Eileen Byrne is forever grateful her husband promptly said “we’ll take it” to a Taupō real estate agent 21 years ago.

She couldn’t make the initial viewing and is thankful husband Des saw potential in the old 1960s home tucked down a long driveway. Once she clapped eyes on it, she immediately applauded his vision.

She feels especially appreciative these days now they’ve finally renovated it. Such a good job was done, that the house won the supreme NZ Renovation Award at the Master Builders’ competition last year.

Rewind more than half-a-century and the house – on this secluded elevated Taupō site with stunning lake and mountain views – was built as a holiday fishing lodge.

Sitting on a large block of land (two sites, with the front site essentially a green belt), it had been owned by the same family for many years.

“It was pretty rudimentary, but it was a lovely old home with great vibes and wonderful bones – the sort of house you walk into and immediately feel relaxed in,” Eileen says.

Regardless, they did have the conversation – somewhere in the last 20 years – about maybe knocking it down and building new. But an appreciation of the home’s past killed that idea.

“It has a wonderful history. A lot of whisky would have been drunk and cigars smoked in this house after trout were caught,” Eileen smiles.

Des and Eileen got busy with other investments and work (they are both in hospitality) and so any renovation was very much on the back burner. But they did instal a gas fireplace before moving into their formerly cold house, and a paint brush worked wonders.

Eventually, it was time to call in local designer guns – namely, architectural designer Clint Bramley and interior designer Trace Beaumont-Orr from Décor Design.

Then it was farewell to the basic, original kitchen and the 1960s bathroom with its pink-and-grey striped formica walls and porcelain basin; and hello to plans that included pushing the house out and adding wow on the outdoor enjoyment front.

“We wanted to keep the lodge look but a glammed-up version of it. I love that you can still recognise aspects of it,” Eileen says.

Big, exposed ceiling beams, the roof line and an expansive skylight, for example, remain. And, Des points out how what was an outdoor fireplace area at one end has been enclosed to create an open fire place in “the lake room”.

“It’s a lovely, sunny spot to kick back in,” Eileen tells. “We’ve themed it to match the home’s history, so there are antique fishing rods and a taxidermy trout on the wall and even the floor mat emulates waves on the water – it has that mood.”

The renovation spanned about 18 months, with the house gutted – batts were installed, some rooms re-purposed, two bedrooms and additional garage added, and the master suite re-configured. A new glassed passageway was created to link the guest bedrooms with a new courtyard (off the kitchen) and the pool area.

The house’s footprint remained, was extended at both ends and the parameters of the dining and lounge areas pushed out widthwise. A new deck makes the most of the expansive view and “amazing” sunsets. And, of course the house was re-roofed, re- plumbed and the electricians kept busy.

The 3000sqm site includes two bores so with the renovation came the opportunity to tap into geothermal wonder. Their home now sports radiators, and underfloor heating in the new sections, and a new pool (heated, of course) which spans 12 metres and comes with resistance jets, a waterfall feature and spa.

No water is ever wasted as the water from the house and pool is re-injected 96 metres back into the ground into bore number two.

“All the concrete around the pool is also heated geothermally. We have wonderful evenings all year round and can go and swim on the coldest winter’s night. It is kind of surreal,” Eileen says.

It’s not just the pool that provides soaking opportunities. They’ve also had a private little decking area constructed with high-backed baths with hot mineral water straight out of the ground.

“Des designed this area and had me sitting on buckets and boards to get the height right, so you can soak with a wine or beer, enjoying the lake, mountains or sunset. It is a lovely, magical spot and I often invite people to come and have a bath,” Eileen laughs.

She tells how the house comes alive at night. “It presents a whole different atmosphere as it is up-lit. There are wonderful reflections, and it looks sensational.”

Also a tad special are interior design features like the kitchen’s wine cellar with its 540 bottle capacity. Eileen calls it their “consumable art”. And there’s the dramatic, pivoting front door of copper; and the en suite with its timber shutters that open to enable a lake view from the bath.

Eileen and Des say this is their “thinking ahead house”. The idea is to be fully sustainable one day. The garage is geared up ready to cater for electric vehicles and solar panels are wired and ready to be installed.

It’s smart, as they’re not going anywhere. “Our kids had technically just left home when we bought here, but they’ve really adopted Taupō and this home as their family home…. So, it really feels as if it has family roots.

“We certainly find it very hard to leave. Our beach house is neglected. It’s my end house, my forever home, for sure,” Eileen says.

Credit: Stuff.co.nz