SCHOOL ZONES:
Kohimarama Primary School, Selwyn College, St Ignatius Catholic School.
CONTACT:
Simon Siddells, Ray White, 027 605 8067.
When Mark and his wife were planning a move from Wellington to Auckland, they expected a lengthy house hunting process.
"In Wellington we had looked for a long time because it's really hard to find a house with a flat section and access from the street," says Mark.
"But this was the first house we saw in Auckland and we flew up on a Sunday and pretty much bought it the same day."
At the end of a right-of-way, the Allan Shanahan-designed home sits in a sheltered north-facing setting. This aspect and the many outdoor and indoor living areas appealed to the couple, who knew the home would adapt to the changing needs of their two children.
Downstairs there are three living spaces: an open plan family room/kitchen, which adjoins the formal lounge, and a TV room beside the front entrance with a glazed wall looking out to the driveway. This room would also work as an office.
On the opposite side of the foyer there is access to the double garage.
With multi-paned doors separating it from the lounge, the kitchen/family room has a sunny window seat and its tiled floors flow easily to the tiled north-facing patios sheltered by a pergola.
The formal lounge, which has a gas fire, also has bifold doors opening to the patio. From here you can move out to the lawn surrounded by mature trees or head right and step down to the sheltered and private pool area, which has a deck built around mature palms.
Image 1 of 7: Family-friendly home within cooee of a pristine city beach quickly captivated its choosy Wellington house buyers. Photos / Ted Baghurst
From this deck you can move into the two downstairs bedrooms, which have been the domain of the children. There is also a bathroom and laundry on this level.
On the top level there are two more bedrooms and you reach this via a landing that has been set up as a casual lounge but also could serve as an office nook. Off this lounge is yet another outdoor space, which overlooks the pool and has a view across the neighbourhood.
"We tend to use this deck in summer because it's a great place to sit when the sun comes around in the evening," says Mark.
He thinks the tiled en suite to the master bedroom was upgraded not long before they bought. It features his and hers vanities, a built-in bath and glass shower.
As well as a walk-in wardrobe, the master has north-facing windows and a shuttered cutout that overlooks the lounge.
Mark says they have changed little about the home, which was built in 1997, apart from freshening up the paint.
However, they have improved the landscaping by creating a planted area and path at the front of the home that connects with an access way to Taranaki Rd, and creating better flow at the rear from the paved patio to the lawn. Access to Taranaki Rd is a bonus, making it easier to get to the beach, local cafes and restaurants. And Kohimarama School is only a couple of minutes' walk away.
With their two children getting on with their lives, the couple are downsizing.
