After 10 years of renting with their young family, Chris and Leah Goddard were impatient to get into a house that was toasty warm, designed for sunlight, and where they could give their creative instincts free rein, rather than staring at boring, all-white walls. When the couple spotted a deceased estate for sale in Takapuna, they hoped the waiting game was over. Although the dwelling was far from ideal (a rumpty old bach that had been one of the first homes in the area), Chris was seduced by its location. He had always dreamt of living within a stone’s throw of the beach and from here he could smell the sea. So, when their bid won the auction, it was a surprise. A delightful one.
That was five years ago and set in motion a process where more waiting became inevitable. Initially the Goddards thought a major renovation
