When Alice and Caleb Pearson embarked on their latest home renovation, it was a real 360 moment for the couple. The property, an archetypal weatherboard home set in Auckland’s eastern suburb of Panmure, was the first renovation project the couple ever tackled. The home represented the beginning of many major milestones: 10 subsequent home renovations, winning The Block NZ season 2, the launch of Pearson + Projects, and most recently, a move into residential development with the establishment of Waihanga, a company specialising in multi-unit housing. Coming back to the home where it all started 10 years prior, gave the duo cause to reflect upon just how far they’d come. Alice exclaims, “We can’t help but laugh now, because our reveal photos look more like before photos of properties we renovate now. As with any new skills learned, the beginning is always the steepest part of the learning curve – and it sure was a steep curve for us.”

The couple had initially purchased the property to gain a foothold in the competitive Auckland housing market, and for the better half of 10 years had tenanted it out. Looking to move their family into their forever home - “Only 12 years in the making” muses Alice – compelled the couple to list the property on the market. But before they could, they needed to lift it up to their current high standards. “The benefit of redoing this renovation (over ten years after our first attempt as absolute reno rookies) was we knew this house, we had a clear idea of what we wanted,” explains Alice, “And now we had the budget and renovating knowledge to bring those ideas to life.

To get the home to a resalable condition, the couple set about modernising each of the rooms. The kitchen and living area received a complete remodel, with the couple opening up the two spaces, installing a brand-new kitchen (complete with an island bench), and introducing new décor elements and furnishings. The bathroom was also re-designed, receiving new tiling and fixtures for a more contemporary look and feel. Not one to shy away from personalising spaces, Alice overhauled each of the bedrooms with wallpaper in fun patterns and textures, adding wow factor to rooms that were otherwise quite plain. Soft new carpet from Flooring Xtra was installed, with Alice opting for Reside Abode Casa cut pile in the family-friendly colour Lahar, for its comfort and durability. And finally, the exterior and yard were tidied up to give the property some much-valued street appeal. What was once a cosy but tired home was transformed by the couple into a clean, bright, and inviting abode, much more conducive to modern-day living, and ready for the real estate market.

What were you hoping to achieve with this renovation?

We named this renovation our “Renovation Redo” and we did really see it as our version of redemption! When we first renovated this house back in 2010 we only had a $15K budget and absolutely no experience, so all of our decision were made around what we could afford and what we could do ourselves. This time around we created a budget around what we actually wanted to achieve, which was ultimately restoring this house to her former glory and adding some bold design.

How did you come to select your carpet?

While we have become experts in renovating, we value the advice professionals give. We let the Flooring Xtra team know what we were after, which was an affordable, hard-wearing, and good-quality carpet, and we went with their recommendations. Because Reside Abode Casa was one of their most popular carpets, we knew it would be appealing for potential buyers. We chose the shade 'Lahar' because it looked great with all 4 wallpaper patterns and colours for each bedroom.

When re-designing the home, what were your non-negotiables?

The kitchen was the main focus of our design in this home, we basically designed the kitchen and then decided on the new layout of the living spaces. We knew we wanted to open up the kitchen to the dining and lounge - that was really much the only non-negotiable. The striking porcelain blush cabinetry with the natural look stone benchtop set the tone for the colour and texture in the home, where I brought in colour, textures inspired by nature and avoided black accents or stark whites.

For those that are embarking on a reno, what are your top tips?

Before you start your reno, ask yourself why you are doing it. Whatever your project - having a clear why - or a list of the top reasons why - provides the underpinning for what is driving your project. From there, we’d recommend determining the overall design, the scope of the project and the budget, all of these factors may be important, or one more so than the other, but having a clear idea of each will help with make decision-making and project management.

What would you splurge on and save on when renovating to sell?

There is a belief that kitchens sell houses, and I would agree! We certainly splurged on this kitchen, we made some bold (and costly) choices with the stone benchtop, handmade Moroccan tiles and designer pendants. The wallpaper was another splurge, I wanted each room to have its own distinct look and stand out from other houses on the market. However, there were plenty of ways we saved, we selected affordable options for our carpet, wardrobes and curtains. And we kept plenty of elements like the deck, fireplace, and bath to save money.

What advice do you have for readers who are also renovating to sell?

Renovating to sell gives a clear purpose for your renovation, which should drive all your decisions. Do your research, speak with agents and find out what the majority of buyers want in your area. When you renovate to sell, you are essentially renovating for someone else, so don't let your personal preferences be a priority. But you want your home to stand out and make an impression, so while trying to appeal to the most buyers, you also need those elements that make your house unique. That is why we did things like select a bold wallpaper and partner it with a popular carpet colour.

Where do you draw inspiration from?

Always from the house itself. When you are renovating, you are working within the original house, and it is important to consider what it is before you transform it. I start by focusing on what I love about the house and finding ways to draw those elements out in my design. Then I decide on a style or create my own brief to have one overall vision for the whole house.

Where are your favourite places to shop for the home?

My favourite place to shop is Trademe or Facebook marketplace to get those unique pieces you can't find easily or that are one of a kind. I'm a bargain hunter, and I love upcycling pieces.

What are your future renovation / building plans?

We have just moved into the first house we are renovating purely to be our own family home - it's only been 12 years and 9 house moves in the making! Already it feels so much different planning a renovation that isn't about adding value or doing up for resale; when it is personal, it gets complicated. I've been waiting a long time to design a home that is just for us, and now it is happening, I don't know if I'm actually ready.

Photos of the home before the reno redo

Credits

Designed By: Alice & Caleb Pearson, Pearson & Projects
Where: Panmure, Auckland
Instagram: @pearsonandprojects
Photographer: Olivia Pitcher
Store: Mt Wellington Flooring Xtra