SCHOOL ZONES:
Takapuna School, Takapuna Normal Intermediate, Takapuna Grammar School, Westlake Boys' High School, Westlake Girls' High School.
CONTACT:
Lewis Guy, Premium Takapuna, ph 021 867 355 or 916 4394.
FEATURES:
A spacious, ultra-modern five-year-old home along Takapuna's Golden Mile, backing on to Lake Pupuke and within a short walk of Takapuna and Milford beaches. The house has five bedrooms, including guest suite and master suite, open-plan living area and a separate lounge, choice of decks and patios, and a spa and pool.
Julie and Andrew Harrison weren't looking for a new home when the For Sale sign went up outside 4 Kitchener Rd.
But they were conscious that their existing home, also in Milford, was getting a little small for their two busy young sons. And they had admired the ultra-modern JasonGibson Architects-designed house by the lake ever since the foundations were laid several years earlier.
A good deal of the appeal was the position. It overlooked Henderson Park and Lake Pupuke, was across the road from little-known gem Thorne Bay and within an easy walk of Takapuna and Milford beaches.
"It was too good to pass up," says Julie.
"We loved the location and views. And it was very private. No one looks in."
An inspection revealed more advantages. A sparkling heated pool and spa were inlaid into the front lawn, making the views from the living areas downstairs and master bedroom upstairs water-on-water.
The water feature in the living area accentuated the outlook, as did an infinity bath in the luxurious master en suite bathroom, which is filled from a tap in the ceiling.
And, says Julie, it had "a bit of space". That's an understatement. With two bedrooms and a study downstairs, the master suite plus a guest suite and fifth bedroom upstairs, four bathrooms and a separate lounge fitted out as a home theatre room, plus the large light-filled minimalist living area, the boys were never going to be short of a space to escape to.
Not forgetting Henderson Park - accessed via a gate at the bottom of the property - and the lake. Parents can escape to a deck off the living area, a patio by the pool, three terraces and the piece de resistance: a deck off the master bedroom with lake views and an outdoor fireplace.
In fact, there is so much space, the family have barely used a couple of the bathrooms since they bought the place a year ago, and Julie admits the deck and outdoor fireplace off the master suite are wasted on them.
Instead, they like to gather around the pool as the sun sets over the lake.
"We put a table there and have people around," says Julie.
"It's really nice to eat down there."
It looks as if the upstairs fireplace will remain unlit - at least by the Harrisons. They're reluctantly selling so they can take advantage of a business opportunity.
Julie says they'll definitely stay in the area, but she fears her next kitchen will not rival the one in her current home.
With two ovens, a butler's pantry, loads of bench space and storage, and a water view, she says it's one of the hardest things to give up.
The location has also lived up to the family's vision. By day they can stroll to three renowned beaches, by evening they can wander up to Takapuna's restaurants.
The couple's sons, Matthew, aged 9, and David, 7, take their scooters and park them under the cafe tables. They can even walk around the lake to their primary school.
"This house has been great to live in and great to have people around," says Julie.
