When Dave and Vinka bought the home about a year ago they benefitted from the work put in by developer Andrew Kolovos.
He and his building team jacked up the house to create the large basement garage, improved the north-facing decks on both levels, and put in a heated swimming pool.
In consultation with heritage specialists and the Auckland Council he refurbished the home with a modern take on period style.
As Andrew said at the time: "It was a major renovation, but this house was so soundly built, it was solid and had lots of beautiful details. The stairs, the windows were all sound, the fireplaces. I wanted to retain the integrity of the building, but not in a museum way. It needed to be modern, but still be old-style."
That attention to detail starts in the foyer, which boasts a chandelier imported from Italy and has been painted in neutral colours that highlight the character wooden features such as the sweeping balustrade that winds upstairs.
One of the few changes the couple made can be seen around the front door where they had stained glass put in that is in keeping with other examples of stained glass in the house.
While most of the rooms have a period feel, the kitchen is the modern element in the main living area with a mix of white and wooden cabinetry and benchtops. This space opens to a large deck, more like a viewing platform overlooking the harbour.
Image 1 of 9: This elegant villa has wide view of the harbour and a close-up view of its own heated swimming pool. Photos / Ted Baghurst
The Clemmetts added shutters and a screen to the loggia to make it more weatherproof.
Vinka says: "It's a great house for entertaining. I had my 60th birthday here and we had a sit-down dinner for 24 people with three chefs working away in the kitchen and a band in the corner of the living room.
"When we first looked at the house I thought it was going to be too big but while it's a grand home it is not a huge home. It's been a great house for everything -- it's north-facing, has two living rooms, has views that can't be built out, a heated swimmming pool, central heating and a park for the dogs down at the end of the road."
From the deck, stairs wind down to the swimming pool, which is framed by hedging.
Opposite the main living area is what Vinka calls "the snug", a smaller lounge that could also serve as a media room. Also on this level, daughter Natasha has her own bedroom wing with an en suite featuring beautiful period-style bathroomware and dramatic dark tiling. The main bathroom and master bedroom en suite have the same meticulously cafted look.
Upstairs, "the turret room" has been set up as a sitting room but would make a fantastic child's bedroom. With its wide views, Vinka says this is probably the room where the harbourmaster kept an eye on comings and goings out on the water.
On this floor there are three bedrooms, with the master having even more spectacular views from its balcony than the deck below.
