1241 Whangaripo Valley Road, Wellsford 0972
The story of a verandah transformation, from weathered beginnings to a stunning conservatory with custom joinery and a hand-painted checkerboard floor.
The verandah stood weathered by time, its floor boards worn and the structure showing its age. A construction site sign marked the beginning of what would become an extraordinary transformation. The bones were good—the classic villa architecture simply needed vision and care to shine again.
The transformation began with a statement piece—a beautifully crafted front door befitting of a Victorian villa. With its traditional paneling and frosted glass sidelights, it set the tone for the elegance to come.
Skilled craftsmen from ROC installed the elegant French doors leading to the study. Every detail was carefully considered—the traditional glazing bars, the perfect proportions, the quality of the timber. The verandah began connecting to the home in beautiful new ways.
Thanks to Pinterest and dreams of classical conservatories, the vision crystallized. Inspiration drawn from elegant green conservatories, traditional French doors opening to gardens, and classic verandah staircases. The goal: transform this space into something truly special.
Tearing up the old decking revealed the structure beneath. The old stairs were closed off and a new opening was cut for the redesigned stairs and landing. Sometimes you have to strip things back to their bones before building something beautiful.
The exterior began taking shape with new skirting and siding. The classic villa details were honored—weatherboard cladding, decorative trim, the signature bay window preserved in all its glory. A color palette of soft sage greens and creamy whites emerged.
The custom door set and windows from Westpine Joinery arrived—a moment of excitement as months of planning materialized. Each piece was carefully decanted, trimmed, and prepared for installation. The quality of the craftsmanship was evident in every detail.
The beautiful new windows and bifold doors were installed, transforming the verandah into a light-filled conservatory. Suddenly, the views to the garden were framed perfectly, the natural light flooded in, and the vision started becoming reality.
With the structure complete, the painting began. The soft sage green trim against the cream weatherboards, the crisp white of the new joinery—each brushstroke brought the heritage villa character to life. The new stairs awaited their stain.
And then came the fun part—creating the checkerboard floor pattern. Armed with measuring tape, levels, and rolls of purple masking tape, a precise diamond grid was laid out. Mathematics meets artistry, preparing for the signature floor that would tie everything together.
I just wanted to share with you the final result of the whole verandah project of which your windows and doors have played such a central part. I wanted you and your team to see the transformation and the incredible part you played in making it all happen.
Gwydden Conservatory, Wellsford
