BRITANNIA RULES

Traditional English details helped polish this refreshed Auckland gem

- Text Leanne Moore/Cave Photography Babiche Martens/Cave

The renovation of Ketiesha Excell Elliott’s character home reflects not just her vision, but the vibrant life she wants to live. With her husband Frank Excell, she has updated it for the 21st century, bringing warmth and energy to the house with bold jewel tones and a new resort-style pool area.

When other prospective buyers balked at the massive amount of work needed to transform the dark and dated interior, the couple embraced the opportunity. “I think a lot of people were put off,” she says. “But our experience in real estate gave us the vision for how it could be and the confidence to take it on.”

It took 18 months to renovate the house from top to bottom but the couple have succeeded in bringing light into a house that was in desperate need of revival. The stunning result is a bold and distinctive family home that has been the ideal backdrop for raising their children, Frankie and Matilda. Now adults, they have both moved out, but Ketiesha says the house continues to be a focal point for family get-togethers. “We have so many lovely memories from family gatherings and there are many more to come,” she says.

Dark to light