HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS
RISING LIKE A PHOENIX FROM THE ASHES The Commercial Hotel was constructed in 1841, destroyed by fire in 1858 and replaced with a brick structure which in turn was destroyed by fire in the late 1920s before being rebuilt in 1925. Dominion Breweries gave the art deco hotel an extensive makeover in 1959 with 1950s interior features and renamed it Hotel DeBrett. The hotel was given another makeover in 1984 by new owners and was a popular gathering place throughout the 80s.The Historic Places Trust has recommended the reinforced concrete building be recommended for a Category 11 registration as a place of historical and cultural heritage significance because of its 140 history of trading on the site. Throughout its long existence, the hotel has adapted to changing drinking habits and social customs. Sadly, some years later, the hotel fell into a decline and eventually ended up as a backpackers’ lodge. Enter St Mary’s Bay residents, Michelle Deery and John Courtney who have restored the iconic landmark to its former glory. Michelle was an art teacher who did the mandatory OE, studied interior design in London where she met John whose career was investment banking. They eventually returned to New Zealand in 2002 and began building a commercial property portfolio. By this time DeBretts had deteriorated further and the backpackers were no longer staying there. The building, which Michelle and John had always admired as a potential boutique hotel kept coming up for sale. It was promoted to them as a potential office development which didn’t appeal. Their modus operandi is buying and renovating, not developing. In the end they decided it would be really cool to have a small boutique hotel in the middle of Auckland’s CBD. They took the plunge, bought the building and then started on the onerous task of planning, gaining resource consent and overcoming all the other hurdles that go with refurbishing an historic building. Michelle had never designed a hotel before and was a bit daunted at the prospect, so to get her head around it she just thought of it as a house with 25 bedrooms. Well it certainly was an inspired approach because Michelle’s dedication to the task has pulled off an outstanding result. art deco bones are still there and very evident in the stainless steel lift with its mirrored interior. The amazing striped carpet Michelle designed in shades of burgundy, black, blue and yellow runs through the halls, up the staircase and into the bedrooms. It’s been woven in India with 100 percent New Zealand wool and laid over cork, so one’s feet literally sink into its downy softness. Upstairs the wooden floors in the restaurant, bar and guests’ drawing room are strewn with patchwork rugs imported from Turkey. Every bedroom is individually designed and enhanced with custom made retro style furniture, and New Zealand art. During daytime the dining area is flooded with light from a glass roofed atrium but when night falls, Judy Darragh’s hand spun copper chandeliers cast a soft glow on the rough brick walls while lighted candles on the tables create a different mood. Michelle’s says they are not fine dining but want to be accessible and approachable. Throughout the hotel they endeavour to celebrate New Zealand produce so the wine list is 100 percent New Zealand and they try to keep the food on the menu as local as possible. DeBretts Kitchen has the distinction of being the only hotel in Metro’s Top 50 restaurants of the year awards 2013. The magazine also describes it as “a hidden gem in this city, but it shouldn’t be”.
Michelle Deery and John Courtney of Debretts Hotel From the time Michelle and John bought the building in March 2007, it was two years before they opened in February 2009. It was actually finished in October but then months passed before they were granted a license to open, which was terribly frustrating. They spent the time usefully however, putting on great fun dinner parties for friends who all stayed for sleepovers. This was an opportunity to iron out any problems they may have overlooked. For instance, the tilers had left grout in one of the shower plug holes resulting in a flood they wouldn’t have known about before taking bookings. With its home away from home ambience Michelle has established a tradition that looks set to continue well into the future. (DEIRDRE TOHILL) F PN
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134 PONSONBY NEWS+ December 2013
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