SCHOOL ZONES:
Konini Primary School, Glen Eden Intermediate School, Green Bay High School.
CONTACT:
Caroline Yau, 021 618 211, Steve Williams, 027 295 6153, Ray White.
*Plus 4 off street.
Tucked out of sight, beyond a gated driveway, on a quiet edge of this popular West Auckland suburb lies a super surprise -- a high-quality home with a long list of attributes, now poised and ready to enter the next stage of its life.
John and Shelley Scott moved in when their elder daughter Ashley, now 21, was a toddler and the house had recently been built.
After 12 years, and following the arrival of a younger daughter, Jaime (now 17) the family found themselves faced with the choice of moving or improving the property to cope with the needs of growing children -- and chose the latter option.
"I'm lucky, my brother Grant Watson at Pure Design was full of great ideas and couldn't wait to get stuck in," says Shelley.
"And I just let Shelley and Grant get on with it -- they were the experts," says John.
The resulting house was practically a new-build, doubled in space and beautifully laid out to highlight the attractive, surrounding native bush, while still maximising exposure to the sun.
Arranged on three levels, with soaring 3m-high ceilings and large windows, it has a double garage and workshop-cum-gymnasium below, then stainless steel stairs take you up through a light-filled atrium to the first floor living area.
This consists of a formal lounge with gas fireplace, followed by the dining room, kitchen, scullery and an informal living space. Topping off the main floor is a generous tiled patio with loads of room to relax and enjoy utter tranquillity, where the only audible sounds are breeze and birdsong.
Image 1 of 8: Spanning three levels and with soaring ceilings this home is a masterpiece. Photos / Fiona Goodall, Getty Images
"I wanted a kitchen where I was looking outside, facing everybody and able to feel a part of the action," says Shelley, and that's exactly what she got.
With quality fixtures, fittings and appliances, this deluxe food preparation area with an impressive 4m-long bench and dramatic range-hood, wants for nothing and, tucked behind it, the scullery also features all mod cons -- as a kitchen in its own right, and includes the laundry. There's a handy cloakroom next door and loads of storage space.
The master bedroom is a few steps up on this level and offers copious wardrobe space plus en suite, while the adjacent bedroom -- currently Ashley's also has its own bathroom.
Further upstairs, on the top floor lie three further bedrooms -- one of which is being used as an office and another two bathrooms, which share the same warm honey tones as the two on the level below.
The upper-landing walkway is open and glass-clad, affording spectacular views of the level below.
Shelley, who works in intellectual law is also a talented artist and her large-scale, colourful works adorn the gallery-style walls of the house.
The girls are both studying in the art sphere and many a masterpiece has been produced downstairs in the garage, business executive John says.
While the 2386sq m section is secluded, the property still enjoys easy access to public transport and local shopping spots are only a few minutes' drive away.
"As living out here has become more popular we've noticed the facilities improving fast," says Shelley.
She and John recently realised that they had a mutual desire to try a new lifestyle for a while, basing themselves in a smaller property closer to the city.
