Then & now
For this Christchurch couple, renovating a forlorn villa was a way to pursue their passions as well as get a foot on the property ladder
Fortune shines on a down-at-heel Christchurch villa
HALLWAY RENO
Project with a purpose
Emmett Williams loves a project. A hankering for a doer-upper attracted him and wife Hannah to a tired villa on a tree-lined street in the Christchurch suburb of Beckenham. They loved the friendly neighbourhood and the proximity to extended family, the Port Hills, parks and walking trails, and had a clear vision of how to transform the neglected villa into a delightful family retreat.
What did you like about the house?
Hannah: The place was completely original and it had been tenanted for a long time. We could see the potential and we loved the location.
More than a facelift
The couple planned a drastic renovation in keeping with the style of the home, even though they knew from the outset that many of the original features were not salvageable. What did the renovation involve?
We gutted the entire place. We wanted a premium restoration so we rewired, relined and replaced virtually everything.
What did you learn from the DIY process?
Being realistic about time and your level of ability is important. Emmett is of the opinion that if he can do something himself, he won’t pay someone else to do it. It saves a lot of money but does take time. However, it helped that he was in a trade and was able to share skills with his contacts.