SCHOOL ZONES:
Churchill Park School, Glendowie Primary, Glendowie College.
CONTACT:
Richard Lyne, Ray White, mob 021 687 000.
Richard Price and wife Debbie Kirk reacted entirely differently upon first seeing this chic contemporary Glendowie home even though they were of one mind.
"We'd been looking for quite a while, were doing an entire weekend of open homes and it was the last open home of the day," Richard recalls, "I walked into what I call "the Great Room", which is the big rear open-plan room opening out to the garden, and just stood there in awe.
"Meanwhile, Debbie was like a bee in a jar, darting around all over the place. She came back about five minutes later, worried I didn't like it because I hadn't moved and asked me what I thought.
A few days later, about five years ago, they outbid some stiff competition to buy the circa-2007 linea and plaster-over-block home.
"It's such a special place," says Richard, attributing the property's attention to detail to a construction industry executive having built it as his own home.
The couple love the way the exterior and interior blend contemporary elements with familiar form, achieving a modern yet welcoming atmosphere that's not in the least sterile.
Their Jack Russell cross Dodgy is a sunshine addict -- like his owners, who appreciate the north-facing home having great light all year.
Their favourite space is probably the expansive lounge-kitchen-dining room, stretching from wide gas fire to a mirrored feature light above the dining area. Richard raves about its entertaining credentials, with stacking slider doors creating easy flow to the covered patio, which looks out to the level lawn and heated saltwater pool.
"It's such a great space for cooking and entertaining, with a whole wall opening up to the garden. Everything flows in and out so well in summer and even on a grey winter day the house feels light."
And whether they're barbecuing or cooking in the swish kitchen, any mess can be tidied up "like it never happened" into a side scullery with second dishwasher. Extensive built-in cabinetry accents this room and the side media room, which offers an alternate living space.
Richard says, "There's always somewhere sunny and always a room to suit whatever mood you're in."
A study-cum-fifth bedroom and a separate laundry lie opposite a bank of storage near the internal-access double garage with work area.
Upstairs, the restful north-facing master suite with large balcony and views across Churchill Park boasts a glamorous dual shower en suite and fully outfitted walk-in wardrobe. Three other upstairs bedrooms have neat built-in desks, thoughtfully equipped with data, phone and power points underneath. One of the bedrooms has an en suite and the other two share a bathroom and extra toilet. Reticulated hot water, Cat-5 cabling, two heat pumps and a turbo-charged kitchen extractor fan are a sampling of many extras.
Image 1 of 5: 12 Carnarvon Avenue, Glendowie. Photo/Ted Baghurst.
The couple found very little to improve upon here, tweaking things by installing red blinds, which provide a pop of colour to the Great Room, adding some citrus trees and a quality wind-up pool cover.
They liked the avenue's friendly vibe and handy location, 15 minutes walk from St Heliers Beach and close to three off-leash dog parks for Dodgy.
They've accepted it makes sense to sell now they live and work in the UK and will be for some time. "But it's still our dream house," says Richard. "People here ask me what I miss about New Zealand and I say, 'Our friends and our house'."
