Waiheke Island: Altered space

A second storey comprising three bedrooms and a bathroom has been added to create a family-size home.

A couple have taken the best of a bach and transformed it into a graceful family home.

When Luc and Anna Desbonnets first visited the bach that would become their home, they could see it had three things going for it - the view, a flat back yard, and "good bones".

"It wasn't a mismatch, just a classic weatherboard bach, so we knew it would be easy to add on to," says Anna.

But they sat wondering if they'd made the right decision for several months. The grey office carpet, purple bathroom and painted chipboard floor are an indication of the task that faced them.

"But when I looked around other houses, I couldn't find one that had both a view like this, and a flat back yard," says Anna. "They're so rare on Waiheke. So we thought 'let's do it'. We could change the house but we couldn't change the site."

And change the house they did.

"At one point all that was standing was the back wing and the back wall, and we wondered why we didn't bowl the whole thing," laughs Anna.

Now, four years after buying the house, nestled between Little Oneroa Beach and Sandy Bay, Anna and Luc have transformed it into a home of style and grace. An upstairs floor has been added containing three bedrooms and a bathroom. The lower level has been opened out to create an expansive dining and living area off the kitchen. A rear wing comprising a guest bedroom and bathroom has been retained. A garden studio has been turned into a home gym, but could also be another bedroom or office.

Anna is a self-employed interior designer, and she brought her expertise and creativity to the project. Every feature is beautifully finished, from the stained oak floors to the exposed rafters in the upstairs ceilings. Tongue and groove-like wall panels, and stained cedar louvres add interest and character. She describes the furnishings as American country, with a French influence.

"I wanted it to be cosy. It's a family home so there are toys everywhere and I wanted it to be relaxed, not severe."

The property's best feature, its glorious northerly sea view, was captivating before, but has now been extended by a larger deck that allows viewers to also look back towards Oneroa. The deck wraps around a pohutukawa tree, and around the house. At the rear of the house is a covered deck that provides outdoor space on warm, wet days. There's also room for a second outdoor table, which the kitchen happens to look upon.

Luc, a winemaker, planted the garden. A row of young pohutukawa up the side of the driveway look stunning at Christmas, while lavender frames the front of the house. Out the back, a mix of palms, dracaenas, natives and succulents give a lush feel in what can be a dry climate.

In the midst of all their work, their two children arrived. First Olive, now three, and then red-haired Charlie a year ago.

"I didn't think much about the location until we got here," says Luc. "But we now realise how good it is. We can walk to Little Oneroa, which is great for kids, or to Sandy Bay, or to Fisherman's Rock to go fishing."

"I can be in the village in 15 minutes pushing the double buggy," adds Anna. There's a reserve in front of the house, preventing it from being built out.

Anna takes the ferry to work in Auckland two days a week, and says coming home is like going away for the weekend.

"I would never have thought to move to Waiheke, but we came here for Luc's work, and I saw how divine it was. Since having the kids I've also found a great community of other families. Everyone chats to everyone else at the park, and the whole place feels really safe."

Anna is now keen to stretch her talents at another property, so the family is moving on. "It's amazing when you look back - we've got a photo of me hanging out the washing when I was pregnant with Olive, and the back yard was part jungle, part bog. I'd lie in bed at night visualising how it was all going to look, and now I walk up the path and it's all done, and I can't believe we've come this far."

Vital Statistics

ADDRESS: 24 Queens Dr, Little Oneroa, Waiheke Island.

FEATURES: Fully renovated four-bedroom, two-bathroom home, including guest wing, plus garden studio; stunning views and flat back section; walking distance to village and bays.

SIZE: Land area 1163sq m; floor area 225sq m.

AUCTION: March 12 on site. Interest so far received from $1.1 million to $1.2 million.

AGENT: Matthew Smith, Unlimited Potential. Ph 027 222 4804 mob; 361 6660 bus.