4a Wanganella St, Auckland. Photo / Ted Baghurst
Accountants Stewart and Lisa Hampton take mock exception to friends who tease them about their profession and claim that 'money people' aren't creative.
"We think we've had the last laugh with this house." says Stewart.
It's hard to believe that only three years ago the property was practically derelict, as it's now been completely rebuilt and took out the prestigious title of Supreme Renovation of the Year in the Auckland Registered Master Builders House of the Year awards for 2016.
The couple's passion was ignited the moment they walked in for the first time three years ago, and found themselves blown away by 180-degree views of Waitemata Harbour, the Harbour Bridge, the CBD and leafy suburbs way beyond.
"When Lisa saw all of that she cried 'Hello Birkenhead,' and I knew then and there that we were going to buy it," says Stewart.
The renovation, carefully designed by Stewart and Lisa with Allan Taylor Architects, was such a huge project it took a year to execute but the results made all their efforts worthwhile.
The exterior is stained, vertical shiplap cladding and its subtle appearance completely belies what lies inside.
No expense was spared in bringing the 'Hamptons' dreams to completion and the new house has quality materials used throughout.
A pivoting front door leads into the entrance hall, which has spectacular LED lighting along the walls.
The large open living space beyond includes a state-of-the-art kitchen with cleverly concealed pods for different activities, including a scullery.
The floor is oak and the joinery is walnut, while the central island is made from marble Calcutta Oro Stone.
Floor-to-ceiling double-glazed windows frame the view outside, and allow sun to pour into the house.
Also on this floor is a media room with built-in cabinetry for the TV and surround sound system.
"We like things hidden neatly away," they say.
There are two bedrooms up here, one of which is being used as Lisa's office while the other - the master suite - is truly spectacular.
"We lie in bed and marvel at what's going on outside," says Lisa.
"The double shower is particularly fun because you can stand in it and watch everything happening - through one-way glass - and we're sure that there's nothing else like it in Auckland."
Downstairs are two further bedrooms and Stewart's office (which has its own access), plus a games room, which would be ideal for small children or teenagers.
The well-appointed laundry is concealed behind doors, and two further bathrooms complete the picture here.
With glass balconies across the top level and decking down below, there's no shortage of places to sit and marvel in this wonderful house.
The pool is a remarkable feat of engineering and was actually already there.
"We're not sure if it's true but we've heard that the man who built it was in charge of the steel for the Harbour Bridge and that the cantilevered struts supporting the pool might have been left over construction materials," says Stewart.
He's particularly proud of the lighting design, which was all his own vision.
"You can change the colours, so we go by what's happening at the Sky Tower. On St Patrick's Day, naturally, the pool was green."
When Stewart and Lisa need to venture out of their magical hideaway, the little shops and cafes of Hinemoa St are a short walk away and the ferry departs, quite literally, from the bottom of the garden.
Having had the satisfaction of completing the Birkenhead project, they've decided to do something else altogether now and buy a house in Crete.
"We go to Greece every year for three months because we just love the country and the people. We think we'll divide our time between there and our beach house north of Auckland," says Lisa.
"Being able to work remotely means that anything is possible - especially for accountants!"