Houzz, the website for everything home, is featuring
our house this week. The article will focus on our wonderful architects
Russ Dotter and Wencke Solfjeld, a husband and wife team who worked with us for 18 months on a complete re-model. Together we transformed our house from dark Seventies Brady Bunch to light Kiwi coastal.
In the process Russ and Wencke became great friends of ours and I missed seeing them every day when our house was finished.
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| Russ and Wencke |
They "got" us exactly and drew all the clean lines we love (even though they'd just finished my friend's house which had a raspberry-red, sheepskin, bird's-nest warmth - they can do any style). They also had older children and were able to warn us about what not to do (an expensive play structure the kids will grow outgrow in six months' time.) Wencke's attention to detail included making shelves that would fit just one can of food. Otherwise you'll keep buying more cans because you can't see the ones in the back, she said. How many times have I thanked her for that...
Wencke is such a sweetie and always puts others first. Last week we worked together on the Houzz article getting all our buying sources correct. On Thursday morning Wencke's mother died suddenly and Wencke had to fly out to Norway. In between trying to book flights she still found time to email me thanking me for the extra work on her behalf.
Power of the big blogs - Houzz apparently gets 80 million pageviews a month and some of these photos which Russ and Wencke posted on their
profile have been re-posted 260 times already!
You've already seen some of these photos, but I thought I would post them all together just for record and you can zoom down the lot of them.
Thanks to photographers Scott Hargis and Frederic Neema.
Kitchen area:
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| Photo: Frederic Neema |
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| Photo: Frederic Neema |
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| Photo: Frederic Neema |
Living room:
Bathrooms:
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| Photo: Frederic Neema |
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| Photo: Frederic Neema |
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| Photo: Frederic Neema |
Boys' bathroom:
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| Photo: Frederic Neema |
Outside:
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| Photo: Frederic Neema |
Contractor:
Steve Strand
Colour and design consultant, Kathy Farley,
Artdecor
Wow, what a lovely house. The before looks terribly kiwi, but I think you've managed to keep the informal ambience inside.
ReplyDeleteHave you got a Lemon tree/bush on your section?
Loads of lemon trees for G& T's and limes for the margaritas!
DeleteHaving the guts do completely re-do the house was a fantastic idea (mind you I liked the old version too) and your home is very very stylish now.....suits you!
ReplyDeleteThat's amazing, looks fantastic. Love the after shots, so much space was added. Very cool it's being featured :) xx
ReplyDeleteQuite awesome! The joy of having money and good planners.
ReplyDeleteVery dramatic yet beautiful change. I love all of the modern lines. Also that Wicker ( not sure if it's wicker?) furniture is great looking eye candy!! So sorry to hear of your friends mom. Love Di ♥
ReplyDeleteHalloooo! How are you? I hope you had a lovely weekend!
ReplyDeleteI really need to check on my google reader more often!
Every time you post photos of your house I see more things that I fall in love with Jody. Congrats on Houzz!
ReplyDeletexo Mary Jo
Holy Moley what a superb house. I love the way the inside blends so well with the outside.What a lucky lady you are.
ReplyDeleteYou really have such a cool house--- I am excited that so many people get to see it! Confession, I am saving a few photos on my desktop for future inspiration!
ReplyDeleteYou're always welcome to use the photos!!
Deletesuch an awesome house!!! i love the pics as well as before/after pics. wow! just stunning.
ReplyDeleteI just love your house, I really want to come have a cup of tea one day with you :)
ReplyDeleteI also love the idea of shelves fitting one can, I just found some cans in the back that expired a few months ago.....
Love to have a cup o char with you and a bit of a chinwag...
DeleteOh the swirling staircase - deep swoon.
ReplyDeleteYes, many an entrance I've made in wet hair, no make-up and UGGS.
DeleteSo gorgeous!! Love seeing the before and after pics!
ReplyDeleteFantastic remodel!! Your house looks so fresh and airy!
ReplyDeleteJody, Every time you share photos of your home, I am blown away! Love the kitchen, the master bath.. all gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteleslie
How exciting, Jody!!! Your home is so Houzz worthy :) xoxo
ReplyDeleteSuch a stunning house. When I win the lottery ....
ReplyDeletethe house looks stunning! I love the open-ness of the space! =)
ReplyDeletexo,
nancy
Gorgeous! Just love the floors (ours are similar - very old gum wood). The tub is TDF! Enjoy!!!
