St Heliers: Added Value

70 Maskell Street, St Heliers.

Sandra Rowe bought her St Heliers house three years ago because she thought it had potential.

The home's location, not far from the village and the beach, had convinced her to have a look, but it was the fact the 1920s two-bedroom bungalow was an ideal candidate for renovation that really appealed.

"I bought it thinking I would be able to do a bit of work to it, maybe add another bedroom or update the bathroom and kitchen," says Sandra.

She and partner Peter O'Dwyer have carried out renovations, but you could hardly describe them as a bit of work. What they've ended up with is virtually a new house. There's only one exterior wall that's exactly as it used to be; the rest of the house has undergone a remarkable transformation.

"The project turned out to be a lot bigger than we had planned," says Sandra. "But then we thought if we were going to do something, we should do it well, so we went the whole hog."

As a result, they've got a family-sized home spread over three levels, which they designed with the help of a draughtsman. To create more space they headed upwards, adding a master bedroom with walk-in wardrobe and en suite, two other bedrooms with double wardrobes and a large bathroom.

The original master bedroom downstairs could be a fourth bedroom or office, although Sandra and Peter use it as a second living room. What was the original second bedroom has become the impressive stairwell, which features eye-catching long, narrow windows.

The living/dining/kitchen area is a large open space that is elegant yet welcoming. After living in the house a few months, Sandra decided to move the kitchen several metres from the back of the house. "The sun streams in there and it was just too hot working in the kitchen," she says.

The dining table now occupies that space.

Sandra used an award-winning designer to help her plan the new kitchen and is delighted with the result, which includes touches like an impressive floor to ceiling wine rack.

At the north-facing end of the living area, a wall of bifold doors opens to a deck. It is a sun-trap but private thanks to a screen of trees.

Sandra and Pete also added a double garage, which has internal access, and decorated a basement room underneath the living area.

"We planned to put a pool table down here but it would also make a good teenage retreat or even a studio flat," says Sandra.

Her philosophy of "If you're going to do a job, do it properly" is particularly evident in the house's three stylish bathrooms. The fittings, such as the waterfall-type bath spout in the en suite, are all Italian and top of the range. All the bathrooms have riverstone tiles and the en suite has a huge double shower.

One stipulation the couple had when planning the renovations was that the house should lose none of its character. "We also didn't want it to be obvious where the old house ended and the renovations started," says Peter. "We used wooden joinery, we got solid rimu doors and we found matai flooring to match what was already there."

They have successfully achieved a seamless renovation and kept all the character, and say they will find it difficult to leave the house. But selling up once they'd completed the renovation was always part of the plan, and besides, it's now far too big for just the two of them.

"We just hope whoever buys it loves living here as much as we have," says Sandra.

Vital Statistics

BEDROOM: 3+

BATHROOM: 3

GARAGE: 2

SIZE: Land, share of 819sq m, house 272sq m (approx).

PRICE INDICATION: Comparable properties in the area have been selling for $800,000 to $900,000.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 12.45-1.30pm.

CONTACT: Charles and Oliver Lowndes, Bayleys, ph 575 0760; 0274 331 341 (Charles), 021 345 091 (Oliver).

FEATURES: Completely renovated Californian-style weatherboard home; polished wooden floors; designer kitchen; plenty of storage; gas stove; wood burning fire.