Mt Albert: Added Value

5 SPRINGLEIGH AVENUE, MT ALBERT.

Chris Inglis and Helen Mahoney are giving up their home and income lifestyle for a bigger dream: building a home on the Thames Coast.

The dream is a distant one, however, as the couple, who work for the Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind, will probably rent out the home they build on the 0.8ha of land they own at Te Mata for some years before they can afford semi-retirement.

To achieve that goal they have to sell their home in Springleigh Avenue that they have run as a bed and breakfast called The Women's Room.

It started out as half of a humble state duplex when Chris bought it in the winter of 1999.

"I had a limited amount of money and this house had a sort of cottagey feel to it that I liked," says Chris.

With the help of friends and family, Chris quickly swung into action, knocking down the old garage and removing the scraggly old hedges on the boundary.

She had enough money to build the sleepout with en suite, which cost about $20,000, and spent $5000 fencing the property. The sleepout was the first stage in the B&B business.

The next project was extending what was a small deck - at a cost of $10,000 - to make the most of the luxuriant garden setting that includes avocado, fig and Brazilian fern trees.

"It's like another room out here - we spend a lot of time out here in summer," says Helen.

In 2004, the couple added a stylish second storey that serves as a self-contained retreat when they have a full house. It has its own bathroom, kitchenette and a deck with views out to the Waitakeres.

"We had an architect design the addition; we just told him what we wanted," says Chris. "The whole space has a light and airy feel and it makes a statement; it's not like a boring pop-top box."

The project cost $159,000, including some unexpected electrical work.

"The whole place had to be rewired," says Helen. "The electrician took one look at the wiring and went uh-oh."

And the couple were pleased they took out insurance on the building work when rain drove in under the tarpaulins before the upstairs was closed in. The water pooled on the downstairs ceiling, bringing down a light fitting in the bathroom with "an almighty crash", and wrecked a computer in the bedroom.

That was the only drama in a four-month project that made the home much more flexible.

Downstairs there are two bedrooms - one double, one single - a bathroom, living room and the kitchen and dining room which flow out to the deck through bifolds.

"Whoever buys it could keep running it as a B&B, or it would suit an extended family, or maybe someone might want to use it as a homestay for Unitec students," says Chris.

Chris and Helen have made several friends running their B&B - overseas guests who have stayed with them while checking out New Zealand before emigrating here.

When they finally get a chance to enjoy their Te Mata property they are thinking of setting up a B&B again, and their warm welcome will no doubt be turning more overseas guests into New Zealand residents.

Vital Statistics

BEDROOMS: 4

BATHROOMS: 3

GARAGE: 1

SIZE: Land 412sq m, house 170sqm.

PRICE INDICATION: Interest expected above $500,000. Auction March 5.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 2.00-2.45pm.

CONTACT: Pauline Anderson, Ray White Mt Albert, ph 8153051 bus, 021 770 799, 846 7402 a/h.

FEATURES: Architectural renovation of state house duplex. Operates as bed and breakfast and can take five guests, but would suit extended family or use as a homestay with Unitec close by. Outdoor living in private garden.