ReplyDeleteYes, you're right - the floors are gum! Australian Spotted Gum, good at hiding the dirt
DeleteYour home is just amazing and what an honor to have it featured on the Houzz website.
ReplyDeleteThe did such an amazing job, the house looks exactly like a happy house full of colours and the stairs and the bathroom look great.
ReplyDeleteIw wouldn't mind to live there at all.
Kisses from Spain
City-aholic.blogspot.com.es
Jody,
ReplyDeleteWhat an honor to be on Houzz! Very cool. I Love the brights, the lightness and adore the baths and kitchen. What fun it must be to live there! It fits you well Jody!
xo
Kim
Wow, what a transformation! They did a brilliant job. Fancy living in a designer house. I don't think I'd be able to live up to the pressure of such perfection all around!!
ReplyDeletewow, i am impressed! it's like living in a really cool catalog! i love the (wicker-like??) furniture!
ReplyDeleteI love your home so much. Every time you show it I fall in love a bit more.
ReplyDeleteSwoon! Your house is just beautiful, Jody! I can't imagine anyone deserving a feature more than you. Beautiful!! :)
ReplyDeleteI can't even believe that's the same house. 18 months... wow.
ReplyDeleteYou have a completely gorgeous home. I would never leave!
ReplyDeleteI could spend hours drooling over your house. Your architects are superb!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe the before and after photos. Your house is so spacious, airy and well lit. I can't bear dark houses. Gosh, my entire living room and kitchen will fit into your bathroom. I kid you not!
ReplyDeleteWhen we lived in London we were in a two bedroom flat up five flights of stairs! It would have fitted into the living room.
DeleteFab fab fab! I especially love the staircase and the lime green outside...
ReplyDeleteRemind me never to do any house posts - not after seeing yours! It's gorgeous - they've done an amazing job!
ReplyDeleteI have always loved your home. I always knew it needed to be shown to everyone! Congratulations on the upcoming feature. :)
ReplyDeleteTruly transformed! Definitely worthy of an article -- or four! xo style, she wrote
ReplyDeleteHow fantastic they truly did an amazing job! I especially love the colour palette and your choice of furniture is spot on. Pretty sure you also have the kitchen of my dreams. No wonder Houzz wanted to feature you. I'll definitely be looking out for these pictures, I'm always on their website browsing for inspo.
ReplyDeleteXx Jenee C
Http://camomeetscouture.blogspot.com
I've said it several times, Jody: you have a gorgeous home! Look at what a little colour can do. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteAda
Whoa! What a transformation! I am still reeling from your master bath. So let me get this straight: double shower with tub inside, glass but open in the middle (no actual door, correct?) What materials are used in there? And I guess there are just drains in the floor for the showers as I see nothing that would otherwise keep the water from escaping (glass doors to the floor). Excuse my lack of design expertise--I am a work in progress:)
ReplyDeleteConsidering my love of and working with buildings of a certain age I can honestly say yours is very impressive, more so considering most of the abominations I've witnessed in Ca.
ReplyDeleteThanks Thud - that means a lot coming from you! I've seen all the beautiful British restorations on your blog.
DeleteThe contrast of before and after is so stark, it's unbelievable! Kind of like one of those rare successful cosmetic surgeries where you don't recognize the person from before.
ReplyDeleteI love your house! The lighting, exquisite detail, clean lines and sunny laid back personality, the entire place is amazing!
My Gosh, Jody that's an incredibly beautiful house!! You must be very happy with such a house!!! Love it!
ReplyDeletexoxoxo
Your house is AMAZING! What a transformation. Adore your floors in the kitchen, in additon to everything else!
ReplyDeleteThey are Australian Spotted Gum - and incredibly practical as they hide every scrap of dirt
DeleteRegarding your recent concern about buying or renting the blue gown. Now that I've seen these shots of your home.... you should wear it at least twice a week just to hang out in these lovely spaces and blend right in - like a living sculpture!
ReplyDeleteFAB!
beautiful...i love how you freshened up the colors and opened up the space.
ReplyDelete[oomph.]
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Amazing ...amazing transformation...I totally love the light and airiness. Digging the Kiwi style :)
ReplyDeleteWOW what a transformation! I LOVE your new home!
ReplyDelete-Adriana
I love this post, and your house is gorgeous. It is truly amazing to see the potential in homes. Thanks so much sharing.
ReplyDelete