A mid-level apartment that is one of five in this early 1960s building has had a comprehensive update, thanks to the deft hand of its owner, builder Paul Jeffries, and the foresight of his architect Stephen Matthews.
When Paul and his wife Diane Taylor first walked through here three-and-a-half-years ago, they did so down panelled hallways opening into many more rooms than there are now.
The 180 degree views beyond Okahu Bay were from the wide street-side terrace and its conservatory with a glass roof and windows.
Its interiors, floorplan and materials were of the era, as created by architects from JASMaD, the genesis of one of Auckland's most enduring design practices, now known as Jasmax.
Initially Paul's family wondered about the scale of what their father, a seasoned home renovator, had taken on until they saw the views.
"We completely gutted and rebuilt the interior. The only walls that didn't go were the structural ones," says Paul.
He was hands on from the project management to the tools required for the demolition, rebuild and daily cleanup so that he and Diane could live on site.
"We did it sitting in the middle of it," says Paul. Says Diane: "It was hard but it was worth it."
In reworking the layout in and around the few remaining internal brick walls, they've brought the sea views right back to the hallway by the front door and the adjacent bathroom.
A key element is the large glass window at the back of the kitchen, for which credit goes to the architect. Paul says, "It's fantastic. It's a really great feature."
In this, their first apartment project, they've done as they've always done and worked a little of the original into the new edition.
Here, Paul reused original cedar tongue-in-groove interior wall cladding in the interior walls of the study that was originally part of the side terrace.
Image 1 of 4: Mid-level apartment in 1960s complex has plenty of character, charm and complementary modern design elements. Photos / David Rowland, Getty Images
"Yes, it was a little bit about keeping something from the original, but it would have been a crime to have thrown that all away."
It complements the original rimu panelling by the front door Open-tread stairs servicie the two apartments above and below them that are located alongside the other two in the block.
Within their quarters, Paul and Diane have turned the conservatory into an all-weather, seaside dining area, barbecue area and casual living area that opens off the main living area.
The low brick wall across the front and the old conservatory windows were knocked out to make way for more subtle ranch sliders to access the terrace.
Meanwhile the step up from the lounge is even more effortless.
Paul didn't bother with ranch sliders, opting instead for two fixed glass panes at each end to define each area. In doing so, they've unimpeded views from the couch along the back wall of the lounge.
Next to the living area, the guest bedroom occupies the former timber galley kitchen, the open servery of which has been closed in to create a built-in shelf.
Down the entry hallway their master bedroom has been created out of two rooms that included the original study.
Next door is Paul's "bat cave", which solves the problem of two people with quite different television viewing habits.
In builders' mode, he points out where a wardrobe could be installed to turn this additional lounge into a third bedroom.
That is for another owner, however. Paul and Diane have yet to exhaust their energy and design initiative and they're on the hunt for another project as their next focus.
