SCHOOL ZONES:
Kohia Terrace School, Auckland Normal Intermediate, Auckland Grammar and Epsom Girls’ Grammar.
CONTACT:
Heather Walton, 021 432 167 and Trenton Hodson, 021 816 953, Ray White.
AUCTION:
March 15 (unless sold prior).
Grey Lynn has its charms, but it's never been known for its spacious, grand homes on large sites, unlike Epsom. A decade ago Kristin Grant and Jason Seymour were living in Grey Lynn with their children, Gemma, then aged 3 and Madeleine, 1. As a family of four, Kristin and Jason were starting to find their compact villa too small. They were also beginning to think long-term about schools.
They decided on a move to Epsom, with its gracious homes and sections, excellent school zones and proximity to private schools. They found a beautiful four-bedroom home on more than a quarter of an acre in Epsom Ave.
Set behind a hedge with a formal garden of port wine magnolia borders, star jasmine and iceberg roses, the 1914 transitional villa/bungalow radiated charm.
"When we walked in we fell in love with it straight away. We thought it gracious and elegant with an incredibly spacious feeling," recalls Kristin. With its high stud and detailing, this home was, and still is, a cut above more modest houses built in the same era.
Although Kristin and Jason don't have extensive knowledge of their home's past, they heard from a local historian this house would have been custom-designed for a family.
There are special touches throughout, such as an original gas lamp in the hall and a vibrant stainless glass window landscape scene which begins in Gemma's room, continues in the master bedroom and culminates in the formal living area. There is beautifully crafted built-in furniture, including beach seats on each side of the wood-burning fireplace in the living room and dressers in the formal dining room.
A set of timber swing doors separates the front part of the hall with the rest of the house. On either side of the door into the formal living room are niches with original hooks, much like a cloakroom. "The historian explained the hall doors would be shut when visitors arrived, someone would take their coats to be hung up and they would be taken directly into the living room."
Image 1 of 7: An elegant home has been seamlessly renovated to enhance its heritage features. Photos / Ted Baghurst
Although Kristin and Jason have redecorated with the help of interior designer Tania Earwaker, they have been very careful to respect the home's heritage features. They enlisted the help of an architect to remove a wall between the formal dining and living rooms, taking care to get the proportions right. A master craftsman matched existing timber detailing the living room with handmade replicas to ensure the renovation looked seamless.
But this house has not been a museum piece, it's been a brilliant family home. Off the formal dining room is a suntrap of an informal living area. The kitchen has french doors out to a veranda, a walk-in pantry and an 900mm Ilve oven, flanked by stainless steel drawers. There's a good-sized laundry and an enormous back yard.
There's plenty of room to store everything. All four bedrooms have built-in wardrobes, there are two linen cupboards and pull-down attic storage.
Kristin says they couldn't want for better schools in the area. The girls both went to Kohia Terrace School and are now at Dio, an easy walk away.
"Mt Eden Village is just getting better and better. It's only a 10-minute walk and we can walk to Newmarket, too," Kristin says.
The family loves the house and the neighbourhood, but are looking to move somewhere with more land. Madeleine is "horse-mad" so Kristin and Jason are examining the possibility of a lifestyle property. "She did ask if she could have a horse in the backyard here," Kristin says. "But that's not really possible."
