SCHOOL ZONES:
Takapuna School, Takapuna Normal Intermediate, Takapuna Grammar, Westlake Boys’ High School, Westlake Girls’ High School.
CONTACT:
Corey Knapp, Premium Real Estate, 021 241 0081 or 916 6000.
Ray and Cherie Schofield would never have ended up with their elegant home if it hadn't been for an offer that was just too good to refuse. Three years ago the couple were asked if they would consider swapping their property right on Takapuna beach for one a potential buyer owned in Minnehaha Ave.
"We probably wouldn't have looked at this house if it wasn't for that, because it is a big house and we were thinking about downsizing," says Ray.
But they knew it was a particularly good location and could see the potential in the 1980s home, so they went ahead with the deal, which included a settlement as well as a house-swap.
"With our old place, it had been lovely being right on the beach but we did feel a little bit like we were living in a goldfish bowl," says Ray. "One of the great things about this house is the fact that it is so private -- it feels like a sanctuary."
Ray had lived in Minnehaha Ave about 15 years earlier and knew all about its attractions. One of Takapuna's most prestigious streets, it is a short stroll to local shops and cafes and popular Thorne Bay beach is just at the end of the no-exit avenue.
He and Cherie had also undertaken renovations before, so they weren't daunted that the home, built in 1988, was due for a major makeover.
"It was very dated -- it was American colonial design which is fine if you like that kind of thing but we didn't," says Ray, who oversaw the renovation after retiring.
The house was basically gutted and rebuilt, meaning it is essentially a brand new contemporary home. It took three months to do the work -- during which time the Schofields lived in their garage and campervan -- but the inconvenience was worth it. Ray and Cherie were particularly pleased with the quality of the work carried out.
Image 1 of 8: A house swap led a couple to big changes but now it is time to downsize. Photos / Ted Baghurst
One of the biggest changes was altering the downstairs layout and knocking out walls to create one large living/dining/kitchen area.
"We're big fans of open-plan living, and we're very happy with the way it turned out when we opened everything up," says Ray.
This area now includes a gas fireplace and huge flat-screen TV, and there's great indoor/outdoor flow thanks to sliding stacker doors that lead out to the rear garden, which has room for a pool.
A small patio was more than doubled in size and a pergola with a Louvretec roof and sliding doors on one side was installed, creating an outdoor room.
"We spent a lot of time out here in summer -- we eat here most of the time," says Cherie. "It's a great house for entertaining."
The immaculate kitchen -- with its marble benches, sleek white cabinetry, top-of-the-range appliances and plentiful storage -- is a cook's dream. It also has an office and a wine cellar that if necessary could become a scullery.
Also on the lower level of the house is a powder room, laundry and a guest bedroom with en suite. This fifth bedroom could alternatively be used as a second lounge, media room, home office or children's playroom.
Upstairs are four further bedrooms, including an enormous master bedroom with a large walk-in wardrobe and an equally generous en suite with a shower that has a curved glass wall. The main bathroom has both a shower and stylish bath.
Three of the upstairs bedrooms open on to a veranda that runs the length of the house and has a peep of the sea.
The internal access double garage has plenty of storage space, and there's enough room on the flat section for up to 16 cars -- useful if their sons and their friends want off-street parking when they go to the beach.
Family love visiting, says Cherie, especially their two young granddaughters. But with just two of them living there, the house really is too big, and now is the time to downsize.
