It was a full-circle moment when Paula Holden moved into the Dodson Valley villa she had once lived in as a child. The house, rich in history and memories, became a vibrant blend of the past and present, filled with treasures that make it uniquely Paula.
Photos: Tessa Claus and Joel Collier
Our story
John, our son Arlo, and I live here with our dogs, Jimmy and Barnaby. We’ve lived here for seven years. Our house, the oldest in Dodson Valley, was built in the mid 1890s by local draper Mr. John Black as his retirement home. He was very much into gardening and had many fruit trees planted, along with beehives for pollination. It’s a real treasure of a villa and a piece of Nelson history that I love and wanted to share.
Amazingly, this house is the first home I remember living in! My parents owned it in the early 1970s, and I have lots of funny little memories from being a preschooler here. We left Nelson for Dunedin when I was ten, so it’s incredible that, through luck or serendipity, this beautiful home came up for sale when we were looking for our next home. We thought we’d just check it out for old times’ sake, and we totally fell in love! We were in awe when we walked in and saw the huge hallway. I’d thought it seemed big in my memory because I was so small when I first lived here. We nicknamed it the ‘Sports Hall of Fame’, we’ve played everything from football and hockey to basketball and rollerskating.
My inspiration
My collection of vintage and retro furniture and prints, combined with the expansive space of the old villa, cried out for a bold and vibrant palette!
Save or splurge?
I enjoy the thrill of finding a treasure in an op shop or on TradeMe. I’d rather buy something second-hand that’s well-made and give it another life. Our art deco birdseye maple veneer wardrobe, duchess, and bedside cupboard set was a very lucky find at a local auction. It’s perfect for the master/mistress bedroom.
Our best new purchase was a low-emission woodburner. It heats half of our big old villa and burns overnight with the right combination of hardwoods.
Renovations and improvements
We’ve done our fair share of renovations to this lovely home, building on the great work of previous owners. My favourite room is the lounge, which we completely revamped. It was previously painted a cool-toned lilac that made the room feel cold and dark. Inspired by the lipstick and bikini in my 1960s print, The Nymph by J.H. Lynch, we painted the room a deep, warm orange – and it looks fabulous now! We absolutely love it. New tropical-inspired curtains beautifully frame the rare, sash floor-to-ceiling windows. We also replaced a worn-out 1980s brick fire surround with a stunning rimu mantle that I found on TradeMe.
It had been lovingly sanded and restored by a woman in Dunedin who couldn’t use it in her own renovation. She was thrilled to see photos of it installed in our home. I was equally delighted that the heavy cast-iron vintage-style electric heater (with flame effect!) fitted perfectly inside – it looks so authentic, as if it’s always been there.
Favourite nooks
I think I’m slightly obsessed with the stunning wraparound veranda, with its blue railings and majestic white columns. Maybe it’s imprinted on my brain from when I was little, running along, swinging around the columns, and zooming in and out of the large windows. You can follow the sun around and have a different possie throughout the day. My most favourite spot on the veranda is by the pool, with the view towards the cattle grazing on the hills. It’s very private and feels like you are in the country. It’s the perfect place to read, or at this time of year, watch the tūī feed on the flax or the dinosaur-like herons landing in the beech tree.
Every home should have…
A welcoming, relaxing heart with a couch and comfy chairs to lounge on, surrounded by favourite pot plants and contented dogs snoozing at your feet.
Our neighbourhood
Dodson’s Valley, Atawhai, is a really friendly seaside community. We’ve got great neighbours, and the street boasts a funky coffee and pizza cart, a fantastic Four Square supermarket, a hairdresser, and a chippie. I’m a regular at the plant, flower, and salad greens stall at the end of the road. Plus, the fabulous Corder Park is just a hop, skip, and a jump away.
The Valley community has a warm spirit, and we’re also blessed with amazing sunshine out here. We’re often bathed in sun even when it’s cloudy and grey
in town.
Best memories
Gosh, I’m spoilt for choice, we’ve had so many good times here. Summer gatherings with lots of kids in the pool, floating on pool toys, and having manu competitions have been an absolute blast. But a particularly special memory was my dad’s 90th birthday party by the pool, where he once grew a field of lettuces as part of his market garden. Some of the guests hid around the veranda and surprised him with a wonderful rendition of Happy Birthday.
I love that I’ve had the chance to live here at two very different times in my life – firstly, with a child’s perspective and experiences, and now as a mum with my own family. All my rellies have visited at some stage, so the house oozes family history. It’s been such a special home to me in so many ways.
It’s been a very hard decision to sell, but it’s time for a new phase and an opportunity to experience another part of Nelson. I’m pleased that another family will get to enjoy the delights of living in this big old villa, just as I did!
