Mount Cook

PHOTO: LOWE & CO They don’t come much cuter than this small cottage in Ranfurly Terrace, Mount Cook, which is for sale by tender. One of a row of similar cottages, it is a fine example of character preservation.

This little “turn-of-the-century” cottage sits in a row of similar houses, check by jowl in Mount Cook, Wellington.

But this one stands out, because it’s the very definition of a 110-year-old chocolate box cottage – from the white picket fence to the stained glass and decorative corbels on the hall arches.

It’s also a prime example of how to maximise a small space, and decorate it in a modern style without sacrificing character.

Thirty years ago, the owner commissioned architect Gerald Parsonson to design a contemporary extension at the rear, which included a mezzanine living area. This brought the size up to 90 square metres. Large skylights and French doors flood the rear of the house with natural light.

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