He relented, so Chris and Donna bought the section and got down to designing their new home, with the plans drawn up by a draughtsman.
"What we came up with was a modern take on a classic creosote bach," says Donna. "We wanted it to be an entertainers' house with indoor-outdoor flow and sun. We both like contemporary and we wanted low maintenance - somewhere we could relax where nothing was too precious."
With that in mind, the home is a combination of concrete block and Linea weatherboard, with aluminium joinery.
Concrete floors fulfil the modern look and easy-care requirements. The floors are fitted with hydronic underfloor heating if new owners want to install a heat pump to power it.
In line with the couple's philosophy of using materials that "stand the test of time", the bathrooms are tiled and the breakfast bar has a stone benchtop.
The living spaces downstairs have been designed for entertaining and an easy flow out to the sunny courtyard that they wrap around. A cavity slider between the main kitchen-dining/living space and the lounge maximises space and creates privacy when needed.
"I love my music so it was always good to be able to close that door off if someone was watching TV in the other room," says Donna.
Full height sliding doors from both areas open to the sheltered, landscaped courtyard that has seen "many a barbecue and party".
"That was one of the things I wanted," says Donna. "To be able to stand at the kitchen bench and to be able to look out over the dining table and out to the courtyard so you are still part of what's going on."
The "family room" that adjoins the kitchen/dining space provides another retreat and opens to its own small courtyard. An exposed stack-bonded concrete block wall in the large lounge creates a point of interest but also shows off the integrity of the materials. It's the same situation with "Chris's dream" - the open tread staircase, which has wide kwila steps and steel poles from top to bottom of the double-height space that also acts as a light well. The materials are on show to great effect but it also meant Donna didn't have to worry about doing one of her least-favourite chores: vacuuming carpeted stairs.
Upstairs, as well as the bathroom, there are three bedrooms and an office that all have views over the neighbourhood. The master bedroom has an en suite and walk-in wardrobe plus its own corner balcony with a peak of the harbour.
Work is taking Chris and Donna to Wellington, but she says they will always have fond memories of their Avondale home, particularly after Hugh came up with another surprise for them when the house was completed in 2004.
"The whole time he watched the build at his kitchen window and took photos of the stages and presented us with a photo album when it was finished," says Donna. "It was a really lovely thing to do."
