100a Coates Ave, Orakei, Auckland. Photo / Ted Baghurst
Mike and Rosemary Tisdall had open minds six years ago when they commissioned architects Ponting Fitzgerald to design a new home for them.
They had bought a section in Orakei, a few blocks back from the sea.
However, there were three stipulations; it had to have excellent indoor-outdoor flow, lots of storage space and a contemporary apartment vibe.
The result is a smart, stone, cedar and zinc property that looks - as Mike and Rosemary describe it themselves, like a box, or series of boxes, when viewed from the street, but behind the solid, pivoting front door lies a interior that confounds expectations in every way, starting with a tall, light-filled atrium, currently home to Mike's treasured grand piano.
The enormous kitchen is basically a row of clever pod-like workspaces that can be closed when not in use, resulting in a sleek and streamlined effect, with copious drawers and cupboards.
Both Mike and Rosemary enjoy the induction hob and the huge amount of bench space.
"It's definitely been our dream kitchen," she says.
A light, bright dining area is next, with a partial wall, behind which lies the open-plan living area, a space that literally brings the outside in, or looking at it another way, the inside out.
Huge glass doors can be opened completely to the deck and the garden with its tiled pond (or paddling pool) beyond, providing room for dozens of guests.
"In effect, the garden is the outside walls - which is exactly what we wanted," says Mike.
"The trees are still growing but it's already very private."
A cutting-edge gas fireplace keeps this back part of the house warm in winter, but actually isn't needed often as the room is a veritable sun-trap and very effectively retains heat.
Mike and Rosemary are huge fans of built-in furniture and here, as is the case throughout the house, there is loads of room for displaying artefacts, ornaments and books.
Stepping up a level, back near the front door, the rest of the house is revealed.
The first of two elegant bathrooms is fully tiled in a deep charcoal grey. It's a colour both Mike and Rosemary love and they have used it in various ways throughout the property.
There's a separate laundry with a little courtyard to hang washing, and access to the double garage.
Add to that two sunny bedrooms, one of which doubles as an office with built-in fittings, and there's also a designated storeroom with floor-to-ceiling shelving.
"It means we can keep documents, the grand-children's toys and lots of other bits and pieces all in one neat place," says Rosemary.
The master suite overlooks the back garden - with Rangitoto beyond, and has a generous "his and hers" walk-in wardrobe/dressing room and a floating wall behind the bed.
It was going to be a solid wall," says Mike. "But then we realised that by leaving a gap at the top, the room felt more somehow more spacious.
Mike and Rosemary are moving because the property is bigger than they need and plan to build again, a few kilometres away.
"There are loads of features here that we'll recreate in our new house," says Rosemary.
"This build was a huge success and we've loved living here. The drive along the waterfront to work has been an absolute pleasure and this is a nice quiet street, not far from the beach, shops and schools."