SCHOOL ZONES:
Ponsonby Primary, Ponsonby Intermediate, Auckland Girls’ Grammar, Western Springs College.
CONTACT:
Luke McCaw 021 950 145, Andrea Ritchie 021 906 793.
When Carol Mayne wanted to undertake a major renovation, her sister Sandra knew exactly who to recommend.
She had used architect Jennifer Cook and builder Nigel Tizard to help overhaul her multilevel Freemans Bay home, which she has since sold, and was overjoyed with the result.
"They are a fantastic team and Nigel is pedantic, knows the area and he doesn't cut corners," says Sandra.
Those qualities were brought to bear on Carol's Sentinel Rd villa, owned by a family trust and purchased 17 years ago as a home and income with a self-contained flat downstairs.
About six years ago, what was basically a rebuild was tackled with the house being gutted and Carol moving in with Sandra during the nine-month project.
On the main level, the kitchen and bathroom (with clawfoot bath) were revamped, and en suites added to two of the three bedrooms, which also benefited from additional built-in wardrobing and storage.
Sandra says the upgrading of the bedrooms was done with tenants in mind so they could have their own bathrooms.
An elevated deck was built off the open-plan kitchen and living area at the rear of the house, and the front entrance off the street was rebuilt for an easier transition.
The old veranda on the square-front villa was demolished so that the downstairs flat could be extended, revealing -- Sandra says -- that for some time it had been held up only by bottles stacked on each other.
A new driveway leads to a double garage with internal access from the flat, and an almost fully enclosed double carport with turning bay outside.
The home has been modernised, insulated and has a neutral colour palette, but it still has character features such as board and batten ceilings and sash windows.
Image 1 of 8: Magnificently updated villa offers family living upstairs, a two-bedroom apartment downstairs, and room for a business
The original kauri floorboards -- now blonded -- feature in the bathrooms.
Skylights were added to the open-plan living area, which is warmed by a flued gas heater.
Wide doors off the lounge open to the west-facing deck, with a pergola and frosted windows on the southern side for privacy and shelter.
"Being west-facing, it's a great spot out there in the evening and very private," says Sandra.
Downstairs, the two-bedroom flat has heated polished concrete floors and double block walls with a cavity.
The upstairs floor sits on one of these walls and has been isolated and soundproofed so it doesn't transmit noise downstairs.
"Because Carol knew she was going to live down here she made sure it would be quiet and comfortable," says Sandra.
