Manly: Meant to be

They were looking for a house, but a bare section came this couple's way and has transformed into an expansive family home.

102-104 Ladies Mile, Manly. Fortune smiled on Rob and Rose McGregor as they built then extended their family home near the Manly beachfront.

But in one of those curveballs that life throws at you, just as they've got their home how they want it and were preparing to settle down for a while, circumstances have forced them to sell.

The couple was living in Remuera six years ago but wanted to move to Whangaparaoa for its more relaxed lifestyle. They were looking to move into their new house before Rose was due to give birth a week prior to Christmas 2000, but couldn't find the right home on the right piece of land.

On their travels, they came across the bare, flat section at 102 Ladies Mile - just 80m from Manly beach - and when they found out that Regency Design Homes could design, project-manage and build their home before Christmas they decided to go for it.

The McGregors were pleased to see both baby and house delivered on schedule.

They loved the high stud, the curved rooflines and the space afforded by their five-bedroom plaster home.

"We wanted a relaxed beach house but one that suited the needs of a large family," says Rob. "We've never been shy on colour and we wanted something that reflected the beach, so we went for a bright golden sand-coloured house with sea-blue trim and roof."

The McGregors had another slice of fortune when they asked their neighbour at No. 104 about selling his property.

"He was overseas on sabbatical," says Rob. "I emailed him and said, 'If you're ever thinking of selling, let us know.' He came back and said, 'Well, actually, we are thinking of selling.' So I said, 'You get a valuation on the property and I'll get one done too and we'll split the difference."'

After the deal was done the McGregors removed the existing house, then extended their home in 2002. They added a state of the art home theatre and an office, and enlarged the kitchen/dining area that they equipped with a high-end kitchen.

In 2004 they built a two-storey studio at No. 104 that has an upstairs with a kitchenette, built-in dining booth, a large lounge and a deck over the carport.

"We've got four kids, aged five to 15, so effectively we set it up as a party room so they could have their friends over and not be going in and out of the house," says Rob. "We wanted to try to create a home where the kids would bring their friends back to and you would know where they were."

Having done that, the McGregors have since decided to move south.

"We were always planning a move down to the Bay of Plenty one day," says Rob. "And Rose wants to start a business down there."

The couple has decided to "bite the bullet" now and make the move.

Vital Statistics

BEDROOMS: 6

BATHROOMS: 4

GARAGE: 5

SIZE: Land 2024sq m on two titles, house 407sq m, studio 119.7sq m.

PRICE: CV (2005) $1.765 million.

AUCTION: March 1.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 3-3.45pm, Wed 6-6.45pm.

CONTACT: Leanne O'Meara, Bayleys Manly, ph 09 428 3302 bus, 0274 533 533, 09 427 4991 a/h, or Judy McKnight Bayleys Orewa, ph 09-4265911
bus, 027 221 8350, 09 4274347 a/h.

FEATURES: A large family home plus a studio set on two titles of 1012sq m each. The main house has a state of the art cinema, games room, rumpus and a designer kitchen flowing to outdoor entertaining area covered by a louvered canopy. The studio is on the adjacent site, which has space for a pool or tennis court. Property also has a water bore for irrigation.