Between classic columns

61 Balmoral Rd, Mt Eden. Photo / Ted Baghurst

61 BALMORAL RD, MT EDEN

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SIZE: Land 1239sq m, house 340sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: Buyer interest over $1.8 million. Auction July 10.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 2.30-3pm.

ON THE WEB: barfoot.co.nz/500341

SCHOOL ZONES: Maungawhau School, Auckland Normal Intermediate, Balmoral School, Auckland Grammar, Epsom Girls' Grammar, Mt Albert Grammar, Auckland Girls' Grammar.

CONTACT: Ross Goodall, ph 021 963 867, or Joss Goodall, ph 021 585 850, Barfoot & Thompson, ph 638 9158.

FEATURES: Stately character home with multiple living spaces, beautifully landscaped gardens, swimming pool, sweeping views in double- Grammar zone. Separate wing downstairs with two more bedrooms, another lounge, a large billiard and TV room and an office/storage area.

The "absolute wow factor" of this Mt Eden house wooed owners Jill and John Thorrat when it came up for sale about 10 years ago.

One glimpse inside the majestic 1920s bungalow from its wide, elegant foyer shows why.

Perched well back from the street on a high point of Balmoral Rd near Mt Eden Rd, the north-facing house has commanding views that sweep from the Waitakere Ranges across Mt Eden's rooftops and mature trees to the mountain itself.

The home's aristocratic grandeur matches this elevated position with its beautiful, original features, including ornate ceilings, 3.7m stud height, beautiful leadlights and a jaw-dropping pillared archway that separates two of five large living spaces.

Jill and John had lived for 20 years a few streets away when this house unexpectedly came on the market in 2002. They had looked through it once before, so put in a tender straight away as they were ready to move to a bigger house.

Their children, Kate and Will, were 14 and 12 at the time and Jill remembers being excited about the potential of living in such a large, yet user-friendly house.

"It was so large we didn't have enough furniture for all of the rooms at first. But the wonderful thing is that we have been able to buy a large dining table that has been put to good use and also have room for furniture that has come from the family."

Main alterations to the original home had been done in 1996 and the house had been meticulously maintained since, so the Thorrats have made only cosmetic changes to the inside over the past decade, including painting and carpeting.

The front garden had been professionally landscaped and included a semi-circular driveway with two entrances that makes driving in and out of the property easy.

One previous owner installed eight Greek-style columns in front of the driveway to remind him of home and the Thorrats have retained these as they are in keeping with the stature of the house.

Eight years ago, they landscaped the rear garden, added a heated rectangular pool, a double garage and extended a section of the north-facing deck that opens off the kitchen, family room and informal dining room to create more space for outdoor eating.

When you enter the two-level home, the master bedroom is to the right of the central hallway and one of three living spaces, which the Thoratts use as a formal lounge but which could also be a media room, is to the left.

Off this room is a sun-drenched day room, probably originally a deep porch, which faces due west.

Jill says that, as well as its size and sense of privacy, the aspect of the house appealed strongly. "The sunsets that we see out to the west from here are astounding."

Next to the formal lounge is a second large living room - the grandest room of the house - which the Thorrats use for more formal dining.

This room conveniently adjoins the L-shaped kitchen, open-plan informal dining and living rooms.

Also on this level are an office that opens out to the deck and could double as a bedroom, another large bedroom and a bathroom.

Stairs at the end of the main hall lead to a spacious lower level that includes two large, light bedrooms, another lounge, bathroom and a huge billiard room which was purpose-built as part of the original design of the house.

This area has been an excellent teenage retreat for Kate and Will and has also been a great space for when friends and relatives stay as they can drive down the side of the house and park right outside.

Now that their children are no longer at home, Jill and John are ready to tackle a new house project - this time something a bit smaller.