184 Clovelly Rd, Bucklands Beach, Auckland. Photo / Ted Baghurst
Builder Phil Penney and wife Dina had only been inside this home a couple of minutes when they recognised they could enhance it hugely if they took it on as a project.
"It's unusual in that it enjoys twin views, which people don't always expect when they arrive here," says Phil. "It looks out to both Eastern Beach and across to the Half Moon Bay marina."
"We fell in love with it," says Dina. "But we felt it really needed some love and improvements to make the most of this setting.
"For example some of the doors out to its decks were quite low, cutting off the views, with built-in awnings outside making the interior feel unnecessarily dark."
The couple bought here early this year so their company, which employs 10 builders, could upgrade the property throughout for resale taking advice from their architects Sketch Architecture.
Phil says: "Another thing that surprises visitors once they look through is how spacious this place is.
"It's quite deceptive because from the road it looks like two storeys but there's a third level below as well."
When the couple's three girls have been around here they've loved the rear access track from the pool area down to Rogers Park, which the property sits above.
Number 184 is within 400m of Buckland Beach Primary School. With Eastern Beach and Bucklands Beach so close, a secure boat parking spot is an important part of six-car off-street parking.
The couple think the oversized carpeted double garage with side door would double as a good rumpus-table tennis space.
A glass entry canopy welcomes visitors into the contemporary home, which is dark-stained cedar above a rendered brick base harking back to its 1960s origins before extensions.
A subtropical front garden bed is part of the low maintenance landscaping added to soften hard outdoor surfaces.
Dark-stained polished wooden floors line the corridor to living spaces at the other end of this entry-level. It's the middle level in the roomy 380sq m floor-plan.
Dina says: "This would be a brilliant party or entertaining house", pointing out decks on three sides of the open-plan kitchen-family-dining areas revelling in the views.
She says: "We tested that out a little a couple of Fridays ago by inviting all the builders and sub-contractors around for drinks and it worked brilliantly with all the different decks."
Myriad improvements included installing new joinery featuring double glazing throughout, re-carpeting, rebuilding most decks and replacing old-style metal pool fencing with glass.
Dina loves the new kitchen she designed, as it boasts a roomy butlers' pantry with sliding doors, additional sink and extra dishwasher.
The storage-rich kitchen with engineered stone bench tops has a new servery window and new doors to better access a side outdoor entertaining area.
This level also has three bedrooms (one ensuite), a powder room, new second laundry and the family bathroom with inviting freestanding bath.
Dina says of the remaining room, formerly a storeroom: "We put a window in and converted it into a study because just look at that view out to the Marina."
Phil is most wowed by the peaceful upstairs master suite. As well as having stellar views it has its own sitting area, fully outfitted walk-though wardrobe and new double-basin ensuite.
Dina imagined what sort of polished set-up she'd want if her parents lived in the semi self-contained downstairs with its own side entrance.
The result, also suitable for teenagers or an au pair, is a light-filled space looking out on to the heated pool set into decks.
It includes a living area, sizeable kitchenette-dining room, two bedrooms, bathroom, second laundry and storage room.