Attention to detail

40 Sarsfield St, Herne Bay, Auckland. Photo/Fiona Goodall

40, SARSFIELD ST, HERNE BAY

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SIZE: Land 758sq m

PRICE INDICATION: $4 million.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 12pm-12.30pm.

ON THE WEB: www.barfoot.co.nz/553340

SCHOOL ZONES: Ponsonby Primary, Ponsonby Intermediate, AGGS.

CONTACT: Heather Hannah 021 762 260 and Carl Madsen 021 953 152.

FEATURES: Wednesday, September 30.

When David Wang first came to New Zealand as a foreign exchange student, he found things to be very different from his life in a fifth-floor apartment back in China.

"I do have to mention all the sheep, because that's what I expected and that's what I found," he says.

"I was a home-stay student in Epsom but the moment I really remember is when I went to their relative's home and saw her dog, lying on the floor, near the hearth, in front of an ornate villa fireplace.

"I knew right then and there that it was the sort of home I wanted to own one day.

"After I met my wife Cissy, who's also Chinese, I kept this dream in the back of my mind ... then about three years ago, our amazing Herne Bay house came on to the market.

"It had been owned by the same family for 40 or 50 years and had seven bedrooms and one bathroom. Immediately, I thought, 'this house needs me'."

David wasted no time putting his long-held ideas into practice.

"It's been a huge project," he says.

"But I instantly felt right at home here.

"Our wee boy Kayden couldn't even walk at that stage, but I had visions of him riding his trike around the garden."

David loved the villa's extra-wide hallway and was excited about the amount of basement potential.

"Basically what I could see was a classic, yet contemporary, kid-safe house with lots of personality," he says.

The refurbishment and renovation that followed has been nothing less than remarkable.

"So many wonderful people have been a part of it all," says David.

"And I've really appreciated every single one of their great ideas."

David says he is a perfectionist.

Image 1 of 21: Elegant, bright villa offers understated luxury

"I'm the one who wanted the floor in the kitchen and dining room to be flush -- or at least as close as possible -- with the deck."

The spectacular kitchen with its tall vaulted ceilings is enhanced by a generous scullery -- a good way of keeping strong food smells at bay.

David also points to the amazing steam oven.

"They say that it's better than a microwave," he says.

"And it's definitely pretty good for pork buns."

Every single kitchen item -- including the built-in coffee machine -- is top-of-the-range with no expense spared.

David's attention to detail is consistently evident throughout the house, which even features a keyless front gate and door.

The laundry and main bathroom segue together perfectly. "This was also Kayden's space," he says.

"He can't reach up too far so we kept things at his level."

The original seven bedrooms have been reduced to four, but these are well sized and most feature the original villa fireplaces, as does the elegant, separate lounge.

"We've taken two whole bedrooms to make the master suite with walk-in wardrobe and bathroom," David says.

A change in circumstances along with the nature of his business means David will be spending more of his time in China.

Given the house is just a little too large for the family, he and Cissy have decided to sell the house they believe will appeal to so many.

"Summer's coming so they can sit outside on the patio or the deck and simply enjoy the house with its air-conditioning system," he says.

'They won't have to do a single thing."