Westmere - Added value

Address: 1 Westmere Crescent, Westmere.

A love of glossy magazines paid off for Kristin Colthurst when it came to creating a designer's style within her renovated home.

French magazines inspired the chateau look of the open plan living space, while the plan for a hideaway kitchen was also taken from magazines.

Kristin and husband Aaron bought the three-bedroom house four years ago, attracted by its location near Coxs Bay and the Garnet Road shops. They also liked the flat site and the northfacing aspect, but it was a bungalow in desperate need of glossy makeover.

"The house was really rough. It was small, with lots of little, dark rooms," explains Kristin. "We lived in it in its original state for a while, which was quite good because we got to know where the sun went and aspects like that.''

After contacting architect Garry Glasgow, Kristin decided on a very simple, open plan extension. The kitchen would step down to the living and dining area, and two sets of French doors would open onto decks.

The two sunny front bedrooms gained built-in wardrobes, the master bedroom gained an en suite, and the main bathroom was remodelled.

It was the kitchen that turned the living space into a contemporary area. The cupboards, pantry and work areas were hidden behind floor to ceiling doors, leaving exposed only the large, marble topped island bench and the stainless steel alcove that contained the oven and elements.

"I probably saw something like that in a magazine and thought it was good idea,'' says Kristin. ``I like an enclosed kitchen. It's an aesthetic thing. I don't like to see all the kitchenware out on show."

Kristin's influence dominated the living space - from the steps down to the panelled living and dining area to the white walls and stained black floors. But the transformation process wasn't so simple.

A couple of months into the renovation, Aaron was offered a contract with the organising committee for the Commonwealth Games, so headed for Melbourne, leaving Kristin to finish the work.

``There was definitely some hair pulling moments, like contractors not turning up when they are supposed to,'' says Kristin. ``I wanted to get to Melbourne too but I couldn't go until the house was finished."

But after three months project managing the renovation Kristin, along with daughter Ava, now 2, rented out the house and headed to Melbourne.

The family recently returned home, along with Australian-born baby, Will, 8 months, and finished the garden area - a job well suited for trainee-landscape architect Kristin.

The couple are now bubbling with ideas for other renovations so are looking for a new project, this time with Aaron around to help finish the job.

Kristin's tips for surviving a renovation -
* When buying a home to renovate, don't go in with preconceived ideas. Find inspiration from magazines and pull out pictures of rooms or gardens that you like.

* Be prepared for the unexpected, like contractors not turning up. That's the nature of building houses.

Don't have your husband leave half way through the process.

VITAL STATISTICS

BEDROOMS: 3

BATHROOMS: 2

GARAGES: 2

SIZE: Land 512sq m, house 126sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: CV (2005) $790,000. Auction August 30.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 12-12.45pm

ON THE WEB: www.bayleys.co.nz # 43162

CONTACT: Karen Spires or Patrick McCarthy, Bayleys, ph 027 273 8220 (Karen), 027 233 3988 (Patrick).

FEATURES: Crisp, modern renovation of a bungalow with family-friendly spaces. Northfacing decks and lawn. Close to Coxs Bay and the Garnet Road shops.