They had waited a long time to renovate as the property was originally bought by Barbara's parents in 1973 and they had planned to redevelop it into flats. But a government tax on property speculation, introduced just after their purchase, stopped that plan in its tracks. Instead they kept the home and Barbara and Pat moved in with them along with their two young children, who were followed by a third.
When it came to the renovation, Pat, a building surveyor, sourced and bought all the mouldings, and oversaw the building work.
"I had an office out the back and I was here with the tradesmen every day," he says.
Board and batten ceilings were restored or re-recreated in the extensions, which included the enlarged main lounge.
The original front door was restored and opens to a hallway with wide matai floorboards.
"The only original bit is the floors," laughs Pat.
Two bedrooms, including the master, front the house. A bay window with window seat was added to the large master bedroom, which has an en suite and walk-in wardrobe.
Down the hallway is a formal lounge with gas fire and wooden surround that came from a Grey Lynn villa. This room has a see-through display case in the wall between it and the main lounge, which also has a gas fire in the home's original register.
A large, elegant space, the main lounge has the modern kitchen opening out to it.
Equipped with a butler's pantry, the kitchen opens to a covered outdoor area set up for entertaining with a bar leaner and spa pool. From the deck you can access the double garage, which was built so it could house Pat's 6.2m boat.
Off the rear of the lounge is a wing that has two more bedrooms and bathrooms, one of them with a deep clawfoot bath. From this wing you can access the backyard and the other end of the garage.
Barbara says her parents lovingly tended the gardens, which include a towering and sprawling tree tulip that is about 150 years old.
"My mother and father were wonderful gardeners so they would be working out here while we used to party and play," she says. "Now we're the ones doing the garden."
Barbara says they have enjoyed the proximity to Cheltenham Beach, and there is a boat ramp nearby that Pat uses.
They've hosted numerous parties and three weddings on the property, and Barbara dresses the house up every year for Halloween, which the local kids love. "Whoever moves in here will have to put up a good sign telling the kids to stay away or just go with Halloween," says Pat.
Now that they are getting older, Barbara and Pat are looking for a smaller property with less upkeep.
Pat says, "We want to stay in the area; it's got everything we want here and we have a great circle of friends."
