KEY POINTS:
Stay and renovate, or move somewhere new? This is an issue inevitably faced by homeowners who find the arrival of children causes their home to seemingly shrink at an alarming rate.
When Erica and Karim Hussona moved into their Auckland villa close to a decade ago, daughter Lucy, now 9, was six weeks away from being born. They bought the home as a do-up and knew it needed to be renovated, but what they didn't anticipate was that a second renovation would be required a few years later as the family grew further, with the arrival of Tom, now 8, and Johnnie, 5.
"The family grew so fast the house had to grow with it," says Erica. The initial renovation, completed seven years ago, took off the back of the house to create a new kitchen, bathroom and extensive elevated deck.
It worked well, although because the rear of the house faces south, the wind meant it often wasn't comfortable to leave the French doors to the deck open. Erica realised the obvious solution was to level the sloping section and extend out at ground level.
She filed the idea away for future consideration. As the need for more space became pressing, the couple joined the weekend open home circuit but couldn't find anything that was close to what they wanted. Besides, they were reluctant to leave their family-friendly Mt Eden neighbourhood, with its babysitting club and walking school bus.
The most sensible option was another renovation. They found an architect almost literally on their doorstep. Jan Kippenberger lives and works in a nearby street and her concepts for a huge new kitchen, dining and living area - reached via a short staircase leading down from the original part of the house - matched with what the couple had in mind.
"This room has to be everything for everyone," says Erica.
"We really tried to fit a playroom or a TV room into the plans, but it just couldn't quite fit. But the space works really well."
Despite being open plan, the areas are defined. The kitchen sits behind a raised bar and the dining room within a slight L-shape, with doors out to the garden.
"I didn't want an island," says Erica. "I'm not a tidy enough cook for that." The back garden has had a makeover, too. The outdoor fireplace makes it the perfect spot for year-round entertaining.
"It's perfect," says Erica. "The kids can run in and out and we can sit here by the fire and relax."
SHOULD YOU STAY OR SHOULD YOU GO?
Choosing between a major renovation project or shifting house altogether can be an agonising decision for homeowners. Sometimes there's nothing to do but sit down with pen and paper to make a list of pros and cons.
Location, location: Do school zones, proximity to work and local amenities make your neighbourhood especially attractive? If so, it's worth staying.
Know your boundaries: Visit the council to find out exactly what you can and can't do on your existing property. Your dream home may be forbidden under council regulations.
Look into the future: Try and work out how much your renovations will actually add to the value of your home. If you renovate to an extent and in a style that's inconsistent with the rest of your street, you will probably lose money.
Do your sums: Yes, renovation is expensive, but don't dismiss the cost of relocating. Real estate and legal fees, combined with haulage and amenity set-up costs, all add up.
* Leanne Moore is the editor of Your Home & Garden. For more on the Hussonas' home, see the issue on sale now, or visit www.yourhomeandgarden.co.nz.
- NZ HERALD
