Grand old lady
With three small children in tow, young mother Kay Durrans went house hunting in Mount Eden, 23 years ago.
“We’d been in Marsden Ave but had outgrown that house and wanted something bigger in a good school zone,” she says.
“The market was upbeat and good properties were moving quickly so I knew we’d need to make a snap decision.”
The home was in original condition, with painted scrim walls, different carpet in every room and only two hanging doors but it was roughly in their price range and perfectly located.
“Another young couple had bought it but the scale of the renovation it needed completely overwhelmed them,” says Kay. She called her husband Andrew and after work, at dusk on a winter’s night, he arrived to have a look around.
“I didn’t get to see the bathroom because the owners at the time were bathing their children and I had to use my torch to inspect the back garden,” says Andrew.
“There’s no denying that it was all incredibly grotty but the beautiful pressed-steel ceilings and original fireplaces suggested it had great potential.”
Once installed in their new home, the couple began the first of three phases that would see the property completely restored.
“We did things as and when finances allowed.” The kauri floorboards were sanded and polished, the walls lined and painted, new doors installed and gradually the house they call ‘the grand old lady’ came back to life.
With new bathrooms, kitchen, separate laundry, four large bedrooms and a wonderful sense of indooroutdoor flow between the family room and the private patio and deck outside, the Durrans were happy and contented.
However, the unexpected arrival of baby number four saw Andrew and Kay wondering if they should move again before eventually deciding to stay put and ‘pop the top’, adding a second storey instead.
“We couldn’t afford to move out while it was being done and I have memories of children, tradespeople and mess everywhere I turned, in the wet and cold. I don’t mind admitting that it was awful,” says Kay.
The results, however, were worth all the suffering. A self-contained master suite enjoys views to Mount Eden and its own sitting room, which could be an office or a sixth bedroom. The couple have their own bathroom, walk-in wardrobe and a huge master bedroom.
“It was great when the children were in their teens. We could come up here and leave them to make noise downstairs,” says Andrew.
The house has been a very happy one and was the scene of many parties and other special family occasions. With its central location it’s close to all amenities and public transport routes and just a short walk from Mount Eden village with its shops and restaurants.
It’s been lovingly maintained and enjoys a quiet position on a leafy street of similarly high-quality houses, all of which are tightly held.
“It’s been years since the last property on this side of the street was sold,” says Andrew.
With their youngest son about to leave for university it seemed a good time to look to the future, and Andrew and Kay have been house hunting again. Seeing an advertisement in Herald Homes for Botanica Heritage in Mary St, Mt Eden, they surprised themselves by deciding to try apartment living. “We feel that we’ve done our job as custodians of this beautiful house and it’s time to pass the baton,” says Kay.