When Contemporary Meets Character
It’s no secret that James and myself love a gorgeous character home, and with more listings in Mt Victoria in 2025 than any other Wellington salesperson, we get to see a lot of them! There’s something truly special about stepping foot through the door of a property that holds so much history, especially when that history has been preserved so well. From stained glass windows and soaring ornate ceilings to hardwood floors and bay windows, it’s always such a treat to visit a property that boasts well maintained character features.
16 Hawker Street, Mount Victoria
But, living in 2025 means these homes often require some updating and renovating to bring them into the modern age, aesthetically and practically. Having been lucky enough to live in several character homes over the years myself, I can personally relate to the challenge of updating a historic home to suit a modern family’s needs. It can be somewhat tricky to bring the personality and unique charm of your own style, along with modern amenities, whilst trying to honour the heritage and character of a vintage property, all without completely breaking the bank!
18 Austin Street, Mount Victoria
We have several gorgeous Mount Victoria character homes on the market currently and two in particular inspired our thoughts around when contemporary style meets character homes. In theory, modern design combined with heritage features sounds jarring, two very juxtaposing styles, but sometimes it just works. In the case of 18 Austin Street and 16 Hawker Street, there are some key elements that really tie these two design eras together to create a seamless aesthetic. So, today I wanted to explore that a little further, with these two special properties as our reference…
Artwork
Something that both of these properties have in common which works extremely well in this era of property is large, graphic and colourful art pieces. With a late 1800’s/early 1900’s home, you’ll often find very high studs, these soaring ceilings and the grandeur that comes with them is one of my favourite aspects of a character home. But with that comes the issue of proportion, a small piece of artwork can sometimes feel lost in a room with such vast proportions. So, these larger pieces can help anchor the space and create a hero piece to base your furniture and decor choices around.
Materials
The use of materials in both 18 Austin Street and 16 Hawker Street are unique but absolutely perfect. Both properties have modern kitchens that fit seamlessly into their character surroundings with the use of simple but luxe materials. 16 Hawker Street uses an understated ply material in their kitchen, which ties beautifully into the hardwood floors and allows the space to feel both bright and expansive as well as textured and inviting.
18 Austin Street takes a different but equally as effective approach to materials in their kitchen, with a sleek marble bench-top and dark cabinetry, simple but luxurious and with the large island bench-top being the hero piece, a timeless slab of marble fits effortlessly into this space. Both properties tie natural wood tones into various rooms, which works so well with the hardwood floors in this era of property and help to soften the spaces.
Both of these properties have also incorporated new NZ wool carpet in several rooms, which again helps to soften the spaces with their large ceilings and white walls. The use of this chunky loop carpet works so well with the proportions of these homes and continues that feeling of quiet luxury.
Colour Palette / Paint
An element of 16 Hawker Street that I particularly love is the unique colour palette used on the exterior of the property. These traditional, vintage inspired colours make the exterior of this home stand out in a way that highlights the gorgeous heritage facade without feeling dated. The yellow front door and green exterior tie perfectly into the existing terracotta tiles on the front patio and allow for a bold yet timeless palette to inspire furnishings and artwork inside.
Our clients at 16 Hawker Street also cleverly painted the existing anaglypta wallpaper a similar shade of green to the exterior, which helps to bring a modern touch to this vintage element of the property - the perfect example of where contemporary meets character!
Light Fittings
The use of simple, contemporary light fittings and pendants in both of these properties is another standout feature. It’s a small detail that can make a big impact. Again, making use of the tall ceilings, a large pendant light helps to ground the space and make sense of the proportions, a great light fitting can also become a piece of sculptural art in itself. I delved further into the topic of lighting in last week's Journal post, along with a curated list of locally sourced options, which you can check out Here.
Furnishings
Something I love about the use of furniture and decor in both 18 Austin Street and 16 Hawker Street is the eclectic yet considered vibe. Combining contemporary, mid-century and vintage/antique pieces is the perfect way to bring unique charm and warmth to a character home. Where you might find a modern sofa, next to it is a gorgeous mid-century timber sideboard and plenty of soft furnishings like cushions, throw blankets and rugs to tie it all together.
The art of creating a space that incorporates furnishings and decor from several different eras, yet still feels cohesive, is something that I truly think comes from a life of collecting beautiful pieces. If you love it and it holds a special meaning to you, it can always be worked into a space with some thought and consideration. This paired back approach to eclectic style makes these homes feel luxurious and classic without sacrificing the cosy, inviting feel of a home that has truly been lived in.