Ponsonby: Awfully attractive

67 Sussex St, Ponsonby.

CV: $435,000.

Sold for: $580,000.

Sold by: Angela Saunders, Meo Realty, ph 021 448 900.

Terrible first impressions usually send buyers away in their droves. But when builder Gareth Jones (yes, Welsh, and no, please don't talk about the Lions) and his marketing wife Kate Davies first saw the do-up on Sussex Street (which featured in Heraldhomes on June 4) they were delighted at how awful it looked.

"We have got to say it looked dreadful when we first saw it," says Kate. "It was not helped by the fact that after constant rain the back yard was awash. People had done awful things to it in the past. But the minute we walked on site we thought 'This place has so much potential; it's exactly what we want'."

Gareth had been looking for a renovation project as a showcase for his speciality building company, Westmere Builders. Since arriving in New Zealand five years ago, he has focused on quality renovations and new architect-designed houses, and was keen to try new things on a house of his own. Gareth has enjoyed doing so much more with the Kiwi wooden houses than he was able to with the brick or stone of Britain, and likes solving challenging architectural problems. He'll have plenty of opportunity in Sussex St.

The couple plan to spend a year in the house to see how it works through the summer and autumn before briefing a new design. While they'll have to grit their teeth at the aluminium windows and 70s orange glass, Kate and Gareth love the idea of restoring the wide front verandah. They picture it as a spot to catch the sunset views over the Waitakeres, and say hi to the neighbours. An existing sleepout gives Kate a ready-made office for her marketing and writing business, and the property is fully fenced for their six-month-old pound puppy Elsa.