SIZE: Land share of 766sq m, house 184sq m (approx).
PRICE INDICATION: All offers in the late $800,000s will be considered.
INSPECT: Phone for viewing times.
ON THE WEB: www.bayleys.co.nz #46948.
SCHOOL ZONES: Meadowbank Primary, Remuera Intermediate, near to several private secondary schools.
CONTACT: Terry and Diana King, Bayleys, ph 375 8435, Terry 021 484 332, Diana 021 613 884.
FEATURES: Unique 1926 Arts and Crafts house with lots of original character features near Remuera's Upland Rd shops and cafes. Front garden gets all-day sun while generous rear deck gets afternoon sun. Potential to develop basement.
KEY POINTS:
John Leaning knows a good thing when he sees it. The architectural designer, who has worked on incredible homes all over the world, has an eye for quality and when he spotted this 1920s house for sale in Remuera, he was smitten.
"I grew up in a house in Herne Bay that was very similar and I always wanted a house like this," says John. "I fell in love with this one because it was largely unspoilt. It's a unique home."
The house is designed in the style of renowned architect Horace Massey and although there is no architect's name on the plans, John's experience in the industry tells him it was most likely the work of a young Massey apprentice.
"I'm not sure if the person who designed it knew whether he was doing a grand house or a small cottage," says John. "But it is a very pretty house and has a lot of charming features."
These include the monk's seat by the front door, the beamed ceilings, panelled walls and the windows with small panes. But the piece de resistance is the stunning Jacobean-style staircase with its barley twist balustrades.
"It makes me think of something you'd find in Manderley, the house in the book Rebecca," says John, who has spent much of the past 34 years living in the UK. "It's not the sort of thing you see very often in New Zealand."
The unusual staircase is the first thing you see when you come in the front door. To the right are the elegant lounge and dining rooms which are separated by cavity sliders. The spacious lounge has a fireplace and French doors from the dining room lead out to the wide deck at the back of the house.
The kitchen has been partially modernised by previous owners, although a wall of original cupboards (including bins for sugar, flour and bread) adds to the character of the room. A small hall goes to a bathroom and laundry and another door leads back out to the entrance lobby.
On the other side of the house is a room John uses as a library/study and living area but which used to be a sitting room and bedroom for a housekeeper.
"The wall between the rooms was knocked down but you could always put it back up if you wanted to gain an extra bedroom," says John.
The staircase takes you up to two roomy bedrooms and a sunroom which all have views of Rangitoto. The upstairs bathroom has a separate toilet, large shower and lovely old claw-foot bath.
The house is completed by a double garage in the basement. Had he been staying, John would have moved the laundry down to the spacious garage and put in an internal staircase.
In the 10 months he has owned the house John has made several changes which have enhanced the character of the house. They range from painting the exterior (in Karen Walker's Foggy Grey) and several rooms inside, to putting stylish white wooden shutters in several rooms and replacing the front door.
Outside, John has given the garden a makeover. He pulled out trees and put in new plants, including a mass of clivias.
There are other things John would like to do but he won't have the chance. The demands of work mean he will be spending a lot of time in the UK so he is selling reluctantly.
"I hope whoever buys it appreciates how special it is," he says. "This house deserves to be loved."
619 Remuera Rd,
Remuera
