KEY POINTS:
Matt Ellingham knew this 90-something-year-old kauri villa inside-out when he made an offer on it. He had been flatting in the Freemans Bay house for two years and decided to ask his landlady if she would consider selling it.
Back then it was only one storey.
Matt knew exactly what he wanted to do with the house, and four years on he has provided a three-car garage and studio downstairs, and built another level in the ceiling space. The extensive renovations have added area and enhanced the home while retaining its charm and character.
``The house had fairly good bones but every face on the inside is new. There are all new ceilings throughout,'' says Matt.
He started at the bottom, moving the house back 3m then excavating ``40 or 50m, truckloads'' of soil to allow room for a garage big enough for three cars or in Matt's case the tools and materials that come as baggage when you're a builder.
``I did the downstairs alterations first, put in a studio, a big garage and a deck.''
The studio has a large bedroom with en suite. The living area, with kitchenette, opens onto its own courtyard. This extra space is ideal when family come to stay.
The downstairs area completed, Matt took a break. ``I didn't do anything for a year and a half. At the second go, I renovated the whole house.''
Entering from the street, past the picket fence and up to the verandah, the front door is framed by two weeping ficus and wall-mounted brass lamps.
Inside, the hallway is flanked by two double bedrooms, the staircase leading upstairs and a bathroom. Matt has provided generous storage space throughout the house, with large wardrobes in all bedrooms.
At the end of the hallway, a wooden door with colourful leadlight detail leads into the open-plan living, dining and kitchen area. An open fire provides additional heating to the air conditioning.
The kitchen has stainless steel appliances, granite bench tops and a central service island. Matt has replaced the floors with American oak, and carpeted the living area.
Cedar bifold doors open off both kitchen and living area on to the north-facing deck with city views across to the Sky Tower. ``We get good sun all day,'' says Matt. A bamboo hedge offers shade and privacy.
Back in the hallway, another stairway leads up to the master bedroom with its own deck, and a smaller bedroom. Matt went into roof space for this area, ``shifting 100 years of dust. It was a pretty messy job''.
``We've still kept the same pitch. There was a lot of space in the attic, and we lowered some of the ceilings a fraction.''
When you embark on such a major renovation, it helps if you are a builder. Matt has fitted the project around other work commitments and in weekends. But, he says, ``It's not the easiest thing renovating a house when you're living in it.''
Now Matt is married to Tracy and it's time to move on. They intend building a new house, but want to stay in the area.
Vital Statistics
SIZE: Land 372 sq m, house 323sq m.
PRICE INDICATION: CV prior to completion of renovations: $1.03 million. Set sale closes November 22.
INSPECT: Sat/Sun 11-11.45am, Wed 11-11.30am.
ON THE WEB: www.rwponsonby.co.nz #PON11205.
SCHOOL ZONES: Freemans Bay Primary, Ponsonby Intermediate and Auckland Girls' Grammar.
CONTACT: Marty Hall, Ray White, ph 376 2186 bus, 0274 500 168.
FEATURES: Newly renovated house within walking distance of Ponsonby and city. Separate studio with own access and courtyard.
