Artists Restore 113-Year-Old Villa Despite Dual Diagnoses

When Marie Simberg-Höglund and her husband Ola first spotted the Edwardian villa on Fifeshire Crescent in 1988, they knew it would be theirs someday. Thirty-three years later, living in Wānaka, they bought their "forever home" sight unseen when it finally came on the market.

The celebrated glassblowing artists, who created pieces for the Sydney 2000 Olympics, immediately began an extensive renovation to restore the 113-year-old villa's original character. They raised ceilings that had been lowered in the 1970s, uncovered beautiful ceiling roses, and preserved every original brass door handle.

Then their plans changed dramatically. During the 18-month renovation, Ola developed motor neurone disease and Marie was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

"We didn't get to appreciate our efforts with the house," Marie says simply. But they didn't stop working.

The couple installed double glazing, full insulation, three heat pumps, and a new gas fireplace. They studied old photos from the Nelson Provincial Museum to paint the exterior in its original colours. Every detail in the two bathrooms and kitchen received meticulous attention.

The 150-square-meter home now showcases restored French doors opening to a long veranda, traditional fretwork, and a stained glass entry door. The artist studio at the back overlooks Tasman Bay and Haulashore Island, views that always inspired their glass art.

Ola passed away in December 2024. Marie has now listed the property so another family can enjoy what they created.

Why This Inspires

This story captures something profound about the human spirit. Even facing terminal illness and brain surgery, Marie and Ola chose to pour themselves into creating beauty. They didn't abandon their dream or cut corners because their time was limited. Instead, they spent 18 months ensuring every ceiling rose, every door handle, every paint color honored the home's 113-year history.

Their choice wasn't about resale value or personal enjoyment. It was about craft, legacy, and the quiet belief that beauty matters even when, especially when, life becomes uncertain. The Swedish artists who emigrated to New Zealand in 1977 built careers drawing inspiration from nature's colors and the views over water and mountains. Their final project together became another work of art.

Marie is back at the Höglund Glassblowing Studio and Gallery in Appleby now, continuing the work she and Ola built together. She misses watching dolphins play and seals sunbathe from her villa windows, and the sound of waves on still evenings.

The home they restored stands as a testament to choosing creation over despair, even when the future offers no guarantees.