Getting it right the first time

Photo / Supplied

Demolition yard owners usually drive a hard bargain, but Charlotte Cummings discovered a chink in their armour while renovating her Grey Lynn, Auckland, villa. "I found that after lunch was the best time to catch them," she says. "They were more mellow then. But the builders hated me because I would bring home old windows and doors and they had to build new frames for them."

While the builders might not have enjoyed this approach, Charlotte and her husband Stuart were determined to get the look of the home right while bringing it up to a modern standard. "Sure, we scoured demo yards and second-hand stores and put in old windows, but we also did all new plumbing, wiring and insulation, and we took out all the borer," says Stuart. "Our mantra was, 'do it once and do it right' - renovating is so stressful."

The house was raised 1.5m to create a new basement level with a kids' lounge, three big bedrooms and a bathroom. The extra space was essential to make room for a blended family of four children ranging in age from 9 to 23, although the floorplan was designed so that these spaces could be used in different ways if necessary. "Flexibility was the key," says Stuart.

The upper level got an extensive reworking, with the kitchen and rear living room being opened up so they're better connected with an enlarged deck designed for outdoor living. "I think it's wonderful the range of activities this home facilitates, as well as being a fantastic, flexible, family home," says Charlotte.

Extending the home has given the Cummings a floor area of 484sq m, comprising five bedrooms, three living rooms, two bathrooms, a double garage, storage room, office and a new light-filled kitchen with sea views. Because the villa, which is almost 100 years old, was used as a state house for part of its life, a lot of its character features had been covered over.

Skirting boards, ornate ceilings and doors just needed a bit of attention to restore them to their former glory. As soon as the kitchen and open-plan dining and living area were completed, the couple began refurbishing the rest of the house, including the bathrooms. However, Charlotte asked the builders to save some of the floorboards in one bathroom where she had unexpectedly given birth to son Anthony - now 9. "I think they understood where I was coming from."

What was a grand front room and attached lounge now serves as an office and conference room for Stuart and another living space was restored to become the "snug". "This is a cosy place where we can get away with a glass of wine and catch up at the end of the day," says Charlotte. "It was important to have a living area away from the main action in the house."

Style tips

Go for the pros: "It sounds like a cliche, but you can't make good work of a bad design," says Stuart. "Unless you want a career change and to learn everything there is to know about building and plumbing, then get a good architect because you'll get good plans."

Transplant time: When undertaking a major renovation, you have to accept the fact that your garden is going to be destroyed. Charlotte dug up plants and replanted them at the homes of friends and family and then took cuttings back to replant when the builders had finished.

Build rapport: If you're cooperative and helpful towards your builders it will work better for everyone. "I learned that baking for the builders and being responsible for the site and clearing it every day helped build rapport," says Charlotte.

* Leanne Moore is the editor of Your Home & Garden.