A transformed townhouse primed and ready for the market in Mount Albert, Auckland

Second time around

For some time, this Mount Albert townhouse had been a dedicated income property, and with two bedrooms, one bathroom, off-street parking, and an outdoor space, quite a desirable one at that. But as with most rentals, the dwelling was showing signs of wear. 
Shelley, the owner, was ready to sell up and wanted to increase the townhouse’s value before doing so. Her plans involved a completely renovated kitchen, improved exterior including the roof and landscape, new flooring, and an upgraded interior throughout the home. Shelley had worked with Refresh before so she knew she could rely on the efficient project management of Renovation Consultants John and Maree de Latour to bring her a high-value renovation without causing her to over-invest. 

Cost-effective brainstorming

John, Maree, and Shelley discussed her goals and the options for achieving them in the most cost-effective manner. Some areas of the house required extensive renovation while others could be spruced up with relatively simple fixture upgrades and high-end finishing touches. After coming up with an agreed plan of attack, John and Maree brought their Project Manager Darren Clark on board to oversee the day-to-day happenings on-site. 

Getting to work

Beginning with the bones of the property, the crew replaced the dated stucco, framing and lining the internal walls with a smooth, modern finish. The dividing wall between kitchen and lounge was removed to create an open-plan living area, though not without difficulty since all of the electrical wiring ran through the original wall. Darren worked closely with the tradies to ensure the rewiring was completed as economically as possible. 
Next, the team moved on to the star of the renovation, the kitchen. Everything was replaced: cabinetry, benchtop, splashback, sink, tapware, and even the appliances. It was important that Shelley created a fresh and functional space for buyers. 
The installation of new lighting throughout added to the home’s modern aesthetic. Bar spots were tactically positioned in the living areas and up/down wall lights in the bathroom and hallway added to the contemporary vibe. A light coloured wide plank laminate refreshed all the downstairs flooring and cut pile twist carpet added new comfort upstairs. The entire interior was freshly painted and the bathroom underwent a simple refurbishment that included a new black framed mirror and a combination of matte black and chrome fixtures. The final cost of the 10-week renovation was $96,000. 
The following suppliers were used for this project: Resene, Robertsons, Mitre10, Mico, Ian Hunt Flooring, Phoenix Kitchens, Tile Warehouse, Lighting Direct, and Knobs and Knockers.

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Maximised space and cosy design

Creating the open-plan living space was undoubtedly worth all the effort involved. With uninterrupted sight lines from the backyard to the kitchen, there is now unimpeded flow throughout the living level of the home and the space feels much larger - a major selling point for potential buyers. 

Final thoughts

The tasteful renovation guided by John, Maree, and Darren resulted in a home that feels cosy and spacious at the same time. Natural design elements and a neutral colour palette give the townhouse a chic and contemporary feel that would catch any home buyer’s eye. And it did. Shelley’s property sold after only four weeks on the market.