FEATURES:
Family home with three living areas
flowing out to wrap-around decks, plus elevated
views from Remuera to Parnell.
The Dykgraafs christened their Remuera home "the tree house" after they moved in, charmed by its elevated and leafy views.
Anna and Brent Dykgraaf moved to this sunny and quietly set home five years ago, impressed with its peaceful outlook after having lived in a single-level Pt Chevalier home.
"At first we called it 'the tree house' because you feel like you're up in the trees, especially from upstairs," Anna says. "It's quite private, tucked away up this driveway. It's nicely elevated and you get views of Remuera, Parnell and Hobson Bay."
Daughters Sophie, now 8, and Eva, 7, were preschoolers back then and their parents wanted a property in a good school zone. The girls love going to Victoria Avenue School, which is an easy five-minute walk away and has introduced them to lots of neighbourhood friends.
Sophie and Eva now have an 8-month-old sister, Nina, and another sibling due in May. Anna and Brent reckon this predominantly cedar home with a decramastic tile roof has made life easy by being family friendly and low-maintenance.
"Life's really busy," Anna says, "but it's been relaxed, easy living here. We get lovely all-day sun. It's easy to nip down to Parnell Baths or the waterfront."
They're also handy to Newmarket - where Brent works as a banker - and the CBD.
The couple understand there was originally a 1960s house here, which was extensively remodelled. They haven't needed to change much but they've improved the garage by lining it and have recently had some repainting done.
The three-level home is situated up a driveway with another house between it and the road. There are a couple of off-street parking spots out front in addition to the internal-access double garage.
Stairs lead up to the front door on the middle level. Decks wrap around the home's north-facing front and its eastern side. The front deck extends into a good-sized decked courtyard area, edged in subtropical planting and ideal for barbecues.
Brent and Anna say it's been great having the choice of a trio of living spaces when they're entertaining friends and family. A front lounge with a gas fireplace opens wide to the front deck for summer entertaining. The open-plan kitchen-dining-family room has wooden floors and also flows out to the decks. It feels particularly spacious thanks to its elevated angular ceiling.
"It's nice to sit up here with other mothers," says Anna, "because we can easily keep an eye on the children playing out the front."
The kitchen includes granite benchtops and a dish drawer, and opens to the bonus of an additional west-facing covered outdoor dining area. Brent notes, "The way we use the house varies a bit with the seasons. We tend to hang out in the front lounge more in summer when we have people round for barbecues. And we find this rear dining room-lounge cosy in winter."
This third living area opens to the side deck, which has steps down to a lawn. This level also has a bathroom, a laundry and a rear study which could be a fifth bedroom.
The upper level houses four bedrooms, including the master bedroom with ensuite and balcony, and a family bathroom.
The couple are selling because of their expanding family.
