KEY POINTS:
Ayr Street,
Parnell.
The Auckland urban dream used to be; find a quaint old house in a suburb close to the city, slave every weekend for years (or move the family out for months while builders slaved) and you'd have a beautiful, warm, modern, character home.
But these days people are too busy, DIY skills have gone the same way as 6 o'clock closing and the demands we have of our house are far more sophisticated. That's exactly the position James Dodunski and his wife, Deanna, found themselves in when they were house-hunting two years ago.
"We looked at lots of houses," said James. "So it was so great when we walked in here and it had everything we needed. We came back to every open home. It was tidy and well done, lots of storage, car parking, everything."
"And a shed for James," adds Deanna. "All we needed to do was play around with the colours in some of the rooms, but it's nice to do something with your own stamp."
The couple moved quickly to make this renovated 1920s bungalow in the heart of Parnell their own, securing the deal in less than a week. The formal living room, with its classic fireplace and pretty curved bay window was lightened and brightened from its former deep winter colours. Then they just added some personal touches, and pottered in the garden.
After two years of living here, James and Deanna cannot fault the design of the previous owners, nor the workmanship that went into the renovation. Much of the original bungalow detailing has been retained and enhanced - there's a generous front porch and large entry lobby (with a proper vintage pendant light), plus ceiling beams, panelled oak doors and character windows. Light streams through the main living side of the house, from the formal lounge through the dining/family room and out to the sunny back deck. A pretty sunroom off the lounge has been transformed into an office, overlooking the double carport and street. The kitchen, in dark oak, frosted glass and with terrazzo-type benches is full of thoughtful storage details, with room for a french door fridge and extra-wide gas hob.
The backyard, with the man-shed for James, is well planted with a good flat lawn for their son, Liam, now a toddler. Liam is the reason for the couple's move - they want to move into Ponsonby, where Deanna's work and family are, so that she can whizz home between clients and spend time with him, not in cross-city traffic.
Downstairs are two generous double bedrooms and a useful arrangement of bathrooms: one bathroom holds a shower, toilet and vanity, the other a soaking tub and laundry. Deanna finds this perfect for the toddler - at bath time, dirty clothes can be dealt with straight away.
But it is upstairs that their breath was really taken away: the entire top floor is given over to a large master bedroom/living room with views across the Parnell valley to Okahu Bay, Paritai Drive and the eastern waterfront. Bi-fold windows make the sitting area an airy space or there is air-conditioning for the stickiest nights of summer. A large walk-in wardrobe and en suite bathroom are tucked into the roofline, with an unexpected bonus - a fully functioning sauna opening off the bathroom.
SIZE: Land 623sq m, house 222 sq m.
PRICE INDICATION: Upwards of 2005 CV of $900,000. Auction February 19.
INSPECT: Sat/Sun 11-11.45am.
ON THE WEB: www.open2view.co.nz
SCHOOL ZONES: Auckland Grammar, Epsom Girls Grammar.
CONTACT: Cathy Roselli or David Simons, Unlimited Potential, ph Cathy 021 750 454, David 021 2777 579.
