Always in vogue in St Marys Bay

Photo / Supplied.

27 LONDON ST, ST MARYS BAY, AUCKLAND

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SIZE: Land 450sq m, house approx 309sqm.

PRICE INDICATION: CV $1.53 million. Onsite auction November 4 at 1pm.

INSPECT: Saturday/Sunday 2pm-2.30pm.

ON THE WEB: www.bayleys.co.nz

SCHOOL ZONES: Ponsonby Primary, Ponsonby Intermediate, Western Springs College and Auckland Girls' Grammar.

CONTACT: Andrea Ritchie and Karen Spires, Bayleys, phone 021 906 793 (Andrea) 027 273 8220 (Karen) or 309 6020.

FEATURES: Architecturally renovated home with postcard harbour views and interior style reminiscent of a New York loft, with steel casement joinery, handcrafted bronze balusters and fire surround and American oak flooring. Bonus is a separate two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment.

Chris and Helen Cherry seem to do things for the long-haul. The clothes they design under the Workshop and Helen Cherry labels are directional, yet have longevity and are beautifully made to last. The people they work with, they've worked with for years and the tenants who live in the flat on the top storey of the Cherrys' three-level home have been there for more than a decade. The Cherrys themselves have lived at 27 London St for 25 years, initially as tenants before they bought off their landlord in 1992. As Helen recalls, 1992 and 1993 were busy times. They got married, bought their first house, began the renovation, opened their first Newmarket store and had their oldest son, Dylan, now 18. Younger son Vincent was born a decade later.

An indication of Chris and Helen's approach to design is the fact that despite their home being renovated 18 years ago, its quality and timeless appeal mean it could have been completed last week.

The Cherrys collaborated on the renovation with architect David Howell, who had worked with them on the fitout of three of their Workshop stores. Part-way through the project, Howell moved to New York, which opened up opportunities for the Cherrys as Howell was able to source both new and vintage materials that weren't easily accessible from New Zealand at the time. Architect Chris Adams became the architect-on-the-ground to oversee the build.

Chris Cherry points to the richly hued timber floor underfoot in the home's main living level, the middle storey. It's the highest-possible grade, which was purchased, says Chris, "directly from the mill in upstate New York". Vintage door handles from the Upper East Side, 1960s bathroom tiles and even the Bakelite drawer handles in the master bedroom's walk-through wardrobe were all sourced in New York. Other highlights include a masterfully executed bronze fireplace surround and hearth, along with balusters, crafted by New York-based artist Jay Gibson.

Not that this home is all about America. One of the highlights is its vintage steel-framed glazing. Walk down the steps from the street to the discreet entrance of this home and you first see the steel frames, fitted with translucent panes for privacy. Inside, on the home's northern face, you see the steel frames again, this time fitted with transparent glass, to take in the magnificent view. Chris had his heart set on this sort of steel joinery from the outset and knew that it was astoundingly expensive to have made. After an intensive search through Auckland scrapyards, he heard about a house-lot taken from a demolished home in Orakei that was in storage in Penrose. After restoration by the Cherrys' friend, Gary Hunt, it was perfect.

The steel-framed glazing is also downstairs, on the home's lowest level, where it demarcates the master bedroom and study from a conservatory that flows on to a sub-tropical garden. Planting the garden was one of the first things the Cherrys did when they became homeowners. "The bottom of the garden would have once been the high tide mark when the house was built in 1901 or 1903," says Helen. "Bob, an old neighbour, used to catch flounder from his garden before the bridge was built."

Also downstairs is Vincent's bedroom, a large master bathroom, laundry and storage area and the aforementioned master wardrobe. Dylan's bedroom is upstairs, along with a semi en suite. The top level, a self-contained two-bedroom flat with its own balcony, could be connected to the remainder of the house to create a larger home. Chris and Helen did consider this as accommodation for the boys as they grow older, but have decided to start afresh after 25 years here in this quiet, sun-drenched corner of St Marys Bay.