The owners of the Dunedin villa have renovated extensively but been careful to retain the original features. Photos: Peter McIntosh : Modern touch in classic villa

A keen baker and cook, Mrs Chiles wanted a functional kitchen "where everything was easy to access and put away and surfaces were easy to clean up". Photos; Peter McItnosh : Modern touch in classic villa

The gas fire in the master bedroom is surrounded by a painted wooden mantelpiece. The black felted wallpaper features a paisley pattern. : Modern touch in classic villa

Modern touch in classic villa : Modern touch in classic villa

The cherry tree in the back section was there when the Chiles arrived but almost all of the garden has been replanted. : Modern touch in classic villa

Dark shellac varnish was removed from the arch in the hall and the chandelier was commissioned from Whanganui glass artist Katie Brown. : Modern touch in classic villa

Kathy Chiles has been collecting hand-blown New Zealand art glass for more than 20 years. "I love the intense colour and the really fluid nature of it," she says. : Modern touch in classic villa

The owners managed to retain the black, arch-shaped fire surround in the living area by having their new gas fire positioned behind it. The hearth tiles have a quatrefoil pattern that references the pressed tin ceiling. The painting is by Wellington's... : Modern touch in classic villa

The pressed metal ceilings were one of the features that attracted the owners to the house. The chandelier is by Auckland glass-blowing studio Monmouth House. : Modern touch in classic villa