SCHOOL ZONES:
Mellons Bay School, Bucklands Beach Intermediate, Macleans College.
CONTACT:
Angela Rudling, Bayleys, 0274 770 176.
Living in Whitford, Susanne Lee and husband David would often drive past the grand home on Macleans Rd and Susanne in particular was always intrigued with it.
"I always admired the house," she says. "Every time we drove past David had to slow down so I could have a look at it."
So when it came on the market more than 12 years ago, she jumped at the chance to put her stamp on the property after the home had been extended and refurbished.
Susanne says the previous owners had enlarged the 1950s timber home and rebuilt it in brick.
"I think it was the farmhouse originally and it was much smaller but still had a lot of colonial charm," says Susanne. "The previous owners put on the garage wing and the new sitting room and they built the cottage and lived in that while everything else was done to the house."
The previous owners also put in a heated swimming pool and a floodlit tennis court with pavilion.
With a passion for gardening, Susanne set about framing the grand home with appropriate grounds.
"There wasn't much there when we moved in," she says. "There was a whole lot of olive trees that we cut down and mondo grass that we removed. There was a huge Norfolk pine out the back that was interfering with the neighbour's drainage so we had that removed and suddenly we had a view."
Susanne says they have planted out the property with maples -- one of her favourites -- magnolias, clematis and roses.
"It's an English style of garden and it suits the home. It's a deciduous garden and it looks great in spring."
Image 1 of 11: Stop to smell the flowers in the English-style garden, says Graham Hepburn. Photos / Ted Baghurst
The landscaping and replanting project can be seen at the front of the home behind the double-gated brick wall. There is a return driveway that arcs through established grounds that feature a swathe of lawn and maple trees.
It's this look of a grand country manor that makes this property stand out in a suburban setting, with Macleans College just down the hill.
With its brick facade and stained glass windows, the home has an imposing street presence but its from the rear that the scale of the property can be truly appreciated. With views over the tennis court and swimming pool out to the Hauraki Gulf, the home steps down the slope in three levels with multiple balconies and massive living spaces.
The downstairs ballroom has a sprung wooden floor and Susanne says they have used it for a games room and entertaining space. This large room opens to the rear patio and is warmed by an open fire.
On the mid-level, the kitchen and living spaces open to north-facing terraces that enjoy sweeping views. A wide set of steps takes you down to the back lawn, with the swimming pool straight ahead and the tennis court off to the left. Upstairs, three bedrooms have en suites and enjoy north-facing views best appreciated from the central balcony.
As well as the guest cottage, there is a loft above the garage that can provide extra accommodation or serve as a studio.
With Susanne and David now in their late 70s, they feel it is time to downsize, although Susanne hasn't given up on her gardening.
"I've had both hips replaced so it was really getting a bit big to manage and I found it hard getting back up to the house from the bottom of the property," she says. "But at our new place it's flatter and I am on to my third big garden now."
