King-sized on Castle Drive

7 Castle Drive, Epsom. Photo / Ted Baghurst

7 CASTLE DRIVE, EPSOM

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SIZE: House 888sq m including pool house, land 1400sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: Upwards of CV $5.3 million. Expressions of interest close January 22.

INSPECT: By appointment.

FOR SALE: By negotiation.

ON THE WEB: Rwremuera.co.nz/RMU21622

SCHOOL ZONES: Auckland Grammar, Epsom Girls Grammar, Auckland Normal Intermediate, Newmarket School.

CONTACT: Roy Champtaloup, ph 027 555 5557 or (09) 929 2342.

FEATURES: Renovated expansive 1940s home in quiet dress-circle Epsom street, double Grammar-zoned and separate three-bedroom pool house.

Some parents may wish away their children's teenage years, but Richard and Lina Le Grice positively embraced that stage of their lives by upsizing their home - big time.

Six years ago, the Le Grices were living in Remuera when a good friend decided to put this palatial Epsom home on the market because his own children were flying the nest.

"Your kids' teenage years are a window of opportunity. But it is a window that closes very quickly, so we were keen to make the most of it," says Richard.

Son Henry and daughter Freddie were 16 and 14 when the Le Grices moved into their Castle Drive house, which is a whopping 888sq m including its two-level, three-bedroom pool house.

Tucked into the northern side of Mt Eden and perched on the edge of what was Auckland's first quarry, the sprawling four-level home sits on 1400sq m and has almost 360-degree views, taking in, depending on which room you are in, the Firth of Thames, Mt Eden, One Tree Hill, the CBD, Sky Tower and parts of Waitemata Harbour.

The 1940s home is at the end of a long driveway and is surrounded by mature native trees, including massive pohutukawas and nikau palms that attract abundant bird life such as tui, fantails and wood pigeons.

On the lowest level of the house is a double internal-access garage with a lift that goes to the other three levels, terminating at the master bedroom. On the lower ground level is a large billiard room with panelled doors that open to the garden, a home gym with an adjoining sauna room and bathroom with a double shower.

A capacious lounge, with a log fire and a large flat-screen TV, opens out to a north-facing balcony at the front of the house.

Upstairs on the main living level is a cathedral-style foyer with original, scallop-patterned leadlight windows and a sweeping staircase that leads to the levels above and below.

The kitchen runs down the eastern side of this level. To the right of the entrance, a large formal lounge links to a conservatory-style room with black sliding shutters, wooden decking and views out to the city. Nicknamed the "tree house", this special space, that connects back to the kitchen and to a lower back patio with large vegetable planters, has been excellent for entertaining large crowds and for big family gatherings.

Image 1 of 6: 7 Castle Drive, Epsom. Photo / Ted Baghurst

Lina is Rarotongan and when her family comes to stay they have their own space in the pool house, which has its own kitchen and lounge and opens out to the 15m pool. The resort-style pool is 3.6m deep, has a diving board, features a striking Italian mosaic tile design and is surrounded by immaculate subtropical planting. Back at the main house, the top level includes three double bedrooms, each with their own modern bathrooms, large wardrobe and storage cupboards. Also off the upstairs landing is a large master bedroom and en suite, with two Juliet balconies and panelled windows offering views across to the Sky Tower.

Now that Freddie is starting uni and Henry is heading overseas, the Le Grices are ready to downsize but like the idea of staying in the area that is so handy to Newmarket, Mt Eden and motorway entrances.