ARTS & CRAFTS

A Wellington family accustomed to the convenience of new-builds unexpectedly falls for a grand old dame that offers plenty of space for everyone

- Text Debbie Harrison

After years of crisp white walls, shiny new fittings and freshly poured driveways, Mark and Kate Major thought they knew what kind of homeowners they were.

Their first two properties were new-builds – practical, low-maintenance and designed to suit modern family life. But when they stepped into the grand entranceway of a 1927 Californian bungalow in Wellington in 2022, they felt an instant pull.

“It was such a ‘wow’ moment,” recalls Kate. “I remember walking through the front door and being completely floored by the entranceway, dark timber and stained glass. We'd been looking for a new house for over a year and missed out on seven homes before we saw this one. We both had a feeling that this was going to be the one for us from the moment we walked in.”

Neither of them had ever lived in a character home and the idea of taking on a 98-year-old property was a little daunting. But two years in, the couple and their children, Evie and Harrison, have fully embraced life in this special place.

The brick bungalow, rare for Wellington, was built in 1927 for Henry Stewart, son of Charles Stewart, whose timber, glass and hardware company still has a building standing on Courtenay Place.

The house has been carefully cared for across its near-century. It still boasts loads of original details, including bevelled glass internal doors, stained glass.

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