Sandringham: Media magnet

This suburban house comes with a fully equipped home theatre, writes Lucy Richmond.

17a Euston Road, Sandringham.

A home theatre is one of those things many a house-hunter dreams about. In this case, not only do you get a home theatre room, you get all the equipment to go with it.
A projection TV and a multi-zone media centre are tucked away in the lower level of this home. The electronic wizardry down here feeds music and satellite television throughout the house.
Owners Jo and Jonny Price are leaving their 32-inch LCD television in the living area, too.

"We thought we'd just leave the electronic stuff as it's all connected with the sound system in the house," says Jo.
"We won't have a home theatre where we're going so there's no point taking all the gear with us."

Jonny is in the import business, and he has moved his operation to Christchurch for a change of lifestyle.
"I'm from the South Island, from Nelson originally, and I just want to get back there," he says.

The couple bought number 17a two years ago. Down a right-of-way, you would never know this place existed. Approximately three years old, it's split between three levels with an ultra-modern interior and two double garages, which is something to brag about when you're living in the city.

"That's what attracted us to it," says Jo. "We loved the modern feel to the place and all the storage space."
The front door opens straight into the living and dining area on the middle level. This contemporary space is separated from the smart kitchen by a staircase heading up to the top floor.
The LCD TV sits on a deep pink feature wall, which makes a statement in the living area.

"Jonny loves pink and he wanted a pink wall, so that's one of our touches," says Jo.
The couple put carpet in the lounge, and installed a gas fire, to take the chill off the polished concrete, says Jo.
The adjoining kitchen, which opens to a balcony, has oodles of storage and a mobile island bench.
Jonny and Jo use the bedroom and bathroom on this level.
"The actual master bedroom is upstairs," says Jo. "We just use this one as it's more convenient for us."

The bathroom is particularly impressive. A narrow space incorporating the laundry, it opens out at the end as a kind of wet room, with a shower tucked away in the corner and a splendidly deep bath that takes centre stage.
Up the English oak staircase is a loft space that Jo uses as an office plus some handy storage cupboards. The previous owners used it as a children's play room.
Opposite is the master bedroom, with a Wedgewood blue feature wall, and a bathroom, sporting more feature walls in orange and turquoise.

Back down the stairs to the lower level, Jonny and Jo have reconfigured part of the space to create two rooms. One is a bedroom with an en suite, the other Jonny uses as his office, but it could easily be a fourth bedroom.
The rest of the ground floor comprises the two internal-access double garages, and that home theatre with all its high-tech equipment.

VITAL STATISTICS

BEDROOMS: 4

BATHROOMS: 3

GARAGES: 4

SIZE: Land 399sq m, house 282sq m.

PRICE: $789,000 negotiable.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 2-2.45pm.

ON THE WEB: www.open2view.com/128549

CONTACT: Pauline Anderson, Ray White Mt Albert, ph 815 3051 bus, 021 770 799 mob.

FEATURES: Three-year-old (approx) split-level home with contemporary interior and low-maintenance, landscaped garden. A home theatre in the basement is included in the package.