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<Paragraph>When Interior Designer Kristen Basra of <Link url="https://spatialstudio.co.nz/" target="_blank">Spatial Studio</Link> first encountered this century-old villa, its ornate ceilings and timber trims revealed a home rich in heritage — and ready for balance.</Paragraph>
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<Paragraph>In Auckland's Ponsonby, this heritage home has been lovingly reimagined for contemporary family life. Every detail, from the muted colour palette to the carefully restored finishes is timeless, functional, and quietly refined.</Paragraph>
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<Image format="landscape" file="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/69294541b21cf576e68ed053/6a0fb9a76a0d5ae8dc134310_JP1_8755.jpg" description="Classic villa lines meet contemporary restoration on Albany Road, Ponsonby." width="full">
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<Title>Balancing Character and Comfort</Title>
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<Paragraph>Heritage villas are known for their charm, but rarely for their warmth. High ceilings, open fireplaces and draughty chimneys make them beautiful to behold, yet difficult to heat. The challenge is finding balance – retaining their original character while weaving in the comfort and efficiency of modern living. </Paragraph>
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<Paragraph>For this renovation, balanced transitions from heritage detail to modern refinement are anchored by the <Link url="https://www.escea.com/gas-fireplaces/df-series/single-sided/" target="_blank">Escea DF960 Gas Fireplace</Link> at the heart of the living space.</Paragraph>
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<Image format="portrait" file="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/69294541b21cf576e68ed053/6a5805deb3d12a7e0d43343f_JP1_8591-square.jpg" description="Albany Road, entrance">
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<Image format="landscape" file="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/69294541b21cf576e68ed053/6a0fb9a7df9c6c0d5bfdf429_JP1_8424.jpg" description="Modern renovation in Auckland villa with new Escea gas fireplace">
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<Title>The Heart of the Home</Title>
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<Paragraph>At the heart of the living space, an <Link url="https://www.escea.com/gas-fireplaces/df-series/single-sided/" target="_blank">Escea DF960 Gas Fireplace</Link> brings both warmth and precision, matched by a <Link url="https://www.escea.com/samsung-escea/" target="_blank">Samsung Frame TV</Link> above that transforms into artwork when not in use. Together they form a single, considered composition — a meeting point between heritage and modern living.</Paragraph>
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<Paragraph>“The design and placement of the fireplace were treated more traditionally as it balanced the side windows and bench seats,” says Kristen. “The stone surround, positioned classically on the floor, grounds the fireplace in the room while allowing a sense of lightness above.”</Paragraph>
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<Paragraph>The result is a living space that feels both familiar and refreshed — where the flicker of a flame connects the home’s history with its new life.</Paragraph>
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<Image format="landscape" file="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/69294541b21cf576e68ed053/6a0fb9a80652093f61ecfa17_DF960_Albany%20Road_Spatial%20Studio%202.avif" description="An Escea DF960 Gas Fireplace forms the focal point of the living space." width="full">
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<Title>Precision and Performance</Title>
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<Paragraph>In heritage homes, draughts and heat loss are often caused by the design of old open wood or gas fireplaces. These traditional fires draw air from the room for combustion and release much of the heat up the chimney — resulting in inconsistent warmth and energy inefficiency.</Paragraph>
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<Paragraph>The <Link url="https://www.escea.com/gas-fireplaces/df-series/single-sided/" target="_blank">Escea DF Series</Link> solves this with its advanced room-sealed Direct Vent system. By keeping combustion air and room air completely separate, it maintains consistent indoor warmth while safely venting exhaust outside. This not only improves heating performance but also enhances safety and energy efficiency — making it ideal for restoring warmth to older homes without compromising their character.</Paragraph>
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<Paragraph>Its Zero Clearance rating also gives designers freedom to bring surrounding materials — even a television — close to the fireplace. In this home, it allowed the Frame TV to align perfectly with the marble surround, creating a unified focal point that feels both architectural and effortless.</Paragraph>
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<Image format="landscape" file="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/69294541b21cf576e68ed053/6a0fbbeb4b63a3eedb5b523e_Albany%20Road%20Rollout-4.avif" description="Escea gas fireplace in contemporary marble mantel surround">
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<Title>Design Integration &amp; Adaptability</Title>
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<Paragraph>With a minimalist form and balanced proportions, the <Link url="https://www.escea.com/gas-fireplaces/df-series/single-sided/" target="_blank">DF960</Link> adapts easily to a range of interiors — from ornate heritage spaces to sleek contemporary designs. Here, the marble surround anchors the fireplace in tradition, while the clean geometry of the <Link url="https://www.escea.com/gas-fireplaces/df-series/single-sided/" target="_blank">DF960</Link> introduces a modern rhythm of balance and symmetry. The flame itself becomes a quiet focal point — warm, alive, and softly reflective of the home around it.</Paragraph>
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<Image file="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/69294541b21cf576e68ed053/6a0fbcd98dc8699fdf4509df_JP1_8534.jpg" alt="Exterior Albany Road" />
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<Image file="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/69294541b21cf576e68ed053/6a58132920cb04a2bcd37c2d_JP1_8439-Landscape.jpg" alt="Kitchen Albany Road" />
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<Image file="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/69294541b21cf576e68ed053/6a5813283fb0bc727d1ffc54_JP1_8473-Landscape.jpg" alt="Bathroom Albany Road" />
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<Image file="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/69294541b21cf576e68ed053/6a0fb9a7df9c6c0d5bfdf429_JP1_8424.jpg" alt="Living Albany Road" />
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<Image file="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/69294541b21cf576e68ed053/6a5813287b634afc9cb03338_JP1_8431-Landscape.jpg" alt="Hall Albany Road" />
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<Paragraph>What began as a renovation became a restoration — not just of a house, but of its spirit. With the <Link url="https://www.escea.com/gas-fireplaces/df-series/single-sided/" target="_blank">Escea DF960 Gas Fireplace</Link> at its centre, this Auckland villa finds harmony between old and new, where the comfort of modern living meets the craftsmanship of another time. A home that feels, at last, complete.</Paragraph>
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