Spotlight on renovations
Upgraded lighting is just one of the improvements in this refurbished 1970s home, writes Penny Lewis
The best show in town is often found on the landing at Carol and George Spence’s home. The couple’s grandchildren, Lily, nearly 8 and George, 6, like to sing and dance for their grandparents under remotecontrol operated, coloured LED and strobe lights and a stunning Spanish pendant lamp that grace the stairwell.
The lighting throughout the house is impressive, with toe- kick lighting for ambience in the kitchen and sensor under- vanity lighting in the bathrooms.
The lighting is only part of an extensive renovation that’s seen everything in the early 1970s townhouse redone and improved, all respectfully in keeping with the age and features of the original home.
“It was completely stripped back and was basically a concrete bunker,” Carol says.
The six- month project was completed in September and was intended to be Carol and George’s home for the long haul, but they’ve just bought a place right in front of them, on the water’s edge.
The vista here is incredible, stretching from Bayswater, to the city, the harbour bridge and across Shoal Bay. There is always something to see. “At night the view is stunning, too,” says Carol. “You can see the lights of the office buildings in the city. During the day, you can see the tide coming in and out and people out on the water kitesurfing.”
If the couple are planning a trip to the city, they can check out the motorway in the distance to see how the flow of traffic.
New double- glazed joinery has replaced smaller windows so the view is “the best it’s ever been”.
The two- bedroom townhouse is set over three levels.
The entry is in the middle level, with the front door off a courtyard. The living room, kitchen and dining room are on this floor.
There are two separate sitting areas, thanks to the removal of an awkward conservatory and the floor area now being part of the main living space.
George points out the embossed wallpaper next to the dining table.
It’s painted the same colour as the walls, but its texture adds something extra to the room.
The kitchen is a sleek design, with glossy white handle- less cupboards and drawers and a grey granite benchtop. Carol is now a convert to induction cooking, thanks to the Smeg hob and oven installed in this kitchen.
The stairwell is a work of art and it’s not just because of the fancy lighting.
New timber stair- treads on the original steel stringers are teamed with a stainless steel balustrade.
“The old treads were rimu. We tried to save them but they were covered with carpet, glue and tacks and unfortunately in the end it just wasn’t possible,” Carol says.
Upstairs, a guest bedroom opens on to a balcony and the master bedroom looks out to the water view.
A small sitting room off the bedroom has sliding panels in the wall it shares with the bathroom, allowing the bathroom to be open to the sun and vista outside.
“George says he will miss being able to shower and seeing that view,” Carol says.
The home’s lowest level has a further bathroom, laundry cupboard and internal access to a double garage.
The Spences have a busy time ahead. In January, they’re off to Thailand to cycle 800km to raise funds for the handsacrossthewater. org. au, an Australian/ New Zealand/ Thai charity set up by an Australian forensic policeman in 2005 to support children orphaned by the Boxing Day tsunami.
It now also supports other children in need. The first New Zealand fund- raising ride happens in March.
The Spences won’t be riding then, but they’ll be catering for the now sold- out event.
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