A Cosy, Contemporary Courtyard Design and Garage Renovation in Brooklyn, Wellington

Outdoor Space Wanted

This gorgeous villa in the heart of Wellington’s picturesque Brooklyn suburb offered beautiful living indoors, but was lack-lustre when it came to its outdoor offering. The existing patio area was unkempt and unloved, with a poor design that meant the space was underutilised. Homeowner Mark wanted to re-imagine the area to make it more appealing and provide a cosy area to entertain family and friends. 
The single car garage and driveway was also problematic; prone to leaks, the building wasn’t compliant with council codes, and the driveway - a mix of pebbles and pavers - was anything but user friendly.
Mark reached out to his local Refresh Renovation Consultant, Jenelle Winstanley, for a free consultation, and to discuss ideas and options to transform his courtyard.

Expert Advice

Renovation Consultant, Jenelle, met with Mark to see the space, discuss the budget, and determine what could be achieved with the renovation. Mark wanted the patio area to look and feel more inviting so it would be better utilised. When it came to the garage, ensuring it was watertight and compliant were the key objectives – it didn’t need to be fancy. The driveway also needed attention.  
With dozens of successful renovations behind her, Jenelle was able to offer expert advice. The duo discussed a range of options and together they decided a new pergola and outdoor fireplace would be key features in the new look, as well as new concrete throughout.
Once Mark was happy with the agreed budget, schedule, and design, the exciting transformation could begin. Jenelle was on board as the dedicated project manager and single point of contact.

Seamless and Stress-free

While the courtyard and garage may have been a small space, the renovation still required multiple tradespeople on site, including builders, concreters, tilers, plumbers, electricians, waterproofers and more, all of whom Jenelle coordinated to ensure the project ran smoothly. She also took care of all the required paperwork for the garage consent. 
This complete service was particularly helpful when Mark’s property suffered a landslip during extreme weather events. Jenelle was able to keep the project on track, while dealing with the challenges of remedying the slip and completing insurance claims.

A Contemporary Courtyard Transformation
Mark’s existing courtyard was taken from dull to delightful with a complete renovation and expert re-design of the space. A stunning outdoor fireplace is now a focal point and provides a fantastic spot to relax, even during chilly Wellington weather. The modern pergola created an inviting space that feels like a natural extension of the home.
New concrete for the patio completely refreshed the area, while a new driveway pour, steps from the drive to the house, and a new planter box all added to the outdoor transformation of Mark’s home.
The garage upgrade utilised the existing building, but it was relined, made watertight, had a new garage door installed, and a change to a flat top roof. The removal of the existing gate, plus the change to a concrete driveway from pebbles, also provided a space for additional parking. 

Final Thoughts

By reimagining existing spaces, looking for ways to add function, and incorporating some hero design elements, Jenelle was able to transform the outdoor areas of this Wellington villa into something her client loved. A chic patio with new concrete, a stunning designer fire, and modern pergola created an inviting space for relaxation and a natural extension of the home’s living area.
New concrete driveway and paths replaced a mish-mash of pebbles and pavers, giving the entire space a fresh new look. The problematic garage was overhauled, and now provides a safe, secure - and most importantly - compliant space for the family car.
Jenelle is very happy with the result. 

“This was a challenging project and somewhat different to the norm, but we were able to deliver a concept that worked very well for the client, and a fantastic result. The patio fireplace is a stunning feature, and the pergola looks like it was always meant to be there. The driveway is much more user friendly, and looks great, too”.

Supplies were sourced from Mitre10 and GIB.

Would you like to discuss your home renovation ideas?

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