Remuera: Child’s play

An exhaustive search for a house ended when the youngest member of the family got her way.

97b Orakei Road, Remuera. Jenny Johanson and Gus Cummings looked at about 55 houses in search of their new home in New Zealand, but their two-year-old daughter couldn't see past this one.

Young Bethany, now aged 5, knew what she liked - namely the pool with its riverstone edging, set under a majestic puriri tree.

"We looked at houses from the city out to Howick and even Whitford, but Bethany kept saying she liked this place, and we kept coming back to it, too," says Gus, smiling at his daughter. "And she was right - it had everything we wanted."

The Melbourne family moved to Auckland for Gus's work three years ago, and are now, somewhat reluctantly, moving back to Melbourne for the same reason.

"People described Auckland to us as a collection of villages strung together with a terrible road system, and I think that's true," grins Gus. "But it means that wherever you live you're close to things. Bethany's kindy is 2km away, my work is 4km away, the supermarket's 1km away. You don't have that kind of proximity in Melbourne, and we'll miss it."

They'll miss this house, too, which friends have jokingly called "the Tardis" because of its deceptive size, like Dr Who's phonebox. Built on three levels, there are unexpected rooms and spaces that reveal themselves as you explore.

At the front door you are greeted with a riverstone panel on the wall, which is repeated around the logburner in the sunken formal lounge, and around the pool. It's a nice touch that adds an earthy texture to what was a brand new house when Jenny and Gus moved in.

Gus's favourite space is the "man cave" he's created between the wine cellar and the double garage on the lower level. It is part office, part memorabilia showcase.

Jenny loves a sunny space on the middle level that contains the kitchen, family dining and living area. It opens on one side to a barbecue courtyard, and on the other to the pool.

"It's been great for entertaining - we open all the doors and people can drift between the different areas," says Jenny.

A guest bedroom with its own en suite is at the far end of this level, a layout Jenny says has worked well for guests visiting from Australia and Gus's home country of Scotland.

At the top of the stairs is a space that the family has set up with a keyboard, but could also be a children's playspace or an office nook. There are two more bedrooms up here, another bathroom, and the master bedroom with walk-in wardrobe and en suite.

All the bedrooms have a lovely outlook past the puriri tree and across local trees and rooftops.

"The puriri looks beautiful in spring with its dark pink blossoms," says Jenny. "Native birds come and drink the nectar."

Uplights enable the tree to be a feature even at night.

And Bethany's favourite spot? The pool, of course, which is heated to extend its use either side of summer.

"She's loved it so much we had to put an extra lock on the gate to stop her clambering in when we're not watching her," says Jenny. "She's become a real water baby."


Vital Statistics:

BEDROOMS: 4

BATHROOMS: 4

GARAGE: 2+

SIZE: Land 650sq m, house 367 sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: Interest expected in the high $1 millions. Auction May 23.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 3-3.30pm.

CONTACT: Megan Jaffe, Harcourts, ph 021 611 461, 520 8103.

FEATURES: Three-year-old home with heated pool and treetop outlook from the top storey. Separate formal lounge and dining areas. Guest suite separate from other bedrooms. Office/hobby space, wine cellar, oversize garage and off-street parking.