Kōrero: Home décor and furnishings

This 1899 view of the hallway of Birtley, the home of the Street family in Parnell, Auckland, shows the decorative archway that was typical of many villas of that time. It was a visual indication of the dividing line between the public part of the house, in which visitors were received, and the private quarters. The stairs probably led to first-floor bedrooms, while the passageway behind them gave access to the kitchen and other service rooms.