Paula Broderick Design, South Architects and Southen Builders have transformed this 1970s townhouse through a collaborative vision and furniture-first thinking.

WORDS Kathy Young PHOTOGRAPHY Finlay Photo

The exterior plastering and entrance interior wall required a high level of detailing. It was undertaken by Properly Plastered using Resene Construction Systems.

The windows were supplied and installed by Fairview Concepts. Particularly notable is the front opening door, made of glass and a challenging project due to its weight.

The majority of the furniture and soft furnishings in the home are from Copper + Pink, on Coleridge Street in Christchurch. Interior designer and store owner Paula Broderick helped Milton select from a wide range of homeware and furniture and also found specific pieces from local and international art galleries and auction houses. Paula sourced the “Girls Girls Girls” light box (above right) from Webbs Auction House.

Paula Broderick is unique in the interior design space of Ōtautahi Christchurch, with her “reverse engineering” approach to homes. Her distinctive methodology – honed through years of property styling experience – was the perfect match for homeowner Milton Weir and South Architect’s bold vision to transform a classic 1970s townhouse into a modern home.

“I always start by envisioning how people will actually live in and move through a space,” explains Paula. “How will the furniture sit in the house? How will the spaces inside and outside the home feel and function? It sounds backward to some, but it ensures the space actually works for real life.”

This practical philosophy proved perfect for Milton’s project – an almost complete rebuild that retained the advantages of single-level living while expanding into something far more spectacular.

The architectural design for the renovation came from Craig South, director of South Architects. As Craig says: “We’re creative with form and overall concept. If we put something on the table that the client has already considered or imagined, we’re not really doing our job as architects.”

The brief was relatively open – modernise creatively, open up the living spaces, and create a low-maintenance lock-and-leave property. At a modest 173sqm, the house might seem compact, but clever design choices make it feel expansive and airy.

What makes this project unique isn’t just the stunning result but the collaborative journey that produced it. Unlike traditional renovations that can follow rigid blueprints, this home evolved organically during construction.

“That would be typical of Milton, he has great vision,” smiles Tom Southen, director and builder at Southen Architectural Builders. “The further into the project we got, the more the excitement built, and the creativity started to flow.”

This flexibility was crucial to the success of the project. Says Craig: “Milton was good at making calls and working through design changes with me, collaborating around different things during construction.” Tom adds, “I’m good at being flexible to changes, and can work far enough ahead that we’ve got what we need, but not too far ahead that changes can’t happen.”

The curved wall in the bathroom, along with the floor tiling in both the bathroom and ensuite, were installed by BNA Tiling of Christchurch with tiles from Nextdore.

“Some of our best decisions happened right on site,” homeowner Milton says. “Paula or I would see an opportunity as the structure took shape, and we’d pivot on the spot. That flexibility was crucial – it’s why the home feels so cohesive despite being full of unexpected elements.”

This willingness to adapt led to some inspired features, like the elevated ceiling in the main living area with a full-length triple-glazed skylight. “When we realised how the light would move through that space throughout the day, we knew we had to maximise it,” Paula says.

The kitchen exemplifies Paula’s talent for creating spaces that are both functional and beautiful. A stone benchtop and timber cupboard fronts create warmth, while brass detailing adds unexpected luxury. A huge awning window opens completely to the outdoors, making the kitchen feel expansive beyond its actual footprint.

“A kitchen needs to work,” Paula says. “But that doesn’t mean it can’t be stunning. The brass inlays in the oak flooring are not just decorative – they define zones within the open floor plan, subtly guiding how you move through the space.”

Tom considers the parquet floor with brass insets as one of the standout features: “We were very proud of it.”

Perhaps most impressive is how the design blurs the line between indoors and out. Sliders in the living area stack completely into the wall cavity, disappearing to create an uninterrupted flow to the terrace.

Craig explains the complexity behind this seemingly effortless design: “The whole facade opens up. There’s a four-panel sliding door, where the fourth panel is not glass and sits beyond the building envelope. It absolutely opens up the whole living space, and that was quite purposeful.”

For a house this size, embracing indoor-outdoor connection was essential. Multiple outdoor spaces offer different experiences – from the pool with its hardwood and brass shower to the outdoor fire area with a built-in pizza oven.

“The outdoor spaces are really just additional rooms,” Paula says. “We approached them with the same attention to detail as any interior. The outdoor fire with its adjustable cooking grill isn’t just beautiful – it’s designed to be functional and specifically for entertainment.”

With a background in fine art and photography, Paula has owned her Copper + Pink homeware store in Merivale for the past decade, so this move to interior design was a natural evolution. Most of the furniture and furnishings in this home have been sourced from Copper + Pink.

“Paula has this uncanny ability to see how you’ll actually use a space,” Milton says. “She’ll ask questions no one else thinks to ask – ‘Where will you put your keys when you walk in? Where do you like to enjoy your morning coffee?’ Those details make all the difference in how the home feels. As a result this is the most enjoyable and easy house I have lived in.”

For Paula, this project exemplifies her belief that great design emerges from collaboration and flexibility. “Working with clients like Milton who embrace the evolutionary nature of design – that’s when magic happens,” she says. “This home evolved with every decision we made on site, and each choice informed the next. That’s why it feels so cohesive despite being so unique. Some people might think it’s chaotic to make so many decisions during construction but I find it liberating. The best designs respond to what’s actually happening in the space, not just what looks good on paper.”

Craig and Tom both agree that what makes the project special is the feeling that you get when you’re in the space. “That’s what we try to create,” says Craig. “Plus the relationships that you build with clients.”

The project also demonstrates what can be achieved within existing structures. “There are so many houses like this in Merivale,” Craig says. “You can create something pretty amazing out of existing buildings. The whole environmental sustainability aspect of re-using and re-adapting to different lifestyles is so important.”