They loved it, now they’re listing it: Home featured on hit TV listings show comes to market

A 1920s bungalow in New Lynn that featured on Love It or List It NZ has come on the market just a month after the owners chose to “love it” on the show.

Owners Erin and Christian Jensen and their home at the home at 33 Koromiko St, New Lynn, Auckland, appeared in an August 10 episode of the hit listings show. The couple were are logger heads, with Erin, a graphic designer and artist, loving it; but Christian, a documentary film festival administrator, feeling the space squeeze.

He told hosts designer Alex Walls and broadcaster Paul Glover: “I just want out. I’m just done with it. I think somewhere out there is the perfect home for us.”

In the course of the show, the couple undertook a $55k renovation of their Central West home, overseen by Walls. By the time the works were completed, and despite Glover showing three homes that they liked, the Jensens decided to “love it”, and stay in their home a while longer.

Now, less than two months since the show aired, the couple has had a change of heart. They have listed the vintage home they transformed from pokey to contemporary for sale by auction, and are planning a rural move.

“The TV series was filmed a wee while ago. There’s always a delay [in the shows airing],” says listing agent Brigid O'Connor of Barfoot and Thompson.

"They really enjoyed the spaces that were created on the show, but they do definitely need some extra space now, and that comes in the form of a rural property.“

That’s not to say the character bungalow is lacking in space now. The three bed home used to have separate living/dining and kitchen areas.

Following the renovation, there is a stunning, contemporary open-plan living/kitchen space, at the heart of the home. The design pays homage to the home’s heritage nature, and yet reconfigures the space to reflect modern lifestyles.

Walls used soft, vintage colours, like duck egg blue, to enhance original and new woodwork, and offset the home’s jewel-like stained-glass and lead-light windows.

The hallways, bathroom and bedrooms have also been enhanced with vintage-inspired colour choices, creating a harmonious, and calming flow, throughout the home.

Outside, there’s a small garden, and a double self-contained studio, that would work well as either a granny flat, or work from home office.

"It would suit a young family," says O'Connor. "Someone who is really enthusiastic about heritage homes and heritage charm. But also appreciates a bit of contemporary design for comfort and style.

"Being in a nice little family friendly cul de sac is also really appealing to young families."

"New Lynn has always been an attractive suburbs, because, you tend to get a lot of nice character and space, without the price tag of Grey Lynn and Ponsonby. So it's always performed quite well."

It’s also worth noting that 33 Koromiko St in a "single house zone".

"Your lifestyle is quite protected."

The home goes under the hammer on October 16 at 10am. According to Homes.co.nz The 130m² home has a May 2024 CV of $1.15m, which likely doesn’t reflect the value of the renovation of the home.

The median for New Lynn is $835,000, however the estimates for homes on the Jensen’s side of the street at in the $1m+ range.