By Murray Long Builders Ltd
Mike and Miri wanted to renovate their 100+year-old Grey Lynn bungalow to create extra space while aligning with the character of the original era. We lifted their home, added a double balcony, and extended its functionality with a modern living and office area out the back. It was a pleasure to work on this home designed by Crosson Architects. On the renovation journey we unearthed ancient treasures such as 100-year-old wallpaper and old kauri paneling, all which were repurposed for the owners so they had reminders of the history the house embodied. The finished product is a startling transformation - an exterior that would fit into a period movie, and a lower-level interior that echoes the original aesthetic seamlessly with notable architrave and ceiling details. This is complemented by the warm, modernized extension with beautiful Matai wood finishings that delight the owners.
Photos taken by Murray Long Builders, and HUSK.
He aha te mea nui o te ao. He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata. What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people.
Our number one value as a business is ‘People Matter’, this is the substance behind ‘Enjoy building your home!’ The people we have on our team and the contractors we engage align to this value which results in both our team and our clients feeling valued and respected throughout the build.
Murray Long – Director
As director of MLB, Murray’s role is more than simply being the boss or solving problems — but also being the culture-setter. Learning how to handle those responsibilities well doesn’t happen overnight. In Murray’s case it didn’t have to, he began the company in 1996, so you might say the culture has grown around him. It’s the thing Murray is most proud of in MLB — the team culture and their desire to do the best possible work.
At the heart of this culture is the passion to build outstanding houses for clients who appreciate that level of detail. Being part of seeing designs unfold over the months of a build and seeing people’s eyes light up as they walk into a new space, or see some detail that has just been finished, or welcoming a family into their new home is something you can’t describe and what drives Murray to lead this team.
Murray’s dream home is a retreat away from the crowds with his family, one that looks out over the coast. But his favourite house among those built by his company is, no surprise, his own family home. ‘You get to live in what you have created,’ Murray says.