SCHOOL ZONES:
Kowhai Intermediate, Mt Albert Grammar, Auckland Girls’ Grammar, Balmoral School.
CONTACT:
Sue Hatton, Ray White, sue.hatton@raywhite.com 0272 799 696.
AUCTION:
June 24 (unless sold prior).
Caroline Yoon and Peter Simpson wanted to create a clear distinction between "the old and the new" when they renovated their 1909 Sandringham villa.
The couple had watched lots of Grand Designs TV programmes and wanted to retain the old tradition of the house, which is zoned Residential 1, so it needed to be renovated sympathetically, in keeping with its era.
They bought the Royal Terrace house in 2010, attracted by its sunny, north-facing aspect, then lived in it for three years while deciding on changes.
The original plan was to add only a garage to the house, which stands close to its western boundary so had plenty of space for extension towards the east side of its 506sq m section.
Architect Richard Furze came up with a radical concept that included adding a modern "black box" to the villa's eastern side.
"Richard did the 3D renders in black and was not sure whether we would like it. But we took one look and loved it straight away," says Pete.
The structure looks like a double garage from the street but features a large master bedroom and en suite that form a wing extending from the main living area and faces north, overlooking the back garden.
In a year-long renovation that was far more comprehensive than Caroline and Pete first planned, the modest one-level, two-bedroom house was transformed into a four-bedroom two-level property with three bathrooms, high quality fittings and great storage.
When building began, rotten piles were discovered and the floors were uneven.
"You could roll a ball bearing from one side of the house to the other," says Pete. "There ended up being almost nothing that we didn't do."
Image 1 of 9: Twenty-first century thinking brings light, warmth and far more generous living space to a cottage than its original architect did in 1909
As well as being completely repiled, the house was reroofed, relined, rewired and all of the walls were insulated. It also has three heat pumps.
The bedrooms are carpeted and the kauri floors in the large, open-plan living space and central hallway are stained an attractive charcoal shade that ties in with black aluminium joinery of the new wing, which Pete says was the easiest part of the renovation.
In the existing section of the house, as much of the original joinery as possible was kept and the makeover included removing a 1950s lean-to from the front of the house where a veranda was reinstated.
You enter the house at its top, main level where two double bedrooms open off the central hall. The large main bathroom is also off the hall, which leads to a light-filled, open-plan living space that includes the kitchen, dining and living rooms.
The large, modern kitchen has a central stainless steel island, maple veneer cupboards and a feature wall behind the hob lined with striking deep turquoise tiles.
Off the dining space is a covered outdoor deck with a Vitex wooden floor and glass balustrade. The deck overlooks the large, flat back garden. This has been planted with subtropicals and has established palm trees and a magnificent dragon tree.
Steps from the upper deck lead down to another large deck, which has vegetable planters on one side and steps down to the back lawn.
A small hall off the living room upstairs leads to the master bedroom and double internal access garage, which houses the laundry.
Stairs from the hall connect with the lower level, which includes a spacious fourth bedroom and the third bathroom. The bedroom doubles as a media room and would also work well as a second lounge.
Also on this level is a large workshop beside extra, head-height space which could be further developed.
Pete and Caroline, who have a 16-month-old daughter, are now keen on a batch out west and a smaller home in the city.
