Glendowie: Above the birds

Photo / Geoff Dale

Tucked away in a hidden corner of Glendowie is this family home with views of boats and bird life.

Mike Osbourne and his wife Ann have been keeping a secret for the past three years, but now it's time to let people in on it.

They've found an idyllic corner of Auckland's exclusive eastern bays that has views to die for, all-day sun, absolute peace and tranquillity, and yet is still relatively under-developed and affordable.

The couple lived in rented accommodation while they looked for a place in Glendowie.

The moment Mike arrived at a large brick house on the water's edge at the end of Calder Ave, a cul-de-sac, he knew he'd found the perfect spot. The views, in particular, were breathtaking - they extend from the Tamaki Estuary to Half Moon Bay, and you can even see Great Barrier Island and, on a clear day, the Coromandel. Below the property is the Tahuna Torea nature reserve, with its abundant bird life.

"It was a real surprise find, and it turned out to be an absolute gem," he says. "I was looking for somewhere where we could build our dream home and it had everything we wanted - views, sun and privacy. I never even came back for a second look, I was so sure it was the right place."

The Osbournes lived in the house on the property for a year, putting lots of thought into the kind of home they wanted to build. It then took a year to get the plans drawn up and the work organised, and another year for their house, along with a second one on the site, to be constructed.

But before they got the chance to move in, an opportunity arose to buy a tourism business. It was too good to turn down, so the Osbournes are selling up.

"It is a shame because this really is our dream home," says Mike. "But hopefully it will also be someone else's dream home."

Mike and Ann hired architect Crofton Umbers and designer Jenny Dunlop to make their dreams a reality. When it came to the outside of the house, they wanted to steer clear of the plastered, Mediterranean look.

"Being surrounded by such a natural environment, we thought it was important to have something that would fit in and stand the test of time," says Mike. Inspired by the style of Cape Cod homes, he showed Crofton a book of architecture from Nantucket, an island off the cape.

"It turns out that he had the same book," says Mike.

In keeping with a timeless design, they opted for grey-painted cedar weatherboards. They're laid over 7mm marine ply, which, along with the huge eaves and solid block base, gives excellent weather-proofing.

The house is on three levels. On the bottom floor is the internal-access double garage and a large room, complete with galley bathroom, that has many possible uses. It's wired for a ceiling-mounted video projector and surround-sound speaker system, so would be all ready to go as a home theatre. It could also be a fourth bedroom, second living area, kids' playroom or office.

The next floor is the hub of the house. The living and dining areas face north, and have plenty of windows and ranch sliders to make the most of the sun and the views.

The deck is partially covered, giving a loggia feel, and there's lots of room for a large table and chairs, plus a barbecue. "It's also wired for sound out here, so it's a great place to entertain," says Mike.

It's also the perfect spot for whiling away the time watching all the activity on the water. "It could keep you occupied for hours and yet it's so quiet. All you can hear are the birds."

The kitchen is a cook's dream, complete with slide-out racks, double dishwasher drawers, a stove with gas hob and electric oven, granite benchtops and oodles of storage space.

Also on this floor are a huge guest bedroom with en suite, a bathroom and a study leading out to a deck that gets the westerly sun in the evening.

On the top level is the large, main bedroom, with a walk-in wardrobe, en suite and spectacular views. Across the hall is another bedroom with an en suite.

Mike and Ann are delighted with the standard of work on the house, and the little touches that spell quality. These include the cavity sliding doors that create extra space, the neon strip lights in the kitchen shelves and the monsoon shower head in the main bedroom's en suite. There's even a pop-out ironing board in the kitchen island, strategically placed so you can iron while watching TV in the lounge.

"We've thought of everything," says Mike.

Vital Statistics

ADDRESS: 9a Calder Ave, Glendowie.

FEATURES: Brand-new three level home; open plan living/dining area with gas fireplace and wiring for plasma TV; three bedrooms with en suites; guest toilet; study; home theatre/fourth bedroom with en suite; partially covered deck with gas bayonet for barbecue; house wired for sound; laundry; internal-access double garage; underfloor heating.

HOUSE AREA: Approx 297sq m.

TENDER CLOSES: March 23. Interest expected in mid to high $1 millions.

AGENT: Marnie Adams, Bayleys. Ph 309 6020 bus; 021 867 750 mob.