The back section was one big slope and not at all private. It had got away on the owner and needed a lot of work.
Some people tackle a major renovation and swear, "Never again!" Rebecca Rae says although she and her fiance Stephen Speers had no experience of doing up a house before they made over their Grey Lynn villa, it was ultimately a rewarding experience, and one they would repeat.
"But I need a break first," she says. "It was a huge job."
The couple bought the 1917 transitional villa from its elderly owner four years ago.
"It was a pretty typical old villa, with a galley kitchen, a tiny bathroom and a lean-to," says Rebecca.
"The back section was one big slope and not at all private. It had got away on the owner and needed a lot of work."
The couple lived in the house for about a year before renovating.
They started outside, bringing in a digger to flatten the rear garden and designer Kirsten Sach to oversee the landscaping.
The result is a private and spacious outdoor area enhanced by a simple but striking planting scheme.
Their friend Sam Baxter, an architectural graduate, came up with some concept plans that involved adding an extension at the rear, developing the basement and updating the rest of the house.
Rebecca and Stephen decided to transform downstairs first so they could live there while construction work was then carried out on the rest of the house.
That turned out to be a great idea. It meant they didn't have to move out.
The lower level had been unused before. A big space, it was home to an old concrete wash basin, a variety of flooring, an old bench seat toilet and "an interesting arrangement of pillars".
Rebecca and Stephen considered putting in a large garage, but since there was already double off-street parking at the front of the property, they decided the basement area would be better used for more living space.
It now contains a large bedroom, a bathroom and a living area with a fully equipped kitchenette, and it has its own entrance.
There are also sliding doors out to a private, sunny courtyard.
Renovating downstairs has given them so much extra room. "You could do so much with it -- Airbnb, space for extended family, teenagers or an au pair," says Rebecca.
"Or you can just have it as an extra living room and fourth bedroom."
Upstairs are three bedrooms, including a master bedroom reconfigured to include two wardrobes and an en suite.
Like the en suite, the family bathroom has a large skylight.
Rebecca is particularly delighted with the way this bathroom has turned out. It features marble-effect porcelain wall tiles, a striking tiled floor and an open wet room-style shower next to the bath.
The new kitchen is a stylish and contemporary space with sleek white cabinetry and a handsome Corian bench.
The company that made the cabinetry also built bookcases either side of a window seat in the new living room.
"This is one of my favourite parts of the house," says Rebecca.
"It's a nice place to sit and read."
The living room is sunny and has sliding doors out to the deck and the garden.
Rebecca and Stephen may have been novices when they started out but they have proved to be quick learners who have picked up all sorts of new skills.
"Stephen's a real pro at retaining walls," says Rebecca.
The couple tackled jobs they knew were within their capabilities -- such as stripping, sanding and painting -- and wisely left the trickier stuff to tradespeople.
"We had very patient builders," Rebecca says.
The result is an immaculately restored home that combines character with modern comforts.
It is also much larger than it first appears, and that is the reason Rebecca and Stephen have decided to sell.
"It's too big for just the two of us -- it needs a family," Rebecca says.