A chance meeting in a shopping mall decades after the end of a teen romance prompted this exactingly renovated, whopping family home.
Steve McFadzean and Robyn Jennings grew up in Mt Albert, dated for three years, parting in their mid-teens. Both married, had children and had marriage splits.
Robyn says: "Then one day we bumped into each other in St Lukes Mall and the rest, as they say, is history."
After years of dating, they decided to sell their two homes to unite forces. Dauntingly, they needed a home to accommodate six teenage children between them; double-Grammar-zoned to avoid school changes.
Builder-project manager Steve says: "We couldn't find anything suitable. I suddenly said to Robyn 'Why on earth don't we do up your place?'
"Well, it started off as an extension to make it bigger and ended up essentially being a complete rebuild as well. I spent two-and-a-half years full-time on this with just an apprentice."
Robyn says: "He's a perfectionist."
She and her previous husband bought this 1920s home in 1989 to secure double-Grammar zoning when it was a modified, two-storey, three-bedroom ugly duckling.
Steve excavated to build an extensive lower level, removed modifications and extended, also adding substantial kwila hardwood decks. Everything existing was renovated, including refurbishing weatherboards and stripping, straightening, insulating and re-gibbing internal walls.
Steve says: "We filled 126 dump-trucks excavating, and used 132cu m of concrete to create the basement level."
Winter excavation mired their eight-strong Brady Bunch-style clan in mud. Robyn also did her post-graduate and masters in MRI while working full-time during the renovations.
Somehow it all worked, helped by the teenagers having responsibilities and bonding family water-skiing exploits whenever possible.
Someone wise told Steve the hallmark of a stellar renovation-extension was not being able to tell where old ends and new starts and he listened well.
An automatic front gate powered by an industrial motor secures six off-street parks bolstering an internal-access double garage with additional boat space.
This parking and the 454sq m, eight-bedroom, five-bathroom, multi-living area layout suggest work-from-home, home-and-income or extended family potential.
Architectural draughtsman Scott Simon refined the couple's design, combining classical elegance, big spaces and modern amenity including mega-storage and central heating.
The versatile layout allows portions of the household to operate independently. The main five-bedroom layout integrates with a two-bedroom plus a one-bedroom studio.
Robyn, MRI team leader at Mercy Radiology, says: "The size is definitely unusual. When our friends come over we like to joke that they'll get lost."
Core mid-level living has two lounges (one for music, one for TV when eight were in-house). The neighbouring kitchen-dining room includes granite benches, two ovens and a video security system.
Robin says: "That was useful for seeing who was coming and going with six teenagers here."
Living flows out to big elevated north-facing covered decks - the setting for peaceful downtime, the children's vibrant Friday night socialising and speeches during Robyn and Steve's 2010 wedding reception. Steps lead down to two levels of rear landscaping that is fenced, level and private.
Three bedrooms and a bathroom complete the middle level.
In addition to garaging on the entry level are the main foyer and two studios with lounge-dining-kitchenettes open to patios; a one-bedroom, one-bathroom plus a two-bedroom, two-bathroom.
Robyn says: "This is where we'd escape to," entering the big upstairs master retreat with inviting window-seats, vaulted ceilings, walk-through wardrobe and double-basin en suite.
