And finally, the exterior and yard were tidied up to give the property some much-valued street appeal. 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. 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. The bathroom was also re-designed, receiving new tiling and fixtures for a more contemporary look and feel. 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. To get the home to a resalable condition, the couple set about modernising each of the rooms. “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. But before they could, they needed to lift it up to their current high standards. 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.

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. 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.” Alice exclaims, “We can’t help but laugh now, because our reveal photos look more like before photos of properties we renovate now.

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. 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.

The property, an archetypal weatherboard home set in Auckland’s eastern suburb of Panmure, was the first renovation project the couple ever tackled. When Alice and Caleb Pearson embarked on their latest home renovation, it was a real 360 moment for the couple.

Soft Focus by Reno MacLeod