Annie says the whole process took about 18 months and, when they were ready to move into 13A about eight years ago, they sold 13B.
A gently curving, sloping drive lined with rock walls, hedges and mature trees leads down to the house. It's a gracious entrance, although Annie says her boys used it as a race track when they were younger.
A wide hall and tiled floors bring you into the home, which has three bedrooms and a tiled bathroom at the front of the house and a large open-plan living area at the rear.
The living area has wooden floors, exposed beams and soaring wooden sarked ceilings with skylights that flood the space with light.
"It's quite simple, the design of the house, but it's got plenty of sun, light and warmth and because it's a wooden house, it fits in with Mt Albert," says Annie. "We've had a lot of tradesmen come in and say that we've done a great renovation because the architraves and suchlike make them think it's an old home."
Beside the kitchen is a playroom for the kids, something that Annie made sure was accommodated and has proven to be a worthy inclusion over the years. She's been able to keep an eye on them and keep their toys out of the living area. There are gas fires in the living area and in the adjoining TV lounge.
Bifolds and French doors open the living area to a deep veranda that wraps around the house, providing huge amounts of covered outdoor living space and a place for children to play, even when it's raining.
"It's been really good to be able to be out here all year round."
Beyond the veranda is the swimming pool and wide views of the surrounding suburbs that stretch out to the Waitakeres.
The pool and the paddling pool beside it have been given a natural setting with the surrounding boardwalks, boulders and plantings.
"My husband had this picture of a swimming pool ... that he had kept for something like 30 years on a scruffy bit of paper, so he went ahead and built it," says Annie.
A covered walkway with a flying fox leads down behind the pool to the vegetable garden.
The top floor of the house has an office and master bedroom with en suite. Both rooms overlook the living area but have shutters for privacy. Off the office is another room that could be a bedroom but has plumbing ready to go if new owners desire another bathroom.
While this home has been a delight to live in, Annie says she and Keith want to build again.
"We want to do another one with the kids and get them involved in the planning and construction," says Annie. "We want to teach them how to build a house; it's a good life skill to have."
