion extension. Kettal’s Landscape Via loungers sit near the poolside, offering both relaxation and a focal point to enjoy the view. 

Late afternoon reflections dance across the pool, highlighting its sculptural presence, harmonizing with its natural setting. The owners aimed to weave a sense of discovery into the home’s design, crafting a layout that unfolds progressively. At the entrance, a sitting area sets a grounding tone, anchored by a mid-century brick fireplace that echoes the home’s original 1940s architecture. 

Landscape Loungers by Kettal Studio, designed to seamlessly integrate with their surroundings, merge with the environment to enhance the overall space rather than stand out.

Adjacent, the courtyard pool introduces a serene openness, balancing the vintage charm with a modern sense of calm. A corridor lined with bold, graphic art from the owners’ collection leads through the home to a new pavilion at the northern end, designed as an area for family and entertainment. Here, the teal-grey pool—its color inspired by the harbour beyond— extends a sophisticated contrast to the white walls, black joinery, and oak floors of the connecting spaces.

The Flexform Zefiro dining table, elegantly complemented by Knoll Saarinen dining chairs.

The pavilion itself exudes an industrial elegance, with materials chosen for their strength and subtle character. Salt-andpepper concrete floors and an integrated steel frame lend an architectural honesty that contrasts with the sleekness of expansive glass walls. To counterbalance this raw materiality, dark timber ceilings add warmth and intimacy, while cabinetry in elm wood grounds the design in natural beauty. The kitchen—a centerpiece of both style and functionality—features Poliform’s Artex cabinetry, known for its slender tapering edges and offered in an exquisite range of finishes enabling the design to be as customised as desired to achieve the best result. 

The Poliform Artex kitchen beautifully combines black etched glass and Elm timber, materials chosen for their subtle reference to mid-century design and refined luxury. The continuous flow of material choices throughout the kitchen reinforces the home’s sense of seamless elegance. In the open-plan living area, the refined yet functional aesthetic is seamlessly extended.

The Poliform Artex kitchen beautifully combines black etched glass and Elm timber, materials chosen for their subtle reference to mid-century design and refined luxury.

Poliform Artex kitchen featuring Elm timber in the informal dining space.

A Flexform Adda corner sofa, upholstered in Topazio—a luxuriously soft, textured fabric—defines the lounge area, paired with the Tribeca coffee table from Studio Italia. Each piece embodies the home’s blend of high-end design and relaxed comfort, a harmonious atmosphere the owners sought to infuse throughout. Framed by discreet LED strips, the pavilion ceiling emits a warm ambient light, transitioning the inviting space effortlessly from day to night.

The master suite occupies what was once the kitchen, redefined with all the sophistication of a luxury hotel. A seven-metre walk-in Senzafine wardrobe by Poliform serves as a corridor of tailored elegance, with negative detail finishes, trim-less recessed lighting, and steel-framed glass doors that separate the ensuite and bring a sense of theatrical glamour. The double basin vanity is complemented by large-format porcelain tiles wrapping the floor and walls, creating a cohesive, spa-like experience.

Poliform Senzafine is a wardrobe system crafted for those who seek both elegance and functionality. Its modular structure offers limitless customization, enhanced by a choice of refined finishes, from melamine to glass. With thoughtfully designed drawer units and tailored accessories, Senzafine provides a seamlessly integrated storage solution for sophisticated spaces.

Materiality and craftsmanship are at the heart of this sophisticated retreat, with each design choice nodding to classic elegance reimagined for modern living–from the Artex kitchen, a masterpiece of sleek lines, refined materials, and understated luxury, to the Senzafine wardrobe, complete with glass display doors–Collectors House is a crafted sanctuary of timeless beauty. 

Discover Poliform kitchens and bathrooms at Studio Italia.