Jan Mulder is a chemical engineer but in another life he says he would be a builder.
He and wife Jeffie love villas, which is why they bought this circa 1890s grand old lady.
"I like building things, I love doing it," Jan says.
Though they bought the property asan investment, they liked the look of it and undertook some renovation, including painting and putting in a new kitchen.
The story goes that the Rosier family, a settler family, lived in it from the early 1900s.
This road used to be called Prospect Rd, but the name was changed to Rosier Rd in 1969 in honour of the family.
Glen Eden was one of the first suburbs to be settled in Auckland in the 1880s, encouraged by the arrival of the train line in 1881.
The original Maori name was Waikumiti, but the locals of the time didn't like the association of the name with Waikumete Cemetery and requested a name change.
41 Rosier Rd, Glen Eden
While the property has had two additions built on to it, in 1984 and in 1988, the original character features of the home have been retained.
Jan says the floors are kauri and, while carpeted, it would be worth at least taking out the carpet in the hallway because the flooring is beautiful.
He's not sure what the weatherboard is, though he says it is original.
"It might well be kauri but I just don't know because we painted, of course, but I would assume it might be kauri."
Jeffie, who has an interest in architecture, especially loves the entranceway.
There are two doors you can have open or closed and lovely woodwork at the end of the hallway, "and then the next thing is the surprise of the large, open living space".
She also loves the front room, which has high windows so you get a good view up to the sky.
41 Rosier Rd, Glen Eden
She and Jan installed an HRV system and a wood burner so the home is dry and comfortable and all the tenants have loved living there.
That's because it is spacious with a lot of sun, and because there are many living options.
"The lady we bought it from had a beauty salon and she had her treatment room in that front room, which is now done as a living room, so it has a lot of flexibility in how you want to use it," says Jeffie.
Also, with some bedrooms at the front and others at the back, there is room for separation.
"And the other thing is all the outdoor spaces. You've got the back of the house -- the room there has a balcony that overlooks a little patio, then from the main living room, the large L-shaped living room, there's a little deck out there and a garden there as well, which we had fenced off to make it more secure."
