SCHOOL ZONES:
Birkenhead, School, Northcote Intermediate, Northcote College.
CONTACT:
John Hill, Harcourts, 021 688 608.
AUCTION:
2pm Feb 28 on site (unless sold prior)
Paul Schollum's property at the end of a cul-de-sac off bustling Onewa Rd feels like a private world enveloping you in greenery thanks to its outlook over bush reserve.
Paul says: "People ask, 'Where's the traffic noise?'
"We're so handy to Onewa Rd and town but we don't get traffic noise unless something really loud like a fire engine with sirens on passes by.
"It's truly relaxing coming home here, no matter how hectic a work day you've had."
The two-storey home looks out over the tree-tops of Kauri Glen bush reserve, which is a bird magnet. A plump kereru swoops over the abundant decks winding around the home's upper storey. They've been a key lifestyle for Paul and his late wife Deborah, with so much of their living, relaxing and frequent entertaining spilling outdoors.
They bought a tiny 1950s cottage here 37 years ago for the peacefulness and setting. Today's larger, architecturally-designed cedar, weatherboard and block home, built in 1982, incorporates some of the cottage, such as native timber bathroom floors.
The Schollums adopted twins three years after building, later hosted home-stay students and often welcomed family and friends, so know how well the spaciousness here deals with a crowd. The bush reserve that hosted their children's huts continues to be handy to walk poodle Lily.
A couple of Indonesian oil-lamps converted to feature lights hint at the couple's appetite for travel. They met as air crew and lived in Singapore as part of Paul's career stint on oil-rigs. He says: "This outlook reminded us of staying up in the highlands of Malaysia with decks looking out at the bush."
The couple travelled more after practice nurse Deborah was first diagnosed with motor neurone disease. A roster of friends helped Paul ensure she stayed as long as possible in this beloved setting. She passed away last September.
The restful property's driveway includes a triple parking pad, as well as the internal-access double garage. Paul re-carpeted the house and re-painted inside and out with a brother over the last few months. Paul describes lovely sun right through winter. "Because the deck's partly covered I can barbecue a butterflied leg of lamb even if it's bucketing down with rain in winter. And the doors to the deck are open all summer."
Image 1 of 8: Enjoy sun-drenched living in this sprawling, private entertainer. Photos / Fiona Goodall, Getty Images
The household has hummed with entertaining, courtesy of a big upper lounge-dining area with heat pump, alongside a renovated kitchen-family room. It features stone bench-tops, big storage, DishDrawers and bar seating.
Paul recently retired from a company producing airline food, and both he and Deborah have produced fine fare at home, too. The kitchen's spaciousness enabled Deborah and her two sisters to prep simultaneously. Its window-seat, a winter sun-trap, was one of good-humoured Deborah's favourite spots as her health deteriorated.
The master bedroom with walk-through wardrobe and en suite also flows out to the decks. A third and fourth bedroom, family bathroom, separate toilet and little sun porch-conservatory area used as a kids' TV room complete upstairs.
Downstairs has a big second living area that was the kids' zone in days gone by. Off this, a fourth bedroom opening to a patio neighbours a study-cum-fifth bedroom. A storage room, the slate-tiled foyer and garage complete the layout.
Grounds incorporate gardens, stretches of lawn and rear ramp access to the house. The home's larger than Paul, poodle Lily and cat Charlie need. After travelling to the Hong Kong Sevens, his next stop will be an Onemana beach house he's owned with a brother, from where he'll make future plans.
