Johnson and Yonnie Lee have only one problem with their three-storey house. It's not with the location -- tucked in the winding streets of West Harbour, less than a block from the ferry and marina -- nor with the view, nor the details on the house that they've just finished lovingly renovating.
The problem is one active baby boy, for whom so many stairs and levels are too much temptation. Eleven-month-old Ashton, already a wriggling, bouncy charmer, is testing his mother's nerves attempting to crawl up stairs and along split-level places. So it's time to move to somewhere flat and baby-proof, his parents have reluctantly decided.
"This house was perfect for teenagers," says Johnson of the home his parents bought in 1993 when they emigrated from Hong Kong when he was only 15.
He and his sister grew up in the house, Johnson taking it on for himself as his parents moved back and forth between New Zealand and Hong Kong. And he's right. The entry level, off a winding street near Marina View Drive, is set up for living and entertaining. The master suite is upstairs, the bedrooms, family bathroom and utility room are on the ground floor so children and adults could each have their own spaces.
The house was built in 1984, when the suburb was new and the lot sizes were generous. Even better, the hilltop house was next to a reserve, so views across the rooftops to the water and distant Auckland city will never be built out.
What has built up in recent years is the convenience. This once-remote country spot is now 10 minutes from the giant Westgate malls and service centres in one direction, pretty Hobsonville Point with its cafes and walks in the other, and Albany town centre only a few minutes more north along the motorway. But the family can still enjoy the old school fruit shops around Hobsonville Rd, and lovely walks down around the water.
The painter who commissioned the original house obviously had a fondness for craftsmanship. Key parts of the entry, living rooms and kitchen have immaculately finished wood (mostly rimu, some burled) details: turned wood posts and banisters, built-in cabinets, panelled walls.
The kitchen has a particularly fine combination of woods, complemented by crystal and vintage-style knobs. To bring it up to date, the couple had only to replace counters with sparkling off-white granite, crisp bevelled tiles in white and a feature green, and subtle LED lighting under the counter to make it all sparkle. Fine plasterwork crown mouldings and ceiling roses suggest a love of artisan work by the first owners.
The Lees also added modern sparkle to their master bathroom. It now looks more like a luxury spa than the 1980s' remnant it was. Carpets and paintwork were updated in the master bedroom, but some of the living floor retains its original wallpaper.
The floor plan of the house was designed for a crowd. Split over a couple of levels, the reception accommodation includes a formal lounge arranged around the large fireplace, a formal dining room, plus casual dining and living off the kitchen and a conservatory. Every room has windows to that stunning sea view, and French door access to the decks.
To the flat side of the house, Johnson has added a second deck and landscaped around it to create a sunny, sheltered outdoor entertaining area. Also on this floor is his office, with windows overlooking the driveway so he can keep visitors to the business end of the house.
The master bedroom, redone in crisp white, has its own Juliet balcony so the couple can take in those views -- although currently its generous landing also serves as Ashton's nursery.
Image 1 of 5: Sea view, motorways, malls and cafes are bonuses to craftsmanship of this home
The ground floor bedrooms include a giant double bedroom (it did serve as a rumpus room when Johnson and his sister were younger), plus two further double rooms. These rooms all have garden and sea views, access to the deck and a veranda.
The utility room, with outdoor access, is huge, with storage stacked back under the stairs. Johnson's family terraced the sloping lawn to create a terrific flat play space -- for older kids and teens, that is, rather than a toddler.
This big house is on the market so the family can move to something that's more comfortable for their toddlers. Older families will strike it lucky.
