SCHOOL ZONES:
Orakei Primary, St Joseph’s School, Selwyn College.
CONTACT:
Mike Zelcer and Stefanie Winitana, Ray White, 021 934 240 or 520 7412 (Mike) or 021 441 881 or 520 6000 (Stefanie).
AUCTION:
May 13.
When Sandy Owen wandered past a group of executive homes being built in Orakei 15 years ago, the last thing she ever imagined was that she'd buy one, let alone two. Recently widowed, she was enjoying an extended holiday in New Zealand but intended returning home to the UK.
"I hadn't even considered emigrating to New Zealand, but I walked in and immediately thought, 'I could live here'. It just felt right," says Sandy, of the house at 26D.
It was much bigger than she needed but she was taken with the fact that it was so light, bright and warm. And the moment she saw the view, she was completely smitten. The house looks out over the Orakei Domain to Okahu Bay and across the harbour to Devonport. There's also a glimpse of the Auckland Harbour Bridge and the Sky Tower.
"The view is awesome," Sandy says. "You don't look over other people's roofs and it can never be built out. I love looking at the sea and the way it changes, and watching all the yachts, ferries and cruise liners out on the water. And the sunsets from here are stunning."
The house is laid out so that the living room, dining room and kitchen are on the upper level and make the most of the outlook. There are sliding doors out to a northwest facing semi-circular deck, which is perfect for watching the activity on the water. The living room is flooded with sun but opening the sliding doors keeps it cool in summer. In winter there's a gas fire if needed.
Image 1 of 7: Spacious, warm and bright executive nest is laid out to make the most of its outlook
"It's an extremely warm house," says Sandy. "Often you don't need heating."
Also on the upper level is a study area off the kitchen and a guest bedroom alongside a bathroom that can double as an en suite.
Downstairs are three further bedrooms, including the master one which has two walk-in wardrobes as well as a generous en suite. There's also a family bathroom and access to the internal access garage.
Sandy says it has been a very easy house to live in thanks to the thoughtful design. In fact she loved living there so much that when the house next door came up for sale a few years after she moved in, she bought that, too.
"I was looking for an investment property and having one right next door was ideal," she says.
The house at number 26C is a different layout, with the living areas downstairs and bedrooms upstairs. The living room opens to a deck, while there is a small balcony off one of the upstairs bedrooms. It has a new kitchen and, like 26D, lots of storage space.
Sandy was so happy with both houses that it was a huge shock to discover, a decade after she bought the first one, that they were prone to leaking. She decided to get both houses completely rebuilt, so that they are now clad with weatherboards instead of plaster and have cavity systems and pitched roofs instead of flat ones.
"They've basically been gutted and rebuilt from scratch," she says. "So it is like having a brand new home.
"I'm really pernickety, so I made sure all the materials used are proven. It's cost a fortune, but I wanted to make sure everything was done properly."
Renovation work began last year, and it was while she was living in other accommodation that Sandy realised she didn't need such a big home.
"I have a boat and spend a large part of the summer on that, and I go back to England every winter, so this is too much space for me. It's been wonderful to live here, but I really need to downsize. "
