Home Tours

This family reveal the best lessons they’ve learnt from their five-year reno

Article by Your Home and Garden

During the extensive renovation of their Wellington villa, this family won some hard-earned lessons. They share their budget tips and what they’d never do again

Meet + greet

Kristin Carden (lawyer), Lucas, 13, Maya, 11, and Blake, 8, plus Smudge the cat.

Best lessons learned? Kristin: Concrete and poly-block additions take much longer than wooden ones and require more engineering and a lot of steel. When your design calls for new or unusual methods or products it can take longer for your team to figure out how they work together.

What would you never do again? Change the design of the outside fireplace, chimney, hearth and steps/seating partway through the build. This added a lot of time and cost, although I really like how it turned out.

Gallery | 12 Photos
See more of this home here

DIY disasters? A DIY retaining wall fell over after the earthquake, due to insufficient drainage. The builders and landscaper had a good laugh and lots of advice after that.

What’s one thing you would change if you could? I would make the driveway shorter. It’s beautiful, but a long way to walk on rubbish collection day!

Most memorable experience you’ve had in your home? Cooking on the deck, drinking wine and toasting marshmallows over the fire, with the kids and their friends racing on the flying fox and playing spotlight in the bush.

Budget

$800-$900k spent across five years on multiple projects including glazing, landscaping and renovating a self-contained unit.

See more of the Wellington villa renovation below

: The leadlight windows throughout the home were installed by the previous owner, an architect, who rescued them from other period houses.

: The master bedroom is simply decorated with ‘Dragonfly Dance’ wallpaper by Matthew Williamson, warm-toned carpet and floor-length curtains, allowing the eye to wander to the view of the city spread out below.

: The leadlight windows throughout the home were installed by the previous owner, an architect, who rescued them from other period houses.

: A flying fox, climbing wall and sunken trampoline were installed to ensure the Carden kids are able to get maximum enjoyment out of the home’s amazing surroundings.

: Floor plan.

: Shop the look
1 Toledo plant, $32.99, from Adairs. 2 Cushion cover, $7.99, from H&M Home. 3 Jay pots in teal, from $44.99, from Adairs. 4 Ligne cushion, $64.95, from Freedom. 5 Throw, $119, from French Country. 6 David Trubridge Floral light, from $330, from Backhouse.

: Shop the look
1 Palm Springs chair, $699, from Freedom. 2 Knitted pouf, $35, from The Warehouse. 3 Jersey side table, from $429, from BoConcept. 4 Slumber sofa, $3995, from Me & My Trend.