Ruth and Bevan Adin's Grey Lynn villa was in such a state when they moved into it in mid-2012 that passersby thought it had been abandoned.
"I heard someone walking past the house on Guy Fawke's night saying 'I don't think there's anyone living in there'. So I stuck my head out the front window and said 'Oh yes there is'," says Ruth.
"When I first showed our kids the house they said: 'What have you done mum? It's got every colour of the rainbow in it'."
It also had holes in the floor, an unappealing street frontage, a grotty basement and only one bathroom.
"It was basically really ugly and tired. But we could see its potential."
The Adins and their two children, Josh,11, and Maia, 8, lived in the early 1900s villa for nine months while they waited on council consents for a major renovation which has transformed the Arnold St property.
After living in a two-bedroom house in Herne Bay, which they also renovated, they wanted a larger, "pretty" villa with better spaces for their kids and good storage.
Ruth could also see that by remodelling the front of the house and opening up its verandah, they could take better advantage of its elevated position and pleasant western views across Grey Lynn's rooftops to the sea.
The home's redesign was done by Jones Architects, who have carried out several heritage renovations in the area, including upgrading the Ponsonby Post Office.
The Adins moved out for the 10-month renovation, which included turning the single garage under the house into a much bigger and secure double garage that includes the laundry and a rumpus area for the kids.
The rest of the old dirt-floor basement has been converted into a double bedroom which has a separate downstairs entrance and can also be reached from a new, wide staircase leading down from central hallway.
The Adins have rented out the downstairs bedroom several times on Airbnb but it could also be used as a granny flat or for a live-in nanny.
The house has been relined, rewired, reroofed, repainted, refloored with American oak in the living areas and carpeted in the bedrooms and garage.
Its facade has been remodelled with new stairs, a wide verandah and elegant balustrading in keeping with the home's era. The pedestrian entrance and driveway have security gates.
10 Arnold St, Grey Lynn, Auckland. Photo / Ted Baghurst
The east-facing back garden has been recontoured to include a lush, level lawn behind which the Adins have installed a gas-heated, salt-water swimming pool with a waterfall on a feature wall behind it.
High, horizontal battened fencing ensures complete privacy in this part of the garden which includes an outdoor fireplace and wide decks that lead straight out from the open plan kitchen, dining and living room.
Subtropical and native planting includes rows of palm trees and titokis that line the sides of the garden without overshadowing it.
Inside the house, the main level has three large bedrooms including the master with walk-in wardrobe and en suite, a large linen cupboard and the main bathroom.
