SCHOOL ZONES:
Mt Albert Primary School, Kowhai Intermediate, Mt Albert Grammar, Auckland Girls’ Grammar.
CONTACT:
Lisa-Maree Wallen, Ray White, 021 666 741.
*Five off-street spaces
When you've got three young adult sons and a dog the size of a small horse, a spacious home is a must. It was the generous proportions of this Mt Eden villa that first attracted Keri Ropati when she saw it at an open home 18 months ago. After living in a much smaller home with the boys, she was keen the house she was buying with new partner Seamus O'Loan had plenty of space.
"Even the hallway is bigger than usual," she says. "The boys needed more room, and it's been so good having two living rooms, so they can be in another part of the house playing PlayStation and making noise, and we can shut the doors and not hear them."
There's also plenty of room for the dog -- Newfoundland Basil is only one but already weighs 50kg. "You couldn't have a tiny house with such a big dog," says Keri.
Apart from space, the other thing that appealed was the fact that the house had been beautifully renovated by the previous owners, and she, Seamus, Brad, George and Wendell could live in it without having to pick up a paintbrush or a hammer.
"We did get a fence put right around the property and did some landscaping in the garden, but we didn't need to touch the house -- it had all been done so well," says Keri.
The character of the turn-of-the-century villa was enhanced in the recent renovation, with period features like the sash windows, kauri floors and ceiling roses carefully restored. It has a typical wide hallway through the centre of the house, with the four bedrooms off it at the front of the dwelling. The master bedroom has a bay window, dressing room and an open en suite with a walk-in shower that makes this space feel like a luxury hotel.
The family bathroom feels like it belongs in an opulent boutique B&B. The huge tub, walk-in shower with textured tiles and suspended vanity unit all look like they've come out of the pages of an upmarket home and garden magazine.
The formal lounge tends to be used by the boys and is where they hang out with their friends. The centrepiece is a striking fireplace, and there is also a bold black-painted wall. An external door to the wrap-around veranda has proved useful.
Image 1 of 10: This recently renovated and spacious property is ideally arranged for family life
"If the boys are coming home late at night they can come in that way without trekking through the house and waking us all up," Keri says.
The laundry is one of her favourite parts of the home. Unlike some houses, where the laundry is tucked away behind cupboard doors, it is in a separate room with plenty of space to fold and store washing -- crucial with three boys.
The back of the house, an extension added by the previous owners, is the most used part and has a more modern feel. It houses the kitchen, dining area and living room, and features contemporary touches like a concrete hearth in the living area and a stunning black and white marble benchtop in the kitchen. "What I love most about the kitchen is the scullery," says Keri, of the service area behind the main kitchen. "The boys can make a mess back there and the rest of the kitchen stays tidy."
A wall of sliding windows open up to the patio and flat north-facing back lawn, which gets all-day sun."It's so good for entertaining -- we've had some great parties there," says Keri.
The location across the road from Eden Park has been a real bonus for Seamus and the boys, and Keri has appreciated how quick and easy it is to get into town from the property. However, they're selling because Keri -- a personal trainer who works between two fitness studios -- would like to buy a house where she can run her business from home.
"It will be a shame to leave this house because it has been such a joy to live in," says Keri. "We feel very lucky to have had the time here, even if it has been short and sweet."
