Lifestyle

From Parish Hall to Stunning NY-Style Loft: A Canterbury Couple’s Amazing Transformation!

In the heart of Canterbury, a remarkable transformation has taken place. A once dilapidated parish hall has been reborn as a breathtaking, light-filled New York-style loft retreat, thanks to the vision and hard work of Caleb and Natalie Paterson.

The Vision

While most people saw only decaying walls and a forlorn appearance in the old Anglican church and parish hall, the Patersons saw potential. In early 2019, they decided to invest their life savings into this project, purchasing the Hawarden church and adjacent hall.

The Renovation Journey

Caleb, a skilled carpenter, knew he could handle most of the renovation work himself. Natalie, a part-time community development facilitator, was also ready to contribute. With five years of renovation experience from their beach house in Kaiapoi, they were well-prepared for this new challenge.

Although they weren’t actively looking for a new home, the former St Columba Church and hall caught their eye. They saw the potential in the buildings and the 3000sqm rural section, envisioning it as a great home and an Airbnb, given its location on the road to Lake Sumner.

The Transformation

The couple decided to start with the 70sqm parish hall, which was in such a bad state that everything had to be rebuilt, except for the floor, the cathedral ceiling, and the back door. They hired Barry Connor, a Christchurch architectural designer, who was excited to breathe life into the 1955 building.

The goal was to preserve as much of the historic charm and original features as possible, including the 4m-high cathedral roof and Gothic arched door, while retaining the open-plan format. Natalie loved the idea of clean lines and open spaces, so they kept the living, sleeping, and dining areas as one big uninterrupted space.

The Finishing Touches

The couple used the March 2020 lockdown as a renovation retreat. They completed the bulk of the renovation work, including painting the rimu ceiling and floors white to create a light, bright canvas. The most significant change to the space happened at the western end of the building, where the large parish hall kitchen was transformed into a separate bathroom, mudroom, and kitchen.

When it came to furnishing the space, the couple realized that while most of their previous furniture would fit, they needed larger couches for the living area and bigger artwork to match the scale of the walls and ceiling.

The Outdoor Space

Outside, the couple cleared the overgrown garden to create a large decked area. Caleb designed and constructed a 15m x 15m decking that leads from the living room. They also added a swimming pool, which serves as a water source in case of fires and gets a lot of use year-round.

Future Plans

The couple is currently adding the final touches by landscaping the property. Future projects include turning the mezzanine level into a bedroom or study. Next year, they plan to tackle the church, turning it into a three-bedroom home for holiday accommodation.

This project was a bigger challenge than they thought, but they’re excited to start the next phase of turning the church into a lovely home.

Images via Kate Claridge