SCHOOL ZONES:
Takapuna Grammar, Belmont Intermediate, Belmont or Hauraki primaries.
CONTACT:
Prue de Bie, Bayleys, 021 521 242.
AUCTION:
March 23, 1.30pm.
* Plus off-street
House hunting in a busy market is never easy. House hunting from the other side of the world is even more stressful.
Dance and PE teacher Fiona Smith and her husband, lawyer Hayden, had been combing the internet for some time from their Abu Dhabi base.
They wanted to livearound Takapuna where Hayden had grown up, and knew they wanted character and charm.
Most places they looked at didn't fit their brief, so when they found this virtually untouched 1920s bungalow in Eversleigh Rd, they sent Hayden's parents for a look-see and the deal was done in 2010.
"It had all the lovely original features, it was a good house with character in a great location," says Fiona. "We just tried to keep on top of it while we were away, and when we came back I had a definite idea of what I wanted.
"We had three babies in quicker succession than we'd thought and spent two years on renovation and extension plans."
When the couple returned to New Zealand with baby Greta (now 2) and twins Zoe and Scarlett (4), they were ready to just enhance the house with what Fiona modestly calls just a bit of paint and "tarting" before they moved in.
But her stylish eye and plenty of labour has transformed the tired place, and the renovations were put on hold.
The couple would leave the babies with Hayden's parents while they and other family members spent evenings working their way through the house with buckets of white paint, polishing wooden floors and making clever tweaks so the cottage was ready for their family.
From the front porch (big enough for the stroller) to the panelled hallway lobby, the original bungalow details are enhanced with fresh paint.
Every room has delicate leadlight windows, panelled doors and architraves are intact. The master bedroom and sitting room still have the beamed and coved ceilings.
Original built-in drawers and cupboards in the bedrooms just needed fresh handles, the shelving unit in the twins' bedroom still had its deco trims, so Fiona needed only to add dreamy linen curtains and the rooms were done.
The couple left the vanity and shower in the roomy bathroom, refreshing it with a hexagon tile-look vinyl to mimic a period original, and doing the same in the big old-school laundry.
The kitchen needed only new paint and handles (white, of course) as the stainless steel benches, appliances and bifold windows to the deck were just what Fiona and Hayden needed for entertaining.
Fiona's favourite feature, original panelled and leadlight sliding pocket doors between the sitting and dining rooms, were slated for re-use in the renovation.
The Smiths' renovation continued in the garden, where they planted easy-care hydrangea bushes and a herb garden to add to the old fruit trees. Picket fences add to the traditional charm.
The family have revelled in the ease of getting around, walking to their favourite St Leonards beach, the Hauraki corner shops and, of course, Little & Friday.
The express bus to the city, or a walk to Bayswater ferry takes the stress out of commuting.
And the family have enjoyed the friendly street, a vibrant mix of old-timers and young families, neighbourly and friendly.
Fiona's folks live in Hawkes Bay, so the couple had always planned on adding a fourth guest bedroom for them to stay, but instead have found a four-bedroom house in a neighbouring street. So their sweet cottage is on the market.
