Freemans Bay - Hedging their bets

Wide city views in a private setting make this two-storey home a great little hideaway.

27 Arthur Street, Freemans Bay.

Designers Richard Brasell and Darryl Ojala had big ideas when they planted a conifer hedge around the rear boundary of their city-edge property.

Now, 10 years later, those little trees have woven their branches into the deer netting fencing to grow into the tall, wind-resistant hedge envisaged.

Better than that, this hedge has grown tall enough for Richard and Darryl to wield their creative touch with hedge-clippers.

Two strategic cut-outs mean they have jaw-dropping views of the Sky Tower at the end of their garden and abundant morning sun into their downstairs bedroom while still enjoying privacy from neighbours.

Their vision and patience has paid handsome dividends.

Downstairs the garden vista takes in a sub-tropical microclimate including original, fruitful banana palms, and a garden sculpture by Walter Yeoman.

Upstairs, Auckland's cityscape bursts into view above the rear hedge and the row of fragrant potted deck-top gardenias in the foreground.

``It's not all about this; it's all about that,'' Richard declares, sweeping his arm around their living area to the great outdoors. ``It's a beautiful big city view and it keeps you thinking expansively.

You can sit down with a drink and relax, and you'd almost think it's New York out there.''

Inside, there's a cosmopolitan charm about the house that is far removed from when they bought it, complete with its ``lime green, yellow and purple bits''.

You enter at the upper level, which contains the living area, while downstairs are two bedrooms and a supersize bathroom, clad in marine-grade aluminium.

Richard and Darryl are known professionally as Brasell + Ojala and for their stoneware/ceramics showroom Artedomus.

At home they have given their house the popular dark-stained floors/white walls treatment and let furniture and art do the talking. Clever design is evident the minute you step inside from the courtyard entry.

The business end of the kitchen is out of sight behind bi-fold doors on the wall behind the honed Italian stone island bench.

Designed as a piece of furniture, this bank of cupboards disguises pull-out storage shelves, the pull-out pantry, fridge and, behind double bi-folds, the oven and hob installed into a stainless steel work top.

The Artedomus-trademark glass mosaic splash back tiles were found by Richard and Darryl during a trip to Argentina.

There's more storage in the built-in, low-slung marble-topped drawers that are, from one perspective, an extension of the kitchen and, from another, part of the lounge area.

Dining here is an al fresco affair - in summer beneath the awnings and on warmer winter evenings beneath the heater. In the harshness of mid-winter, the interior focus changes and that island bench comes into its own as the dining table.

Friends cannot believe that they're leaving a house they both love, but Richard thinks that it would be dreadful if people thought they always stayed the same.

Now their creative sights are set on much bigger views with plans for a coastal home north of Auckland. ``It's time for us to move and do something new.''

VITAL STATISTICS

BEDROOMS: 2

BATHROOMS: 1

GARAGES: *

SIZE: Land 233sq m, house 107sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: Interest expected above the 2005 CV of $600,000. Auction September 27.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 11-11.45am, Wed 6-6.45pm.

ON THE WEB: www.bayleys.co.nz # 43366

CONTACT: Karen Spires and Patrick McCarthy, Bayleys, Karen 027 273 8220, Patrick 027 233 3988.

FEATURES: Apartment living in two-storey character home with city views. Living area opens to full-width deck, main bedroom opens to deck and manicured garden.

*No garage but off-street parking for 1 car.