Westmere: Seaside in the city

87A, B & C West End Road, Westmere. 

 
Finding a property near the CBD with access to the water is easier said than done, so when this owner discovered one he had to move fast. By Estelle Sarney.  

It's a brave man who buys a house without first showing it to his wife, but that's what John Petersen did the first time he saw this property in Westmere. 

So convinced was he that he had finally found what he and wife Elena had spent years looking for, that he wrote out a cheque on the spot. 

"Then I raced home and told my wife, who was pregnant at the time, 'I've bought a house - you have to come and see it right now.'" 

Elena came, saw, and could understand why her husband had been so rash. The large, northwest facing section in a sheltered nook of Coxs Bay led right down to the water's edge where a boatshed and boatramp lay waiting. And the view across the harbour to the Birkenhead and Beach Haven hills reminded them of the Coromandel. 

"She thought the Lockwood house that was there was a bit old, but I told her we'd move that off and build a magical home," recalls John. "Then we noticed the villa at the road frontage and asked who that belonged to, and the agent said 'That's yours too. It comes with the property.'" 

The villa turned out to be one of the first farmhouses of the area, and is now in two character flats. 

At first, though, it provided a home for the couple and their new baby, Annika, while John stayed true to his word. The Lockwood house was cut in half and, after squeezing out the driveway, was moved up to a new site on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula. He and Elena then set about building their magical house. 

Three years later they had a beautiful, three-level home that makes the most of its unique setting. The northwest face is almost entirely glass to soak up the view, and doors open onto decks on all three levels. 

The master suite takes up the top floor, the kitchen, dining and living area is on the middle, entry level floor, and downstairs even the children's rooms open to the view and a lawn, enjoyed by Annika, now 6, and her little brother Denver, 3. 

"I grew up with a view, and I wanted my children to have that too," says John. "I hope it's something they'll remember once they're grown up." 

John travelled from Los Angeles "to enjoy the Kiwi lifestyle" about 20 years ago. He met Elena, who comes from Belarus between Poland and Russia, on an overseas trip, and brought her back to New Zealand to live. 

This country is home to them now, and they wanted their house to have a homely feel. Wooden floors in the main living area, carpet in the bedrooms and earthy colours on the walls give warmth. The couple also brought the outdoors in by continuing a stream by the front door into the foyer. 

"Water is very soothing and therapeutic, and when you come in from work you are greeted by water at the door and the view of water out the windows. You immediately relax," says John. 

A huge rumpus room is also on the middle level, featuring a home theatre and a gas fire. The children jump at the chance to have a play on the two pinball machines set up here, and Elena tells of how it provided the perfect venue for a children's disco party. 

The house has state of the art electronics throughout - even the gas fire can be started at the push of a button on the wall. 

But it's the water's edge nature of the house that has provided the family with so much joy. They go swimming from the bottom of the garden, or paddle around to Herne Bay in kayaks. Friends arrive in fizz boats for picnics in the pagoda, which features a barbecue, a wood fire and gas heating for chilly evenings. John rows around to Meola Reef, where he catches snapper to bring home for dinner. 

"We thought we'd be here forever, and put everything into the property that we could possibly want," says John. "But last year we bought a holiday house that is in a very similar situation to this, and we've decided to live there full time." Which frees up their dream home to be enjoyed by someone else. 

"So many city properties we looked at before we found this one had water views, but were on cliff edges. We wanted water you could touch. As soon as I saw this place I knew it would be perfect." 

Vital Statistics: 

BEDROOMS: 4 

BATHROOMS: 3 

GARAGE: 4 

SIZE: Land 1232sq m (approx), main house 500sq m+ (approx). 

PRICE INDICATION: CV (2005) $3.02 million. Auction April 2. 

INSPECT: Sun 4-5pm, Wed 6-7pm. CONTACT: Pene Milne or Nicola Bull, Kellands, ph 021 919 940 (Pene) or 021 474 645 (Nicola). 

FEATURES: Three-year-old northwest facing home with direct access to the water, and its own boatshed and boatramp. Rumpus/media room with gas fire, office, children's playroom. Barbecue pagoda with wood fire and outdoor heating. Villa on front part of section, private from main house, is in two flats. Rent appraisal indicates a combined income of $32,000-$35,000 pa.