Featured Property

Step onto the property ladder with these 8 Wellington do-ups

Article by Property Press

These eight homes in Wellington area offer opportunities for keen renovators – from major projects to those requiring a few targeted tweaks.

Step onto the property ladder with these 8 Wellington do-ups

Do-ups are great for imaginative people because you don’t inherit someone else’s taste of design vision. Finding a property with special charm or plenty of space that needs a makeover gives you the chance to enjoy character features but also inject your own personality and design areas specifically for your lifestyle.

Here’s a selection of properties in the Wellington area that offer opportunities for keen renovators – from major projects to those requiring a few targeted tweaks.

1. Deco delight

What a rare offering! This two-storey 1930s Art Deco home in Kelburn offers the perfect project for those who love the distinctive architectural style and aren’t afraid of an extensive renovation. Presently configured as two flats, the stucco beauty has retained all the hallmarks of the era both inside and out.

Gorgeous features include the curved, decorative geometric windows and detailing, timber joinery and molded plaster celings. The original staircase is still intact so the opportunity to revert this to a five-bedroom, 2 bathroom property is ripe.

The lower level opens on to a flat lawn at the back but the real showstopper is the flat roof which could be made into a rooftop garden with panoramic views over Wellington city and the harbour. All this on the fringe of the CBD…


 

2. Family central

This three-bedroom bungalow’s location near West Park School and Onslow College in Johnsonville will be a drawcard for families and the spacious living areas and level 660m2 garden will make it an even more popular choice.

Sure, you’ll have to roll up your sleeves and get working on modernising the kitchen and bathroom but the polished wooden floors, high stud, generous light-filled rooms and heat pump all contribute to a home that is welcoming in its present state.

A bit of redecoration and a general tidy up will bring this house with its pretty street appeal to a whole new level of living.


  

3. Gimme some loving

If you like being in the heart of things this classic villa in Te Aro Valley will add a touch of grandeur to your lifestyle with a bit of hard work and imagination.

It’s seen better days after being a rental property for years but the old girl is oozing with character and would reward renovators’ by delivering an elegant four bedroom home. The high stud, original fireplaces, board and batten celings, timber floors, wide skirting boards and gorgeous original staircase are a perfect canvas for a stylish makeover.

There’s even room on the 253m2 site to create a charming courtyard garden.


4. Plenty of potential

This four-bedroom Johnsonville home could do with a bit of a charm offensive but all the right ingredients are there for development, including the 673m2 garden.

The bedrooms could do with new carpet and painting but are all spacious and light and the living and dining areas offer plenty of flexibility.

Design your dream kitchen and give the bathroom a makeover and you’ll have a very comfortable family home in a great location.


5. Simply special

All lovers of mid-century design will be bowled over by this Karori home designed in the 1940s by Czech architect Henry Kulka.

It is on the market for the first time in 70 years and has many original features, including ply internal walls and built-in timber bookcases, windowseats, sideboards and bedroom fittings that reflect the clean, modernist lines of the era. With a tweak to the kitchen and bathroom this is a very rare offering will provide the perfect backdrop for elegant modern living in a design classic.

Sitting high on a 738m2 site with sun and views, this three bedroom home is truly one of a kind.


6. Nearly ready to go

What a cutie! This 2/3 bedroom cottage in Strathmore Park could be transformed with simple paint and paper and a dash of imagination.

The rooms have many character features that can be highlighted and the good news is that the bathroom has already had a serious makeover.

A new kitchen and reinvention of the covered area that leads to the back deck will complete the picture and you’ll be ready to enjoy summer on the level 551m2 section that backs on to the Miramar Golf Course. As a bonus there’s also a garage and workshop for the handy person of the house.


  

7. Bring your imagination

This project is not for the faint-hearted but if it’s space you want you’ll be rewarded with a five-bedroom, two bathroom Island Bay home with lots of options for versatile living.

The current owners have enjoyed the sunny aspect, large dining area and lounge with a balcony to enjoy the views for the past 30 years.

Just ditching the shaggy carpet and giving the rooms a refresh will help to open up the possibilities for this property which has an asking price of over $750,000.


 

8. Finishing touches

A lot of hard work has already been done on this lovely Northland villa – the new roof, repiling and rewiring means you won’t be facing any nasty surprises.

The two pretty bedrooms with built-in robes have the high studs that feature throughout the house while the separate lounge with feature bay window and original fireplace are perfect for entertaining as is.

The kitchen and bathroom are perfectly usable but in time would really benefit from new fittings and appliances to take this home to the next level. Storage space and parking make this a great alternative to an apartment at an asking price of $695,000.


Words by: Sarah Beresford.

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