The Britten Stables

What began as a post-earthquake restoration of a stable conversion, ended up a grand design.

John Britten bought this property in 1978 and converted the former stable block of the Mona Vale estate into a family home for himself, his wife and their three children. This was the place where John created the workshop where he designed his famous Britten motorcycle.

After his death, his daughter and her husband made the decision to restore the building and turn it into a luxury B&B. A key part of the creative process was to ensure complementary modern fittings were chosen. All elements of the house, new and old, needed to work together in unison. The bespoke light fittings, door handles and other hand crafted accessories were brought into the architect's offices for the initial planning and consultation meeting.

In the bathrooms, a cohesive look was sought. Buddy tapware in brushed brass was chosen because it worked in with the original robe hooks and the swan taps, all hand crafted by John himself, and spoke to the original aesthetic of the property.

Oakleys worked with Plumbline on custom made Minerva basins for each of the bathrooms that ensured a perfect fit for every room. This really brought the original spaces up to a modern standard.

A mix of tiles and colour complement each of the spaces for a peerless result.

Photography by Jamie Armstrong; courtesy of Isabelle & Tim Weston.