Grey Lynn Heights: So cute

Conveniently located and with fabulous family living areas, this classic villa is the essence of character and modern touches combined. By VICKI HOLDER.

On a prominent corner site in Grey Lynn Heights, this classic two-storey villa has invited curiosity ever since it was built by biscuit king John Aulsebrook in 1897. For him this was the latest town home and the essence of modern living close to the city.

For its current owners, who have lived here for three years, it's still a great place to be. Mum loves it for its convenience and its great spaces for a family. It's also homely and pretty, she says.

The children love playing in the big, private back yard, screened from the road by a thick canopy of native trees. A playhouse in one corner provides hours of fun and a huge old magnolia trees gives shelter above the sandpit. Even better, there's plenty of fun to be had on the steep balustrade, which sends them shooting down from the bedrooms upstairs and deposits them in the living areas.

While it retains its beautiful original character, the home has something most villa-lovers are forced to do without. The internal-access double garage is a bonus that probably wouldn't be permitted in Grey Lynn today, had it not already been built.

A large, pale blue, sarked, lean-to living area, which soaks up the sun to the rear, looks original with its battened ceiling and kauri floors. However, it was built in the 1980s to add space and house a huge farmhouse kitchen. Modern appliances have been added. Both sides of the living area open through french doors to covered porches, which extend the floor area. Glazing on the roof of one of these terraces ensures the western sun floods inside, until it finally drops beneath the horizon over the Waitakere Ranges in the distance.

A servery from the kitchen opening through glass panels suggests that the living area behind was previously used as a dining room. As casual people, these owners prefer to use this intimate space - warmed by a traditional kauri fire - as a TV room. That way, the children can keep their noise to themselves while the adults can enjoy the peace and quiet in the adjacent room.

Another room off the hallway with a fireplace might have once been another living area or a fourth bedroom. Close to the front door, stacked with shelves and cupboards built around the fireplace, it works well as an office.

When the owners moved in, they repainted most rooms to give a contemporary feel. The layout already worked well for their purposes, but since they've been here they've added a second bathroom upstairs, which was designed by architect Malcolm Walker. It's a small room but beautifully detailed with jarrah floors and benchtop beside a large, square, porcelain basin. With deep drawers, a storage tower beside the basin keeps everything tidy. Small black tiles are arranged around the toilet and the walls and floor of the shower. The room gains so much afternoon sun, the owners decided their original white tiled scheme would add too much glare.

Having enjoyed working with Malcolm Walker, the owners decided to further extend their living space. Resource consent for a big covered veranda off the living area was gained in March and the owners have a two-year time slot to carry out the work.

Three bedrooms upstairs all have surprisingly good storage in double wardrobes, while a linen cupboard on the landing provides extra space. The master bedroom has tall sash windows and french doors that open to the roof. Two children's bedrooms open to the balcony that looks out to the road. The curtain treatments in beautiful fabrics drop from the ceiling to the floor for an elegant touch in all three rooms. Simple natural linen drapes give sophisticated allure in the master. The little girl's room features white curtains with gold stars and the little boy has cowboys on his.

Advanced for its era, this spacious, good-looking home in a central location has kept up with the times. Now it awaits the changes a new owner might bring.

Vital Statistics

ADDRESS: 79 Crummer Rd, Grey Lynn Heights.

FEATURES: Classic two-storey villa with two living areas, large covered terraces and resource consent for veranda addition; four double bedrooms or three plus study; two fireplaces; internal-access double garaging; two bathrooms - one by architect Malcolm Walker; well-oriented for sun; old scullery at end of garden used for storage; laundry behind cupboard doors in hallway.

SIZE: Land area 556sq m.

AUCTION: 2pm, July 9, at Bayleys' Maritime Square auction rooms.

AGENT: Tim Collins Smith, Bayleys. Ph 309 6020 bus; 021 909 149 mob.