Westmere: Added Value

15 Notley Street, Westmere

Rui's renovation tips

They say "stateys" have good bones. An example in Westmere proved that by forming the backbone of a radically updated home, which grew from 80sq m to 218sq m, including decks.

Rui and Jian Wang bought the humble two-bedroom house in the middle of last year after a lot of looking. "We found it quite hard to find a house we liked," says Rui. "We looked at this one a couple of times. It was the view we liked, and we wanted some garden because in China that's very hard to get."

Once they had the house, Rui, who graduated in architecture in China, went back to her drawing board.

Six weeks later, the 36-year-old had come up with a plan to transform the property into a two-level, four-bedroom home with three living areas, two bathrooms, an en suite and an internal-access double garage.

The Wangs had the builders in for seven months and the result is a home with simple, bold lines that stands out on a street of mainly unmodified state houses.

In something of an understatement Rui says: "We tried to change the use of the space to make it work. I've always liked modern houses but the function should work with the whole. We needed the style to continue through the whole house."

Rui might have designed the renovation but Jian's touches can be seen in the Zen garden-like pebble and paver landscaping at the front and down the side of the house. He also designed the stainless-steel front gate and a metal handrail for the internal stairs. And in a true test of their relationship, Rui let him loose on the colour scheme. "I gave him a range of colours that I liked. I wanted settled, elegant colours - nothing bright."

The Wangs have carpeted the house throughout and tiled the bathrooms and kitchen. The bathrooms and laundry area have underfloor heating. Quality fixtures and finishings include imported bathroomware to Smeg appliances in the kitchen.

Rui estimates that they spent $200,000 to $250,000 on the renovation.

The Wangs have lived in New Zealand for eight years, and have a five-year-old daughter, but are going home as Jian has been offered design work with the Beijing Olympics.

They've left their mark on Notley Street, and might have sowed the seed of change in the area. "I got a couple of phone calls from people up the street wanting to know what we were doing and wanting some ideas," Rui says. "Maybe they're thinking of doing something the same."

Vital Statistics

SIZE: Land 460sq m, house 218sq m (including decks).

PRICE: Asking $869,000.

INSPECT: Open home Sat/Sun 12pm-1pm, or by appointment.

CONTACT: Deborah Purdy, Bayleys, ph 309 6020, mob 021 687 758.

FEATURES: Architecturally designed and renovated home with quality fixtures; fully fenced; gas heating; upstairs and downstairs decks; flat rear lawn; security system.