Shades from marine blue, aquamarine, teal, and any other combination of blue-green, yellow and burgundy were everywhere in the early 1990s, including Omokoroa. The 25-year-old Margaret Drive property Rose bought with husband Dave 18 months ago was tarred by the same brush.

After renovating 17 previous homes, Rose and her husband Dave were happy with their ’lovely home’ in Waterview Terrace, on the other side of Omokoroa peninsula.

"Then we came across this place," says Rose. "The temptation was strong."

Her interest was tweaked after discovering the house for sale as developers carved up its surrounding orchard into house blocks.

"I said to Dave that it would be a good doer-upper. It was a shambles but had style."

Interest turned into action three weeks later when their Waterview home sold, and they threw themselves into the project.

Choosing a neutral colour to repaint the area was top of her list when they took ownership. The mustard honey she settled on fitted her belief that colours should suit the home era, joinery and exterior tones, rather than being tempted by current trends.

Next priority was clearing the bush that blocked the view down to the harbour. Sitting atop the ridge, it now boasts an impressive sweeping view from Plummers Point to Te Puna, on to Fergusson Park, and the port cranes and lights in the distance.

With the entertaining season approaching, Dave is building a deck along the eastern side of the home on weekends. The deck will lead onto a spa cabana room looking straight out to the water. Wrapped in glass for shelter, and to allow view from the spa, will be an entertaining zone with step-down barbecue area.

"There’s always something to do," says Rose, who hesitates to give a target completion date, particularly after the house project was put on hold for about a year as the pair renovated their latest 8m motorhome.

Along with the current outdoor work, the key structural renovations have been opening up the "tiny kitchen" by pushing walls back, installing a larger kitchen, and converting a second entrance into a scullery, complete with serve-through window to the formal dining area and second lounge.

Structurally the family room has been left unchanged, aside from decorative elements like the stone surround which refreshed the fireplace. However the covered outdoor sunroom – which flows off the family room - has been enclosed with walls to create a snug living area with pool and harbour views.

Rose says a lot of money had gone into unseen work - including revitalising the tropical swimming pool the grandchildren live in over summer.

"You always need to be prepared to be hit with extra costs in areas you can’t see, or don’t think of."

After the outdoor work and landscaping is complete, they will turn to reviving the downstairs bathrooms and laundry with paint and tiles, then the master bathroom, before converting a large attic space into grandchildren’s zone.

"The hardest part is finding a tiler that’s free," she half-jokes, saying Dave and her son, Sam of Prestige Tilers, are always too busy with work commitments.

Despite years of renovation experience, including as an Auckland interior designer, Rose’s big focus remains the same as when she began. It’s about improving flow and use of space - something she finds herself doing as she sizes up rooms wherever she goes.

"I can’t help myself. I’m often saying it would be much better if they shifted this or that."

Asked if Dave loves renovating as much as her, Rose laughs.

"I know he definitely loves saving on paying others to do the work."