Houzz Tour: Bachelor Pad to Beat Them All
Interior designer Jason Bonham details a moody, richly layered home on Auckland's North Shore
When interior designer Jason Bonham finishes high-end projects, he doesn’t usually get bragging rights – most of his clients simply don’t allow photos. But for this 15-month build of a spreading modern house in Auckland’s North Shore, Jason’s client was happy to share views of his home. Indeed, the pair are still adding to the house, and probably will be for some time, as both designer and client both had such a good time pulling the house together.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A businessman and his teenage daughter
Location: Mairangi Bay, Auckland, New Zealand
Size: 400+ square metres; 6 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A businessman and his teenage daughter
Location: Mairangi Bay, Auckland, New Zealand
Size: 400+ square metres; 6 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms
Bonham joined the project after the structure of the house was designed by architect Jason Gibson. He was originally called in to complete the interior architecture, kitchens and bathroom design, but as he and the client worked together, the brief grew to include lighting, home automation and electrical design, a fireplace and stair detailing, then landscaping and all the interior finishes, furniture, soft furnishings and even art.
Bonham and his team created a layered entrance to the house from the driveway and triple-car garage, using offset stairs and multi-level planters to break up the mass and draw visitors into the house. The exterior material palette – raw, shuttered concrete, copper and dark-stained vertical cedar – sets the scene for the contemporary interior.
“The brief was for a very timeless design, but with a little bit of moodiness and atmosphere,” says Bonham. “We wanted natural materials, but with a layer of luxury.”
“The brief was for a very timeless design, but with a little bit of moodiness and atmosphere,” says Bonham. “We wanted natural materials, but with a layer of luxury.”
The floating staircase through the house epitomises this. Glass balustrades and a single stringer spine makes the oak stairs appear to float off the rough concrete walls. Bonham added a marble-topped table, and a custom silk-and-bamboo rug from Designer Rugs.
As for all the colours in the house, Bonham created a custom stain for the white oak clear-grade timber from Floorex used on the stair treads and informal rooms of the house.
The stairwell draws the line between ground-floor reception rooms and guest suites, and the family’s private bedrooms and sitting rooms upstairs.
The formal living room is anchored by another silk-and-bamboo rug from Designer Rugs. Bonham specified a David Shaw sectional sofa in a slubbed linen from Unique Fabrics, then paired with classics: a Hans Wegner Ox chair and table from Corporate Culture, and an Eames stool from Matisse International.
For the fireplaces in the formal living room and family room, Bonham paired a smooth Azul Val Verde brushed stone from SCE Stone and Design with the rough shuttered concrete of the walls. The copper highlights repeat the exterior finishes in a bright, polished version.
Fireplace: LSE
Fireplace: LSE
Bonham always starts a project with a detailed brief on each room’s function, figuring out the space, layouts and traffic flow. The kitchen was an important space for the client, as he likes to eat and hang out here with his daughter. Bonham created an informal table for him at the end of the bench, using a combination of Caesarstone Shitake and fine wood to suggest a table. He arranged the cabinets as a long galley to open up views to the garden and backyard pool.
The bulkheads above the cabinets draw the eye through the space and make the room feel airier. Tucked behind the kitchen is a scullery with a second oven, plenty of storage for utility items and, Bonham notes, the all-important junk drawer. ("Every kitchen I do needs a junk drawer,” he laughs.)
Dish drawer, cool drawer: Fisher & Paykel; oven and hob: Bosch; extractor: Qasair; Gaggenau wine fridge: Kouzina; Dornbracht tap: Metrix; joinery: Johannes Erren
Dish drawer, cool drawer: Fisher & Paykel; oven and hob: Bosch; extractor: Qasair; Gaggenau wine fridge: Kouzina; Dornbracht tap: Metrix; joinery: Johannes Erren
At the end of the kitchen is a quiet sitting spot, perfect for glimpses of the garden. The artwork is by Otis Frizzell.
Bonham and his team specified the stone tiles and stairs for the pool. He says builder Kevin Knowles had fantastic attention to detail, making the project a real team effort.
“We’ve got amazing tradespeople we work with, we are very lucky,” says Bonham. “It’s taken us a long time, but now we hold on to them.”
Bonham’s team also designed the self-contained pool house at the end of the garden, with a sauna and outdoor shower.
“We’ve got amazing tradespeople we work with, we are very lucky,” says Bonham. “It’s taken us a long time, but now we hold on to them.”
Bonham’s team also designed the self-contained pool house at the end of the garden, with a sauna and outdoor shower.
The house has a bathroom for every bedroom, so Bonham was careful to keep them in harmony with the rest of the house. Johannes Erren made all the vanities and mirrors to Bonham’s design, with tops and drawers in reconstituted oak veneer.
Bidone seamless bathtub, taps and mixer: Spazio Casa; Rapsel Grand Kanal basin: Metrix; floor and wall tiles: Global Tile
Bidone seamless bathtub, taps and mixer: Spazio Casa; Rapsel Grand Kanal basin: Metrix; floor and wall tiles: Global Tile
The master bathroom takes on a slightly Japanese air, with the stone bench from SCE Stone and Design. The Herman Miller Capelli stool is from Matisse International.
Brera Bianca wall tiles: Tile Space; Duravit basin, Dornbracht tapware: Metrix
Brera Bianca wall tiles: Tile Space; Duravit basin, Dornbracht tapware: Metrix
In other ensuites, Bonham used Silestone counters and lacquered polyurethane on the vanities.
The 15-month build is complete, but Bonham and his client are now adding more touches in the bedroom furniture and soft furnishings, and more artworks and rugs. Clearly both will love this house for some time to come.
Duravit Vero basin: Metrix; DC towel rail: Paterson; floor tiles: Spazio Casa; wall tiles: SSL Group
TELL US
What do you love about this house? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
The 15-month build is complete, but Bonham and his client are now adding more touches in the bedroom furniture and soft furnishings, and more artworks and rugs. Clearly both will love this house for some time to come.
Duravit Vero basin: Metrix; DC towel rail: Paterson; floor tiles: Spazio Casa; wall tiles: SSL Group
TELL US
What do you love about this house? Share your thoughts in the Comments.