b'GoingagainstthegrainhasneverbeenmuchofanissueforWaikanaecoupleLorna and Matene Love.So when a valuer told them seven years ago that the beach-front property theyd just bought had absolutely no ow, they werent too concerned. He suggested we cover in the central courtyard to better connect the spaces, says Lorna, a property developer.Thankfully, they chose to ignore his advice and now the open-air courtyard forms the heart of the sprawling home they share with their three sons, Reuben (7), Logan (6) and Houston (3), as well as dogs Barney and Trudi.Besides, Lorna and her husband, a former junior All Black and founder/director of Maori clothing company Kia Kaha, had enough on their plates.Built in 1973, the Fritz Eisenhofer-designed houses mouldy walls and exposed ceilings were badly in need of repair when the couple bought it. But what really sold them were the expansive, private beach views, and the dynamics of the house.Its a classic Eisenhofer in that it consisted of four smaller bedrooms but large living spaces. The basic layout worked for us, it just needed some tweaking.That tweaking turned out to involve four extensions, 15 months and an increase in the AboveA gas replace replaces anhomes footprint from 490sqm to a generous 550sqm. Not to mention re-piling, re-wiring, old window in the living room while Resene Talisman provides a splashre-roong and re-cladding the entire property in board and battens.of colour to the chimney wall. The other walls are Resene Hillary. Their brief to draftsman Ben Gilpin was clear: they needed another bedroom, a bathroom for RightLorna with sons, Houston (3),the kids, an ensuite for the master bedroom, and a new informal lounge-cum-dining room. Reuben (7) and Logan (6). The latter borrowed space from the overly generous courtyard, and now provides the family Resenewith ample space to entertain.Double ParchmentResene HillaryResenewords Sharon StephensonTalisman pictures Nicola Edmonds 47'