SCHOOL ZONES:
Oratia School, Henderson High School.
CONTACT:
Robyn Baldock, Bayleys, 027 313 2590.
AUCTION:
July 15.
Rochelle Gillespie says her house is the place to be on New Year's Eve. "We get the best fireworks display in town."
You can see why the moment you walk into the house she and husband John have owned for three-and-a-half years. It sits on the north-facing side of Scenic Drive and has one of the city's most breathtaking views.
A wall of glass in the family/dining room and the lounge next door frames the outlook over bush, then semi-rural Henderson valley to suburbia and the city. You can see the Waitemata and the Manukau harbours, the islands of the Hauraki Gulf and, on a clear day, the Coromandel Peninsula. Major landmarks such as the Sky Tower, Harbour Bridge and Rangitoto are clearly visible.
On New Year's Eve, as the clock strikes midnight and everyone lets off their fireworks, the view is simply spectacular. But it's not exactly boring the rest of the year, even on days when clouds partly obscure the vista.
"You never get sick of the view," says Rochelle, a former TV One presenter.
It wows everyone who visits their home, and is what won her and John over when they first saw it. They were also taken with the lounge, which has striking wood panelling and a fireplace with stone surrounds.
Built in the 1960s and extended in the 1980s, the house was structurally sound but in need of decoration.
"We were lucky in that we didn't have to do any major renovations, just cosmetic things," says Rochelle.
They sought advice from interior designer Shelleece Stanaway, who helped them with colour schemes, choosing light fittings and generally updating the house. They put new fittings in the en suite, painted the wooden beamed ceiling in the lounge and replaced glass in the conservatory windows in the kitchen.
The wooden kitchen cabinets were spray painted and given new handles, the cork tile floor was painted, and all of a sudden it felt like a new kitchen, says Rochelle.
The open plan layout of the main level of the three-storey house means she can enjoy the view while she's cooking and chat to guests in the adjoining family room. Children Gabriella, Jimmie and Baxter often sit at the breakfast bar in the conservatory part of the kitchen to eat.
Image 1 of 8: You won't find a better fireworks display than from this perfectly perched house with views across city and harbours to islands
This main living space features a reading area at one end, and a study nook, set into what was once a cupboard, at the other.
French doors lead out to the deck, which can be kept cool in summer thanks to an electric-powered awning. A short flight of stairs heads up to the spacious lounge.
Also on the main level is the bathroom -- the one room that hasn't had a makeover.
Downstairs are two bedrooms for the children, which both have large fitted wardrobes. Another room, which the Gillespies use as a playroom and gym, could be a fourth bedroom. It provides access to the laundry and double garage, and there's also the bonus of a large storage room.
Rochelle and John's bedroom is on the top floor of the house, and reached via a staircase near the kitchen. It comes with an en suite, walk-in-wardrobe, a balcony and the stunning view.
The house is at the end of a long driveway through the bush, and is extremely quiet. Yet it is a 35-minute drive into the city, and 10 minutes from amenities in Henderson.
"One of the best things about living here is how close we are to Piha," says Rochelle. "It's only 15 minutes away, and we usually go once or twice a week."
The Gillespies are selling because they've bought a house with a pool, but Rochelle says she's experiencing pangs at the thought of leaving Scenic Drive. "We have been lucky to live here -- I don't think we will get to live somewhere with such an amazing view again.
