Devonport: Cabbage trees and helpful talk

They swore the would never renovate again, but when a Devonport couple found this gospel hall they were converted.

10 Calliope Rd, Devonport.

Only a New Zealand family would take so much care of a cabbage tree during a home renovation.

Mike and Sue French were so keen to preserve this stunning example of a Kiwi icon in their back yard that they rebuilt their home's foundations around its roots. The basement floor was even cantilevered to prevent severing any crucial tendrils.

"We asked an arborist from the council to come and advise us," recalls Sue. "He was thrilled we wanted to keep it, but told us that if we tried moving it there was a high chance it would die. We really wanted to save it because it frames the house with the two other cabbage trees at the front, and gives it that real New Zealand look."

The couple's care has paid off. The cabbage tree reaches as high as the house, its branches forking at odd angles like a lorax from the pages of Dr Seuss.

But what of the "house" it frames? The 1898 structure has spent most of its life as a gospel hall for the Open Brethren church. It was sold into private hands in the 1970s, converted to a home in the 1980s, and was bought by Mike and Sue three years ago. Together with an architect friend, Bruce Elton, builders Paul Dabb and Royce Hargraves, and interior designer Effie Theodorou, they spent 18 months undertaking a beautifully finished renovation from top to bottom. This was contrary to their intentions.

"We'd done a big renovation while we lived in England for several years, and really didn't want to go through another one," says Mike. "When we came back to New Zealand we rented in Devonport for a couple of years intending to buy something already done up."

"But I kept walking past this place and wondering what it was like inside," continues Sue. "I liked the idea of a big space that you could do something with that was contemporary."

When it came on the market the couple took one walk through it and fell in love with its space, light and the fact it was unique.

The hall's greeting sign still hangs in the foyer, beckoning visitors with promises of "bright singing" and a "helpful talk". Opposite is a black and white photo of the hall from the days when it had an uninterrupted view of the harbour. The former vestibules on either side of the hallway near the foyer are now potential bedrooms or offices. The original organ, made in Chicago in 1903, still resides in another foyer past the vestibules. On it rests a hand-drawn map of India and some photos of children helped by missionaries supported by church members.

A stairwell of simple lines, built in kauri in keeping with the rest of the building, leads you upstairs to the family bedrooms, or downstairs to another bedroom, bathroom, the laundry and a large living area opening onto the lowest of three north facing decks. Internal access to the double garage is also down here.

Upstairs the bedrooms feature dormer windows, cute arched windows in the children's bedrooms, velux windows in the hallway ceiling, and a glorious arched doorway leading from the master bedroom to the top deck. From here you can gaze across trees and rooftops to Ngataringa Bay and Takapuna beyond. Mt Victoria rises up beside you.

"You see bits of Auckland from all over the house," says Mike. "The kids' rooms have glimpses of the harbour, and you can see the Skytower from our bathroom window."

Red stained glass windows from the original construction have been replicated throughout the lower living area, and in the striking splashback behind the stovetop. There is a scullery and pantry off the kitchen - handy for keeping mess hidden, and for making the kids' lunches.

A huge gas fire in the lounge, and sun streaming in from the middle deck onto which it opens, keeps the central living area warm in winter. All the sun catching windows upstairs, and lots of insulation, keep the top level cosy.

"It works really well as a family home," says Sue. "The sliding doors (recessed into the wall cavities) can separate the kitchen and dining area from the lounge, there's the games room downstairs and their bedrooms upstairs."

The former hall's large proportions demand rather substantial furniture. Sue found her 10 seater dining table in a second hand shop in Bulls - it used to belong to an orphanage.

As a landmark building in a heritage-conscious community, the French's renovation has prompted quite a bit of local interest.

"We had people coming up to us congratulating us on our perseverance," smiles Mike. "Considering there's been a lot of debate about houses being modernised around here, I think we've gained the local seal of approval."

"We think we actually improved its appearance by standardising the windows down the sides," says Sue.

Preserving the cabbage trees helped, too.

Vital Statistics

SIZE: Land 500sq m, house 400sq m including decks.

PRICE: By negotiation. Interest expected above $1.9 million.

INSPECT: By appointment.

CONTACT: Jim Mays, Premium, ph 486 1727 bus, 021 937 766 mob.

FEATURES: Three-level home at the top of Devonport village with three living areas, three decks, private back yard, gas fireplace, underfloor heating in bathrooms. Close to Devonport Primary School and in zone for Takapuna Grammar.