Mt Eden: Best laid plans

The imminent arrival of a fourth child has changed a couple's long-term plans for their renovated villa.

10 Poronui Street, Mt Eden.

Renovations at 10 Poronui Street had been going to plan since John and Debbie McGann bought the villa in 2000.

They'd replumbed and rewired the home, sorted out the downstairs bathrooms and much of the home had been insulated and re-gibbed.

And in March this year, the McGanns could reflect with satisfaction on having turned the dated studio in the backyard into a smart space that could be used for guest accommodation or as an office.

It was at that time, though, that Debbie found out she was pregnant with their fourth child, and plans began to change.

``The house is easily big enough for all of us,'' says Debbie, ``but we felt that we needed a bit more room for the boys [Thomas, aged 5, and Mattie, 3] to run around outside.''

And that's despite the fact that there is a lot more room out the back since the McGanns cleared out some bamboo, ponga and shrubs.

``The garden was quite interesting in its own wild sort of way but the mosquitoes were terrible and it was so wet you couldn't go out there,''says Debbie.

The villa has a fairly standard layout with two bedrooms at the front of the house - one with a fireplace - on either side of a wide hallway with polished floorboards.

Further back are two bathrooms, one behind the other, while on the other side of the hallway is the carpeted lounge with woodburner.

The lounge opens through double doors to the open plan kitchen and dining room with the standout feature being the Superman support post created by artist Dick Frizzell when he and his wife owned the home in the 80s.

The McGanns have been advised by an appraiser to take the artwork with them but are prepared to negotiate over it.

The kitchen has a gas range and hardwood benches with stainless steel additions at the ends. Behind the kitchen is a nook that functions as a children's play area to entertain the boys and little sister Libby, aged 15 months, when Debbie has guests or is preparing meals.

Windows in the kitchen open to the rear deck, while the dining area opens to the north-facing deck and an outdoor dining area through bifolds.

Upstairs, via the original wooden staircase, are two more bedrooms. The studio, originally divided into two rooms, is also a legacy of Frizzell.

He built it from demolition materials he and his wife derived from the two-storey villa. When they bought the house in 1982 it was divided into three flats and they turned it back into a large home. They later sold the home to another artist, Don Binney, and his wife.

When the McGanns renovated the studio, in the walls they found notes that Frizzell had written to himself, as well as cartoons and newspaper clippings.

The studio has been insulated and regibbed and now has a fold-down bed, a kitchenette and a bathroom.

The McGanns added features such as a ceiling fan, rain sensitive skylight and remote controlled louvres.

Debbie points out that she and John had done the renovations in the house and studio with the intention of living here for years to come.

``I just think the location is fantastic and being so close to the village makes your life so much easier,'' Debbie says. ``The kids around here all know each other and go to each other's places to play. We've loved it here and will be sad to leave.''

VITAL STATISTICS

BEDROOMS: 5

BATHROOMS: 3

GARAGES: 2

SIZE: Land 592sq m, house 177sq m (approx), studio 35sq m (approx).

PRICE: Buyer feedback suggests upwards of $1.1 million. Auction July 26.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 11.15-noon, or by appointment.

CONTACT: Diana Buczkowski, Barfoot & Thompson Epsom, ph 520 6221 bus, 021 408 303, 520 0842 a/h.

FEATURES: Renovated two-storey villa with gas heating in quiet cul-de-sac near Mt Eden village. North-facing garden has a self-contained studio. Zoned for Epsom Girls Grammar and Auckland Grammar.