KEY POINTS:
Fashion editor Stacy Gregg lived a double life during the renovation of her home - a former soccer club. By day she was immersed in a world of beautiful clothes and glamorous functions - by night she'd swap her stilettos for work boots and get stuck in, alongside partner Michael Lamb, to convert the rundown sports club into a home.
"We were full-time renovators," says Stacy, who has since forged a new career for herself as the author of a series of children's novels called Pony Club Secrets. "We'd come home and work on the house at night and then again at weekends." And a lot of work was needed - even the real estate agent who sold them the house expected the new owners to demolish the clubrooms and go with the plans for two townhouses that came with the property.
Constructed as a Methodist Church in the 1950s, the building had been the Western Springs Soccer Club headquarters in Auckland for about 30 years. There were bars on the windows and doors to protect the booze within from burglars.
Inside, the hall had a stage at one end and a bar at the other, while the kitchen was kitted out with a huge deep-fryer and a zip for hot water. Other dubious features were the faux wood panelling and beer-soaked carpet tiles. But all the couple could see was potential. "We loved the idea of such a big open space," says Gregg, who was keen on the idea of loft-style living. "It had a beautiful aspect and being right next to a reserve meant fewer immediate neighbours. And it was a challenge."
First on their to-do list was creating a new bathroom - and installing an internal staircase so they could reach it without trekking outdoors. The stairs came from a demo yard and Gregg sanded them by hand. Because the downstairs bathroom was solid concrete, the layout was determined by the existing plumbing and the windows had to be positioned where the doors used to be. But anything was going to be better than the original ablutions block, which had urinals, communal showers and reeked of sweaty soccer players.
Splurging on a deep porcelain bath gave the couple somewhere to soak away the aches and pains brought on by the renovations. "Once we'd done the bathroom at least I could lie in the bath and forget about what it looked like upstairs," remembers Gregg.
Years of hard graft have rejuvenated the building. Three rooms at the front now house two bedrooms and an office for Lamb, while the club's main hall has been turned into an open-plan living area. This kitchen, dining and living space has huge glass doors that open to a deck with a view of the reserve.
Now concealed behind a floating wall, the old stage has become Gregg's study, where she writes her novels. After a decade, the renovation project is largely complete and the former clubrooms are functioning beautifully as a home for the couple and their 8-year-old daughter, Issie. "I don't think you can ever say a house is completely finished," says Gregg. "There's always something else you can do. But we're happy to enjoy this for a while."
Achievable goals
Completion rate: When building or renovating, some people get started on the landscaping first so the garden has become established by the time the home is finished. Others like to get the interiors finished first. Either way, tackle one area at a time so you are not surrounded by chaos.
Expert-ease: Employing an architect is worth the money. Architects can come up with some clever ideas, including cabinetry designs for kitchens and bathrooms. They can also get good deals on quality products.
Form and function: The concrete walls of Stacy Gregg's bathroom meant the plumbing couldn't be moved or hidden, so they decided to make a feature of the exposed pipes.
* Leanne Moore is the editor of Your Home & Garden. For more inspiring renovation ideas, see the issue on sale now, or visit www.yourhomeandgarden.co.nz
