1511/26 Albert Street, Auckland City. Photo / Supplied
1511/26 Albert Street, Auckland City. Photo / Supplied
James and Carolina Davis decided if they were going to "do" apartment living in Auckland, they would do it properly.
They think they chose extremely well with their freehold apartment on the 15th level of the luxurious Stamford Residences.
It's plush and soundproof, and has views over the city and eastern harbour.
It's also about as close as you can get to James' workplace, the ANZ Centre across the road. Carolina's workplace is the ASB building in the Wynyard Quarter, also within easy walking distance.
The Auckland couple had lived in apartments offshore, and rented in the Stamford before deciding to buy their 127sq m unit.
"When we bought, we had been living further out and commuting into the city," says James.
"We decided we would look for the nicest apartment we could find. We were really buying into a lifestyle. Here we have a great apartment and we have restaurants, cafes and bars all nearby and we are close to our work. The opposite side of that is having a house; two different lifestyles.
"Plus, this has got great facilities, the pool and the gym. And there is easy access to the ferries. We can throw some things in an overnight bag and head to Waiheke." They have been in the apartment nearly four years.
"We love it," he says. "It is so easy, you have all the good venues like Masu and Depot, Ostro at Britomart, and then you have the Viaduct. And the apartment is completely lock and leave. You can go away for a month and not have any issues."
Their apartment is on the east-facing side of the building. They have the open-plan living area with lounge, dining and kitchen with Miele appliances.
Along the hallway are the guest bedroom and bathroom, and the master bedroom and en suite with its shower and separate bath.
1511/26 Albert Street, Auckland City. Photo / Supplied
Both bathrooms are tiled in beautiful Italian marble.
Running the length of their apartment is the covered balcony, accessed through glass slider doors from the living area and two bedrooms.
It's here that James says they get their daily dose of vitamin D; and the slider doors between living, bedrooms and the balcony mean they can pull back the curtains if they want natural light to stream.
James says the arrangement with the neighbouring Stamford Plaza hotel and the apartments means they get full benefit of the shared facilities.
"It is great as a hotel and apartments have a vested interest in having a nice pool and gym."
The couple are selling as they have a two-month-old daughter, and want to be closer to their family on the Shore. Not that these apartments aren't great for children, James hastens to add.
There are quite a few families in the building, along with professional couples and retirees. "We will miss the convenience, though, of everything. Both in the building and in the city. Everything is right there."
