Reimagined From Within
Blockhouse Bay Bungalow 2024
An architect plan that didn’t work, and a family who didn’t want to leave.
A growing family had outgrown their Blockhouse Bay bungalow. They needed more bedrooms and bathrooms — and the architect plans they’d already had drawn up were well over budget.
They didn’t want to leave the neighbourhood or the school. They wanted a way to make the home work for the next decade without overspending.
We started by looking at what was already there.
Don’t start your renovation without reading this first.
Our free guide — 7 Things You Must Know Before Renovating a House in New Zealand — covers the seven things that actually decide whether your project lands on budget and on time: budgeting, consents, timelines, and the questions to ask every builder before you sign anything.
From an unaffordable plan to a home they kept.
The Kishore family had outgrown their Blockhouse Bay bungalow. Their architect had drawn up plans for a full extension. The numbers came back well over budget. They were ready to walk away from a home they loved.
“We looked down, not out.
The underused downstairs was a wing waiting to happen — two bedrooms, two bathrooms, same usable space, a fraction of the cost. We drew up the new plan. Our cost planner priced every line before they signed anything. While council read the plans, the family picked every finish. Fixed price. Fixed dates. Master Build Guarantee.
On time. On budget. 2025 House of the Year Gold.
Modern living with character — a home built for the next generation.
Today the home works for the way a growing family actually lives. Two distinct living spaces sit under one roof — two complete homes, ready for the future. The two sons have their own space now. As they get older and start families of their own, the house becomes something rarer: a true multi-generational home, on a single Auckland section.
A year after handover, the family called us back to add landscaping, a new fence, and a driveway. The kind of return visit that says more about a build than any review ever could.
★2025 Master Builders House of the Year — Gold · Top 100. A finish the family are proud to call home.
Before & After
The house as we found it — dated tiled roof, open carport, no street privacy.
New cladding, aluminium gate, fence and modernised carport — the kerb-side reveal.
See exactly what this renovation cost — and how we got there.
Our 12-page Design Story for this Blockhouse Bay home covers the indicative budget range, the floor plans before and after, the design decisions we made along the way, and photographs of the finished spaces. Free to your inbox in 30 seconds.
- Real dollar range for this project
- Before & after floor plans
- The thinking behind every decision
- Photographs of the finished home
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A home built around how they live now.
Open-plan kitchen
Master ensuite
Upstairs bedroom
New entryway & staircase
Family bathroom
Downstairs bedroom
Kitchen flowing to the deckFive steps. Same process, every job.
The scope, in plain English.
A full-home renovation touching every space — structural, services, and finishes. Here’s what was involved.
New Kitchen
Open-plan kitchen with marbled engineered-stone island, integrated appliances, and walk-in pantry.
Four Bathrooms
Master ensuite with double vanity, refreshed family bathroom upstairs with floor-to-ceiling tile and freestanding bath, plus two new bathrooms downstairs.
Upstairs Reconfigure
Three bedrooms reworked, new built-in wardrobes, and refreshed finishes throughout.
Indoor/Outdoor Flow
Wider sliding doors connecting the dining area to a new timber deck and pergola.
Walk-in Wardrobes
Full walk-in wardrobes built into the master suite and bedrooms — designed around how the family actually lives.
Services Upgrade
Rewired, replumbed, new hot water system, and full insulation upgrade.
Get an instant estimate for your renovation.
Answer a few quick questions about your project — rooms, scope, and size — and we’ll give you a realistic Auckland cost range in under two minutes. No phone call needed.
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Simon and the team listened, kept us in the loop, and delivered something that genuinely fits the way our family lives. Every contractor was respectful and the finish is exactly what we hoped for.
Get an instant estimate for your renovation.
Answer a few quick questions about your project — rooms, scope, and size — and we’ll give you a realistic Auckland cost range in under two minutes. No phone call needed.