SCHOOL ZONES:
Cockle Bay School, Somerville Intermediate, Howick College.
CONTACT:
Chris Robinson, Bayleys, 027 499 2057 or 538 0043.
As a teenager, Geoff Thompson regularly sailed off Howick Beach and would gaze up at the grand home known as The Cliffs.
"It would have been the late 50s or early 60s," says Geoff. "I belonged to the Howick Sailing Club and often used to look up at the houses around the bay and this one was the most prominent and I used to admire it."
Those memories came flooding back in 2008 when he saw that the property was up for sale, and he convinced wife Barbara that they should take a look.
"The following morning we were here and when we walked up to the house as soon as I put my foot on the first step I knew I was buying it," Geoff says.
Barbara says: "All I said was, 'Where is the money coming from?' because it was going to be major."
She says the previous owners, who had lived there for 46 years, had not kept on top of maintenance so the house needed some joinery and timber replaced or repaired as well as a total repaint, reroof, new carpet and curtains.
By the same token, she says the house hadn't been altered too much so they had a home with good bones to work with as they undertook projects such as returning the skirting boards and architraves that had been removed as well as rebuilding ceilings in keeping with the original board and batten ceilings.
While this work was undertaken, the couple took the chance to insulate the ceilings and most of the external walls. They also restored all the sash windows.
Barbara says that rather than put in heat pumps that would have spoiled the home's aesthetic, they installed central heating with discreet floor vents. A subtle modern addition is the built-in sound system with in-wall speakers in the lounge and kitchen/dining area but that has been one of their few concessions to modernity.
Image 1 of 9: Restoration and modern additions to character home have been a labour of love
Built in 1900 for the Gilmour family, the kauri villa is a Grade II listed building with the council, which has come in handy as the Thompsons have qualified for grants for some of their restoration work.
Geoff says: "The council has been very supportive of our intent to restore the property. In terms of character and size, it's one of the best homes in Howick."
With a 3.6m stud, the villa is light and airy and has a wide hallway that shows off the home's kauri floorboards.
Through double glass doors off the hallway, the spacious main living area has sea views and French doors opening to a wraparound veranda.
"This is where we sit in the evening with a glass of wine and just enjoy the view," says Barbara of the seaward-facing veranda.
Opposite the lounge, also through double doors, is the dining room that flows into the modern country-style kitchen by Jag Kitchens. Large doors open from the kitchen to the outdoor dining area, a walled and paved patio with raised garden beds by Green Republic Landscapes.
Viburnum, michelias and buxus help to define the structure of this area. A paved path runs along to the raised beds where the couple grow herbs and salad greens.
As well as a bedroom at the front of the house, the home has three bedrooms at the rear with one of them set up as an office. The master bedroom opens to the veranda and has an ornate fireplace as does one of the other bedrooms.
While the bathroom and separate toilet were modernised, tongue and groove panelling has been retained and a traditional colour palette employed.
