SCHOOL ZONES:
Richmond Road School, Ponsonby Intermediate, Western Springs College.
CONTACT:
Cathy Roselli, 021 750 454, Ray White.
AUCTION:
April 5.
*2 OSP
The bright orange front door at 30 Summer St has earned compliments for Rhona and Martin Clark. "We get so many people commenting on it," says Rhona, who chose a bright colour to "set our villa apart - and the orange complements our stained-glass windows".
The decorative security grille Rhonahad specially made for the entranceway has also been a hit. The grille allows the couple to keep their front door open and let fresh air into the house.
Its design was inspired by the work of Glaswegian artist and architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh, appropriate since Canadian Rhona and Martin met in Scotland.
Martin says there's a lot about Ponsonby that reminds him of his hometown of Corstorphine, a suburb 10 minutes' drive west of central Edinburgh.
"There's such a good community feel here," he says. "And the local shops have that sense of community, too - there are something like three bakeries and even two fairy shops."
It's fair to say Martin and Rhona were more interested in bars, restaurants and shops on the Ponsonby Rd strip, rather than fairy shops, when they first moved to Summer St seven years ago, but the arrival of 19-month-old Cora has put fairies on their radar.
The couple both love Ponsonby and were thrilled to buy this, their first house in New Zealand, after renting in various Auckland suburbs when they emigrated from Scotland a decade ago.
They lived in the house for a couple of years before making any changes. "It's good to live in a house for a little while to figure out the quirky things that grow on you," Rhona says.
Their first project was to add in a new kitchen, with a composite stone benchtop and suite of Bosch appliances.
"I initially wanted a U-shaped kitchen, because that's what we have in the UK, but I am so pleased I was persuaded to have an island bench," Martin says.
Alongside the kitchen, built-in bench seating provides additional storage.
Renovating bathrooms was next, including resurfacing the original clawfoot bath in the family bathroom and freshening up an en suite.
"When we did our renovations, we were keen on keeping the period features," says Rhona.
Case in point is the open fireplace in a guest bedroom with a bay window. Not only is the mantelpiece still there, it's a working fireplace.
Three years ago, the Clarks enhanced a downstairs space to create a carpeted second living area, which looks out to a fernery garden.
"This is our place to chill out," says Rhona. The couple's master bedroom, walk-in wardrobe and en suite are also on this level, as well as a good-sized laundry/cellar and under-stair storage.
"I call it my Harry Potter cupboard. We wanted to maximise every inch of this house," Rhona says.
Outside, there's access to storage under the house. "We call it the garage," says Martin, "because we put everything in it that you would put in a garage, apart from the cars." Parking is catered for with double off-street parking.
More recent renovations have included refreshing the timber floor and building a deck off the open-plan kitchen, dining and living area upstairs.
It looks out to mature natives, creating an oasis in the city. Outdoor speakers and LED lights make the space just as appealing at night.
The Clarks love New Zealand so much they are now citizens. It's now time forthem and staffy-ridgeback Gwen to find a new home in the greater Ponsonby-Grey Lynn area.
"If we could pick this house up and move it, we would," says Rhona.
