Baby Steps Transformed This Quirky 1950s Home Into A ‘City Oasis’

Miranda and Elliot bought this home in 2022, after seeing the results of their previous smaller cottage renovation.

Within arms length of Christchurch CBD, this home had every element the couple were looking for; quirky, loads of character, and a huge backyard.

“When we bought it, we really wanted to embrace the feeling of a secret garden, or a private oasis in the city,” Miranda shares.

The home also came with a unique backstory.

“The house was built in the 1950’s by a Christchurch man in his 20s, who had held onto it for over 60 years, some of which were spent raising kids of his own,” Miranda says.

Like with any home improvement project, Miranda and Elliot got stuck into some major DIY projects early on.

But with things like asbestos removal, and a new front fence needed, a network of tradies was required soon after.

The first port of call: Builderscrack — here’s why.

“During our last renovation I discovered Builderscrack. I quickly figured out that it’s great for jobs of all sizes,” Miranda says.

“You know that the people you are connecting with are trusted, just by reading the reviews. For this reason, I’m always sharing it with friends and family.”

The new fence was too big for the pair to DIY, so naturally Miranda posted it to Builderscrack.

“Each time I use Builderscrack, I try to get at least three quotes,” Miranda prefaces.

“Nate from Dodge Construction gave us competitive pricing, his reviews were outstanding, and he seemed like a really nice guy both on his profile and in person.

“He was warm and accommodating, and really listened to what we wanted in our design without trying to override it with his own ideas too much.”

Nate from Dodge Constructions was tradie for the job.

One of the non-negotiables was that the new fence and gate posts needed to be constructed for an electric gate.

An easy challenge for Nate and his team.

However, once the project was underway they were then faced with two more challenges:

1. The asbestos removal was happening in tandem to the fence build, meaning the site wasn’t initially safe to commence work.

2. Coming into autumn meant the weather didn’t always play ball.

But even with the tighter timeframes, they quickly gave Miranda and Elliot’s home the safety, security and curb-appeal it needed.

The fence installation breakdown:

Nate and his team from Dodge Construction turned things around for Miranda and Elliot in only a matter of days.

“They worked so quickly,” Miranda says.

“The whole process was even quicker than they said it would be, and they did a great job. We were very happy throughout the process.”

“Overall, we were really happy with Dodge construction.”

When it comes to renovating, there are many ups and downs, but what Miranda and Elliot experienced spanned over the space of nearly two years, including their long journey to receiving council sign off.

“You start off with a hiss and a roar, because you are really enthusiastic and excited,” Miranda says.

“We found out we were expecting a baby partway through the renovation process. The house was unlivable at this point, which meant we had to move in with my parents.

“It’s safe to say we’ve definitely gone above and beyond to really make sure this house has a long future ahead,” Miranda says.

Miranda recalls the renovation’s most challenging times, particularly the “middle patch” where the pair were close to packing it all in.

“But once you get through all the big stuff and get back to painting and decorating, it all goes so quickly,” Miranda reflects.

Towards the end, the rapid transformation brought their once skeletal house back to life, making it feel like a home in just a few months.

“You see the new kitchen that you designed about a year and a half ago come to life, and finally get to install your bathroom fixtures, which you had sitting in boxes in the garage for months,” Miranda says.

Looking back, Miranda muses that they might have reconsidered the purchase, now knowing that the property was a “money and time pit” during its most challenging moments.

However, the skills and knowledge gained were invaluable. “You learn so much,” Miranda says.

For those contemplating similar projects, Miranda offers these 3 tips:

“Plus, DIY is really rewarding and satisfying… especially seeing it all transform along the way,” Miranda says.

Miranda now agrees that the best part of a renovation lies in the satisfaction of seeing the vision out, even when times get tough.

And despite the challenges, she and Elliot are stoked with the outcome of her near-finished home. “It sounds cliché, but it really was all worth it in the end.”

The process, while at times daunting, has left Miranda and her growing family with a beautifully personalised home that they love.

“We wanted to retain its character and add even more to it — and we did just that,” Miranda says.

The story doesn’t end here.

Covering only half of the entire renovation. In a few months time, Miranda and Elliot will get a full home reveal.

That includes a look at their new deck currently being built, a full interior makeover, an improved bathroom, the installed electric gate, and plenty more.

A big thank you to homeowners Elliot and Miranda for letting us see inside their renovation journey so far.

And thanks to Dodge Construction’s Nate and his team for providing their expertise in fencing.