Fit for an indie princess

14 Belmont Terrace, Remuera, Auckland. Photo / Fiona Goodall, Getty Images.

14 BELMONT TCE REMUERA

4

2

1*

SIZE: Land 556sq m, house (approx) 211sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: CV $1.91 million.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 1.30-2.15pm.

ON THE WEB: https://www.barfoot.co.nz/588025

SCHOOL ZONES: Newmarket School, Remuera Intermediate, double grammar.

CONTACT: Verena Lobb, 027 522 0773, and Lisa MacQueen, 021 221 8622, Barfoot & Thompson.

AUCTION: Feb 22.

*Plus osp for 2.

Ali and Rob Nikkel joke that millions of people have seen their backyard. In 2011 the couple's daughter, Chelsea, who works as a musical artist under the name Princess Chelsea, filmed a video in their hot tub and around the pool and subtropical garden. She named the anti-smoking clip The Cigarette Duet and put it on YouTube. "And it went viral," says Ali. "It's now been viewed more than 33 million times."

Fifteen years ago, the house and garden featured as the cover story of Your Home & Garden magazine. The story showed the fruits of the previous owner's labour. She'd worked hard to renovate the late 1800s house, melding together its heritage style and adding the pool and lush garden.

Nearly eight years ago, it was this oasis of a garden that Ali spied in a newspaper real estate ad. She and Rob were living in Milford and were looking to buy again on the North Shore, but the couple were in Remuera and decided at the last minute to head to the open home in Belmont Tce. "It was the middle of winter, but it looked like a mini resort and we thought we could imagine ourselves here," Ali recalls.

In the years since then, Ali and Rob have loved their time in the house -- in winter and in summer. "In winter, we sit inside with the fire going and look out at the garden around the pool," Ali says. "When it's raining the leaves glisten in the tropical garden. It's just beautiful."

In summer, they open all the bifold doors off the kitchen, dining and living rooms and enjoy an easy flow out to the deck and paved pool area. The Nikkels have decommissioned the hot tub since Chelsea filmed her viral hit. "There are grounds here, but there's no lawn to mow," Ali says.

Image 1 of 8: Travel bug means late-1800s home which has starred in a hit music video is on market. Photo / Fiona Goodall, Getty Images

The Nikkels have put their own stamp on the property. They dug out old bamboo stumps down one side of the section, built a new fence and added a vegetable garden. Inside, they repainted and added new wallpaper, carpet and curtains. They also rebuilt the stairs to make them feel more generous and comfortable.

Upstairs, they installed a new bathroom, using Italian tiles, a standalone bath and fittings that are period-style, but still with a contemporary look. "It's fabulous sitting here in the bath and looking through the shutters outside. Nobody can see in," Ali says.

The master bedroom is also upstairs, as well as a second double bedroom, which the Nikkels have used as a dressing room.

The third bedroom is off the entrance hall downstairs and the fourth bedroom, an elegant space with dark-painted panelling, doubles as a study. There is also a bathroom downstairs.

The long, slim living room is divided into different zones with seating. The section nearest the front of the house is set up with a projector and functions as a media room. By sheer fluke, Ali says she's able to see the images from the kitchen -- what's projected on to the wall is reflected on to a mirror above the fireplace, which anyone standing at the kitchen's island bench can see.

Rob says he has really enjoyed how handy their home is to everything. It's very close to his work at the Olympic Pools & Fitness Centre. "And it's so handy to get to the city on the train," he says.

He also points out the single garage and double off-street parking outside, a rarity in this heritage street so close to Newmarket.

Ali and Rob are keen to travel more and say they no longer need such a generously sized house.