There are renovations and there are renovations. While some are simply a quick, budget-friendly refresh, others are inspired, incredibly detail-focused transformations that are meticulously thought through and executed to perfection.
13 Lynngate Place falls into the latter category – a 70s style classic that has been masterfully reworked by the current owners, Sian Godbold and Callum Rawlins.
The couple first saw the property advertised when they were looking for a new home in 2020. Its clean lines and self-contained flat had caught their eye but they assumed it would be out of their price range, so didn’t even attend an open home. It stayed on Sian’s radar and when she saw that it had been passed in at auction, she rallied Callum and they went and had a look as soon as possible.
“They had open homes that following weekend,” recalls Sian. “We went both Saturday and Sunday and put an offer in that following week.”
Start your property search
Like all great renovations, they lived in the house for a period first, which helped hone their vision and ascertain exactly what they wanted to do and how to do it.
“As soon as we walked into the house – this sounds a bit silly to say – it literally had a soul about it, a really good vibe. So we wanted to modernise but keep that 70s style, which we’ve done,” she says.
Their backgrounds made them well equipped for the challenge, as Sian has a gift for interiors and is now part way through studying a Diploma in Interior Design, and Callum is the general manager for a building company.
The elevated, two-level home incorporates three bedrooms, the family bathroom and key living, dining and kitchen areas upstairs, and the very handy flat on the ground level which has been refurbished like for like.
“It’s a real suntrap because of all the glass and as it’s north-facing with good elevation, we get all-day sun. We started upstairs and did the three bedrooms first because we got pregnant straight away and were due to have our daughter in July, so we wanted to do a nursery.” They have since welcomed another daughter.
“Then we did kitchen, lounge and dining area, and the hallway and entranceway.”
The owners spend most of their time on the back deck, which has a louvred canopy and outdoor fireplace, and steps down to the spa pool. Photo / Supplied
The new kitchen was installed in 2021, a year after the owners bought the property. Photo / Supplied
Sian explains they selected a palette of materials, hues and textures that paid homage to the home’s origins, but kept it quite simplistic, with functionality as well as beauty at the forefront.
“We bought in those organic shapes and curves, as well as the dark wood in the kitchen, mosaic tiles, stone entrance and dark green of our bedroom. I’m a bit biased because it’s my house but it all looks so beautiful and everything works together. Even the kitchen, we designed that in 2021 and even now I’m still not sick of it – I think it’s a timeless design that’s in that era.”
They live out on the back deck, which has a louvred canopy and outdoor fireplace and steps down to the spa pool. The kids love to scooter and bike along the front deck. Landscaping the grounds was another huge part of the project, as they were what Sian describes as an “overgrown jungle,” when they arrived.
“We planted hedging all around the back to provide privacy, which is great, as well as tropical, low maintenance gardens. We also excavated and built up a flat lawn to create an area of flat section for the kids to use.”
They also refreshed the feature curved block wall at the front.
The 220sqm home has four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a self-contained, one-bedroom flat downstairs. Photo / Supplied
The owners began their renovation upstairs with the three bedrooms before moving to the kitchen, lounge, hallway and entrance. Photo / Supplied
“I was on school holidays because I was a teacher at that time and spent a couple of weeks sanding it back and redoing it. We’ve planted ficus, which is a creeper, as well as a gardenia hedge along the front that is blooming at the moment, so smells beautiful when you walk in.”
With their elder daughter starting school this year, as well as the desire to flex their skills on another renovation, the family is moving on but will forever cherish their time here.
“It has worked so well for us as a family and will always hold such a special place. It’s our first home, we brought both our girls home there and it is such a great area. Hillcrest is centrally located – it’s five minutes to Ponsonby (off-peak) and any direction you’re going it’s so accessible.”
Hannah Petherbridge, from Ray White, is marketing 13 Lynngate Place and says this is a truly incredible renovation.
“Every detail has been perfected. Having the self-contained, one-bedroom flat downstairs is also such a bonus. They had a 95% occupancy when it was on Airbnb because it’s so close to the hospital and the city.”
- 13 Lynngate Place in Hillcrest, North Shore, Auckland, is heading to auction on February 19
