Remuera: Lap of luxury

Part of the living area curves out to feel as if it’s floating on the water. Picture / Mark Heaslip

Functional spaces combine with top-notch glamour at this Remuera address to provide ultra-comfortable living for the whole family. 

Holidays abroad, staying in some of the world's most glamorous hotels, provided inspiration for this substantial, luxurious new Remuera home. Architect Ron Sang responded to a brief from the developer who wanted to create a home where he and his family would be happy to live - if indeed they could afford such a property! No expense has been spared in the finer details that look good and make life more enjoyable.

On a large, level site high above the road and surrounding mature trees, it peers out to leafy green views and across Hobson Bay to Rangitoto Island. It's positioned so no neighbours can see inside, yet the owners of this house are treated to a glorious bird's eye view all around.

On the north side, light-filled living areas revel in sun that pours in through expansive glass windows. The formal lounge at the front doubles as a home theatre. At the press of a button, a large screen glides down to take centre stage in front of the gas fireplace. Oak display cabinetry above the polished concrete hearth disappears while all eyes are transfixed on the movies or sport.

A twist of cone-shaped lamps curls down dramatically in a modern chandelier from a double-height space above the dining table at one end of the room. The developer wanted the house to open to the outdoors as much as possible. Glass bifolds reach out from the lounge to a balcony with plenty of room for a barbecue.

A heated swimming pool meets the side of the house, so when the owners are eating at a breakfast bar behind glass in the casual area, they feel as if they're actually sitting out on the water. This large family area incorporates another gas fire and a plasma TV screen on the wall, where children can amuse themselves when the parents are entertaining.

Doors opposite open to a covered terrace for easy outdoor entertaining and the pool. Children can play on a sweep of grassy lawn contained and sheltered by a low wall.

Adjoining the family area, a smart white kitchen is equipped with some impressive appliances. Behind a big, white, stonex benchtop, the double oven is from Italy, and there's a combination Bosch convection and microwave oven as well as a built-in Miele coffee machine. A flush wall of cabinetry conceals an integrated fridge-freezer and big double pantries with ample storage for the bigger family.

Although the office or fifth bedroom is downstairs on the rear side of the house, it's not the dark space you might expect. A wall of glass makes the room light, which opens into a private part of the garden.

The guest bathroom is a tantalising taste of what to expect in the three other bathrooms in the house. Special attention was paid to the tapware, which was imported from Italy. Like little sculptural artworks, the unusual square, stainless-steel handles provide a neat solution and are enticing to hold and touch.

Up the stairs, the family bedrooms are treated like master suites with bathrooms and great fitted storage cupboards. But the piece de resistance is the penthouse bedroom sanctuary on the top level where an extra 10m of the building is used to maximum advantage.

Because it's a family home, explains the developer, this huge area gives parents a place to escape from the world while still being linked to the children by an intercom system. With the bedroom in front, it laps up views over a terrace edged by a glass balustrade.

Always looking for ways to make the house superior to others in the top price range, the developer has managed to include an enormous walk-in dressing room fitted with timber cabinetry featuring spaces customised for everything. The lighting, too, is excellent and skylights flood the enclosed space with natural light.

The bathroom is sheer heaven, cloaked in an earthy fold of bronze tiling. Nothing so mundane as a spout for this bath, which lounges hedonistically in a glassy case to maximise the enjoyment of the view. Water cascades over a stainless-steel plinth and the shower lavishes in a monsoon-like downpour from a large square head. The toilet and bidet are concealed in a separate part of the room.

Although the home is large with three-car garaging and a wine cellar underneath, it doesn't feel too big and palatial. The spaces are functional, designed for everyday use. There's no running downstairs to answer the door. That has been taken care of by a phone/security system that lets you open it from anywhere in the house.

ADDRESS: 122 Arney Rd, Remuera.

FEATURES: New four-level home by architect Ron Sang; elevated for harbour views; heated pool; internal-access three-car garaging and good visitor parking; wine cellar; five bedrooms; four bathrooms, including guest bathroom; luxurious penthouse master suite with walk-in dressing room and large bathroom; home theatre in lounge; water feature with granite detailing; PABX system and intercom; two gas fireplaces; speaker system throughout; automatic lighting system.

SIZE: Floor area 450sq m, excluding decking.

PRICE INDICATOR: High $3 million to early $4 million.

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