SCHOOL ZONES:
Richmond Rd Primary, Ponsonby Intermediate, Western Springs College, Auckland Girls’ Grammar.
CONTACT:
Marty Hall 0274 500 168, Heather Lanting 0274 394 124, Ray White.
AUCTION:
May 31.
A healthy dose of sunshine and a spinal realignment have made a world of difference to Mark Turney and Linda Turner's former workingman's cottage.
Welcoming in the sun that used to bypass the small kitchen/dining area and re-working the awkward central staircase for better flow on both levels have been the two key elements of their recent renovation.
Theirs is the latest in a number of transformations that have seen this circa 1880s two-up, two-down home in a neighbour of similar homes grow to become a highly relevant home of modern proportions.
In its original form, the stairs ran up a side wall, in line with the front door.
When extensions added a ground floor lounge opposite the kitchen and a bedroom above, that staircase became the central spine of the house, but an awkward additional link to the rooms upstairs.
Mark and Linda, who both have marketing backgrounds, moved here 3½ years ago keen to make this their long-term home, but they weren't fazed by the shortcomings they discovered beyond the beautiful double-gabled street frontage.
With two renovations behind them, they knew better than to rush any changes here, despite the discomfort of leaks, draughts and a less-than-ideal space with the kitchen at one end and the dining area in front of the fireplace at the other.
"We took off the old fireplace and pretty much lived in it as it was," says Linda. "It was hard, but it gave us a good sense of the feel of the house and it didn't take us long to discover that this was an amazing suntrap."
They brought their preferred architect John Hill on site and he flipped the kitchen/dining area in the new space, bringing light in through two large rear picture windows and two skylights installed in the ceiling.
Bi-fold windows above the former kitchen bench were replaced with French doors to open up the area to the timber veranda, adjacent courtyard and side lawn and lounge courtyard.
"Once we realised where all that light came in, it made good sense to open it all out to a big entertainment area because that's how we live our lives," says Linda.
New American oak flooring and cabinetry with timber detailing unifies the area. With a new, more open central staircase in place, there is an evenness of light throughout the entire ground floor living areas.
Mark and Linda also covered their options for a fourth bedroom/second lounge with floor heating in the carpeted front room with its leafy street view.
"It's a really peaceful street and it's nice to have this wind-down room where you can chill out," she says.
All three dedicated upstairs bedrooms are close to the refurbished family bathroom with its separate shower, stone hand basin and egg-shaped bath.
Along the hallway towards the front of the house, the architect's reconfigured floor plan has enlarged the former en suite and achieved a better entry into the master bedroom.
From the refurbished board and batten coved ceilings upstairs to the stair newel posts downstairs, the integrity of this home's traditional style has been kept intact.
"We love green and we love timber and we've tried to keep everything modern with a green backdrop that is sympathetic with nature," says Linda.
