SCHOOL ZONES:
Point Chevalier School, Western Springs College.
CONTACT:
Felicity Scott, 0274 522 241.
AUCTION:
1.30pm Shortland St, Feb 15.
*2 parking spaces
When Steve Mills and Elizabeth Briggs needed a bigger home than the Herne Bay unit they were living in seven years ago, moving to Point Chevalier was the natural choice.
"We wanted to stay on this side of the city. Ponsonby and Herne Bay were already too expensive but Pt Chev was good value for money," says Steve.
This 1980s townhouse was exactly what he and Elizabeth were looking for.
"It had three bedrooms, was in our price range, had off-street parking for two cars and had a nice little garden area at the back."
After snapping up the property before it went on the market, Steve and Elizabeth made substantial cosmetic changes to the house with the help of a designer, and it now has a clean, modern feel.
"We knew we could add value to the house without spending a fortune."
It has also been an easy first home to live in with the couple's two sons Harry, 4, and Archie, 2.
The only structural alternation Steve and Elizabeth have made to the two-level house is to make better use of a void in the entrance way by converting part of it into two laundry spaces which are concealed behind cupboard and sliding doors.
Existing aluminum joinery has stood up well and includes sliding doors in the bedroom, dining room and living room on the ground level that open up to a deck which wraps around two sides of the house.
Image 1 of 9: A makeover and a modest reconfiguration has transformed this family home. Photo / David Rowland
From the living room, a wide section of deck is framed by a subtropical garden that includes established nikau palms planted by the previous owners.
Elizabeth's clever, low-maintenance landscaping includes clusters of ligularia, canna lilies and griselinia hedging.
The couple have also repaired and painted the property's fencing and added trellising so the garden is more sheltered and private.
The house is the back one of two on a crossed site on Pt Chevalier Rd so is well away from traffic noise, and Steve and Elizabeth's driveway has good turning room.
Inside, the house has been repainted, the upstairs bathroom and downstairs toilet are new, the bedrooms have been carpeted and the kitchen, dining room have been tiled. A large carpet square in the lounge is surrounded by matching tiles.
Steve and Elizabeth have reconfigured the cupboards in the kitchen, removing one from in front of a window that blocked the light, and have added storage in the two upstairs bedrooms.
A-framed ceilings on this level make these rooms feel spacious and the master bedroom has views of the Waitakere Ranges.
Pete says Point Chevalier locals have a strong sense of community and love living in their suburb which is "it's own little world".
"It is close knit and is a great place to be with young children because there is so much to do. We are close to Walker and Coyle Parks, we can walk to Point Chevalier Beach in 10 minutes and Motat is just down the road."
Pete says he has watched local house prices go crazy since they bought in late 2009. "But if you want to get into Point Chevalier and you haven't got two million bucks, then this house will appeal to you."
Point Chevalier appeals to the Mills family so much that they have bought a bigger house around the corner from this one.
