Building is in my blood," says Marie Gibson, who has lived in her villa for the past four years, completely reinventing major parts of it -- often while her partner Toni Mulligan was away overseas on naval duties.
"He never knows what he'll find when he comes home," she says.
Marie's father was a partner in Gibson O'Connor, the company that built the Beehive in Wellington in the early 1970s, so she suspects that's where her planning and design skills came from. In this house she's used them to great effect.
What looks like a simple, albeit attractive, weatherboard villa on a corner site in the heart of Grey Lynn, is actually much more.
A magical mystery tour starts at the handsome front door with its stained glass windows.
The wide hallway with soaring ceilings is practically a room in itself and the sumptuous master bedroom suite lies to its left.
With its heavy flocked drapes this room has an almost Victorian feel, yet is well appointed with a compact, contemporary, bathroom and generous walk-in wardrobe.
Marie's daughter Maggie-Jean's room is across the hallway and has been transformed from a little girl's space to an exotic teenage retreat.
There's a double guest bedroom on this level, too, right next door to the main bathroom, and on the opposite side is Marie's favourite place for relaxing: a formal, yet friendly, lounge.
Her "signature" flocked drapes feature again here, in a fabric designed by Trelise Cooper.
They complement the lovely ceiling roses and an original wood and tile fire surround, which is now home to a modern gas fire.
"What I love about this room is that it's cosy in winter yet incredibly sunny in summer," she says.
The galley kitchen is new and well-equipped with Miele appliances, a wine fridge and two dishwashers. Bi-fold windows enable Marie to pass food out to guests dining on the balcony, which has outdoor lighting and heaters -- allowing it to be used year-round.
The house so far is a generous size, with lots of features, but there's a surprise or two downstairs, where there is nearly as much room again -- with a number of unexpected twists.
Image 1 of 8: Attractive villa keeps revealing more of itself around every corner -- from teenage retreat to saltwater pool and more
Marie's son Jack, who works in construction in Christchurch, hangs out down here on regular visits home and there's a large living space, which is ideal for teenage guests.
His bedroom is neat and compact and the bathroom next door was designed especially with him in mind.
"Because he's 6' 3", we made the shower extra-tall," says Marie.
As an artist, Marie needs space to work and so has a cosy, artfully cluttered office-cum-studio, alongside a separate laundry, huge linen cupboard and, what she dubs the "man cave".
This is almost a cellar, yet is partially lined, insulated and surprisingly spacious. Toni's naval memorabilia is on display here, as is Marie's screen-printing equipment. There's storage space to burn, which is useful for this keen collector who finds treasures everywhere she turns.
Outside is a spa pool and a heated swimming pool. "It's salt water, so it largely takes care of itself," she says.
Around the pool, Balinese-style plantings are well-established and complement the house, with its varied and eclectic influences.
"This is just the most perfect house and garden for entertainment."
A double garage has a rumpus room above, which is reached via attic stairs.
"Maggie-Jean likes having friends for sleepovers up there," says Marie.
Having grown up in a rural environment, with horses, Marie wants her daughter to enjoy a taste of the country, so the family is moving to Kumeu for a slice of the good life.
