22 Bernleigh Terrace, West Harbour, Auckland. Photo / Ted Baghurst
One of the attractions of living in West Harbour is that many residents enjoy views of the upper harbour and back to the city.
And that's what sold Don Edwards on this two-storey, stucco home when he laid eyes on it.
As his wife Kate says: "Our daughter saw it and showed Don and he said, 'That's it, we'll have that house', and I said, 'Wait on, I haven't even seen it yet'."
But when she did see it, she was sold, too.
For Don, who hails from the British town of Stockport, the space the home affords and the views were a revelation.
Add in the fact that palms surround the home and it has a heated swimming pool and it's a world away from his home in Greater Manchester.
"I come from a two-up, two-down home - Coronation Street-style - so it was magic to me," Don says. "When my relations back in the UK see this place, they think I'm a multi-millionaire."
With decks wrapping around two sides of the upper level of the house, they enjoy wide views across the neighbourhood and over the water to the city.
"I can spend hours out there with a book and a glass of wine," says Don.
And he can do that whatever the weather since the couple put in two curved Fresco canopies for shelter from the elements.
Kate says: "The decks are great for little kids, too, because it's safe and they have plenty of room to ride around on their trikes and bikes."
Inside, the large open plan living and dining space has a mixture of timber and Italian tile flooring and flows through the kitchen to a conservatory - with a bar - that opens out to the swimming pool.
For Don, the kitchen's granite benches were a huge attraction when he first looked at the house, and they, along with the double ovens, have had plenty of use in the six and a half years the couple have owned the home.
As Kate says: "At Christmas time we have all the family around and we open all the doors up out to the decks and put the two tables end to end."
Also on this level are a media room - off the conservatory/bar area - the tiled main bathroom, and three bedrooms, including the master, which has a walk-in wardrobe, a tiled en suite and opens out to the covered deck.
On the lower level, Don has his office, which could be another bedroom, beside the front door. And there are two more rooms alongside the double garage, which has storage and a workbench.
"With all the different spaces we have, when we have relatives staying here, there is always somewhere they can do whatever they want and it doesn't intrude on you at all," says Kate.
With mobility becoming an issue for the couple, they have downsized and have to relinquish those treasured views.
Be prepared to go remote and get creative.