Mt Eden: Star gazing

Estelle Sarney finds a relatively new home in a suburb renowned for the old, with a surprising feature best enjoyed at night.

28a Wairiki Road, Mt Eden.

Lisa Powlesland and Marty Howard just assumed they would buy a villa or bungalow when they started scouring Mt Eden for a home five years ago.

The suburb is packed with them, and anything under 30 years old is a rarity. So when an agent showed them an architecturally designed home that had been standing for only three years, they had to adjust their thinking.

"We had a look and thought 'Actually, this is really cool'," recalls Marty. "I saw the low maintenance and thought it might be better than living in an old house."

"Because it was designed by an architect [Derek Dissmeyer] every bit of space is used really well," adds Lisa. "And it's on the same road as the children's school. I can stand at the letterbox and watch them go in the gate."

The two level cedar and plaster house is concealed from the street on a back section. Once inside the front door you are drawn into the family area off the kitchen - it is double height with big windows above and below, giving it the feel of an atrium. Light and sun pour in here, which heats up the whole house, although there are blinds for the hottest summer days. Bifold doors can be pulled back to open this area to one of two courtyards - this one faces north.

"It's been a great party house because everything flows and opens indoors and out," says Marty.

The striking black and white kitchen features a granite benchtop and a double oven with a four burner hob and even an indoor barbecue grill.

"I would never have thought to install the grill, but I'm really going to miss it," says Lisa. "I use it heaps because it's such a healthy way to cook."

On the other side of the kitchen is the formal dining area and the second lounge, which opens onto the second, west facing courtyard.

Lisa's office is next to the lounge. A downstairs bathroom near the internal entry from the garage has come in handy for rinsing off muddy children.

Upstairs is a hallway with the three children's bedrooms at one end, plus another bathroom, this one featuring a double bath big enough to take two or three kids at once.

The master bedroom is at the other end of the hallway, with its own en suite and a balcony under the trees.

Marty loves the glass ceiling above the hallway.

"I get up for our baby Lucy at night, and she always looks up at the stars and the moon as she's going off to sleep."

The family is moving only because they want to get into Auckland Grammar zone for Lisa's sons, Jonathon, 9, and Brandon, 12.

"We've been going around looking at old villas again, and we're not sure about them anymore," laughs Lisa. "It's been fantastic living in a new house that's so highly speced. Every day it feels like you're living in luxury."

Vital Statistics

BEDROOMS: 4

BATHROOMS: 3

GARAGE: 2

SIZE: Land 512 sq m, house 191sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: Interest expected above $690,000. Auction October 19.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 1.30-2.15pm.

CONTACT: Charlotte Marshall or James Marshall, Bayleys, ph 631 1888 bus, 0274 808 525 (Charlotte), 021 404 788 (James).

FEATURES: Eight year old plaster and cedar home, architecturally designed over two levels. Separate office, two living areas. In the same street as Mangawhau School and walking distance to Auckland Normal Intermediate.