A Waikato bungalow reborn
If this smart black and white Californian bungalow near Hamilton could speak, her first words might be something along the lines of “Not bad for an old girl”.
And never a truer word would be said. The mid-1920s weatherboard house is queening it in a serene, green, rural setting at Matangi. At first glance, as you crunch up the tree-lined driveway, it has the look of a story-book cottage.  In fact, it is much more substantial than a cottage, with solid wooden bones that have seen it through several rounds of reconstructive surgery. Over the years it has been cut in half, moved off its perch (twice), turned sideways and extended. Now, dressed to the nines, it’s in excellent form.
It’s the home of Melanie and David Heald and their children Saskia, five, and Finn, four. The family have lived here since they moved from Waiheke Island in 2006, just before Saskia was born. When Melanie and David found it, the bungalow already had an interesting history. It had been part of the residential enclave at Hamilton’s Ruakura Agricultural Research Centre and was sold and trucked to Matangi in the early 1990s.  The Healds are both from the Waikato and when Melanie was pregnant with Saskia she had a hankering to return to her family connections. Her sister saw an ad for the bungalow on a 1.1ha section and persuaded Melanie and David to have a look. They loved it. As Melanie says, “It all fell into place”, and over the next few years they embarked on an ambitious makeover.
The Healds are both in their mid-30s. Melanie is a florist with a history degree and David is an accountant. Melanie loves colour, form and design; David’s a details man. And they both have sound research skills.
David does admit to having been dubious at times about Melanie’s colour choices but, “I’ve come to trust her”. For her part, Melanie admires the thoroughness with which David has searched out cornices, beams, skirtings, coloured and textured glass, copper pieces, timber joinery and wall panelling to match existing fittings. Authenticity has prevailed on this project.
For the full story pick up a copy of the May issue, on sale April 23rd.
Favourite family treasure: We both agree on the decorative tiles David found under a house in England when he was about 10 years old. They look great in the kitchen.
Favourite new find: My half-price silver tripod lamp for our bedroom. Although I’m sad about the closure of Mainly Chairs in Hamilton, where I bought it.
Best seat in the house: The reading room chairs, which are covered in a fabulous green William Morris fabric. A great place to curl up with a book. The window seat in the guest bedroom is good too.
Flowers I couldn’t live without: Roses, for their beauty and scent.
Top tip for a major makeover: Don’t be afraid of colour. You can always paint over it if it turns out to be hideous. Give it a go.
Melanie Heald
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