![]() An en-suite was added, as was a walk-in wardrobe. Glen Diffey Builders searched high and low to source rimu timber to extend the exterior wall, and add to the ceiling. We came up with a plan to add more space and light." One problem with the colonial style is that rooms tend to be quite restricted and dark. "We decided to give it a complete make-over. The house features three bedrooms and a study, but the master bedroom's original function was as a lounge. The deck was extended using durable kwila timber. This included installing heat- pumps and fixing draughty windows. "The place was starting to look a bit tired, so we decided the time was right to upgrade, " says Carl. Paul also helped design some of the villa's lattice work.Īlthough incremental improvements continued to take place over the years, it wasn't until their two children had grown older and moved out that they decided to make further changes. Dotted around the property are works by renowned New Zealand sculptor (and Carl's brother), Paul Dibble. Artwork and furniture was sourced from as far away as Malacca, Malaysia. On a smaller scale, the couple also used their connections to decorate the interior. The bathroom's claw foot bath was spotted by Jill's mother in a Waihi backyard. A pair of French doors originate from Waitangi. Part of the matai flooring upgrade was from the old Dutch embassy in Wellington. Word of mouth from friends was also a good source of valuable building material. Eventually all that remained of the original house was the floor and ceiling. ![]() Two semi-retired old-school craftsmen worked part-time for several years to do the rest. As the cottages in that suburb were restored, it meant period pieces - such as butterfly glass - were suddenly on the market, and at an affordable price.įrequent trips up to Auckland enabled them to get the pieces they needed to fit in with the era. The movement was being led by the Ponsonby area in the 1970s. "We were fortunate that when we started the re-build, we were part of a wider renaissance of New Zealand villas." The potential was obvious though, particularly to Carl, who had always harboured an interest in early colonial architecture. "Its recent history had included storing hay, and it was reliant on its coal range for heating. "It was more of a rebuild than a renovation, " recalls Carl. They bought it in 1978, and two years later renovations began. ![]() After graduation, and recently married, the Dibbles saw an opportunity. It was a farmhouse, on 110 hectares of land near Hamilton, that was tenanted by student friends of the couple. The turn of the century villa was in a dilapidated state when the Dibbles first encountered it. It's taken 33 years of careful restoration for Carl and Jill Dibble to finally be satisfied with their home. Carl and Jill Dibble outside their restored villa.
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