SCHOOL ZONES:
Bayfield Primary, Ponsonby Intermediate, Auckland Girls’ Grammar, Western Springs College.
CONTACT:
John Wills and Nic Blackie, Custom Residential, 021 333 053 (John) or 021 505 964 (Nic).
AUCTION:
June 2 (unless sold prior).
*2 off-street
Celeste Fraei says this renovated circa-1904 villa appealed from front to back when her family wanted to upgrade from a previous Herne Bay home.
"The return veranda is lovely and gives it lots of street appeal. Our last house was a transitional villa so this had a lot more character features such as the front fretwork, the wonderful hallway arch and beautiful sash windows."
"The fact it was fully renovated and well renovated was a big plus. We'd really got our hands dirty working on our previous house, some of that when I was nine months' pregnant with our son Max."
Celeste understands previous owners upgraded and extended this home about eight years ago.
"We moved here about three-and-a-half-years ago from only 200m away in Ardmore Rd. This was really a step up because of its spaciousness with a fourth bedroom and an extra living area.
"I was even delighted to get a separate laundry. Things like that make your life so much easier as a mum."
In warmer months sports-mad Max, now 7, has scores of friends keen to come over for a dip in the heated backyard pool. There's a level lawn alongside but he typically exercises his passion for cricket and rugby by opening the rear gate into the grounds of Marist and St Paul's.
Celeste says: "It's like having the biggest backyard in Auckland without having to pay for it.
"It's doubly great because it's an off-leash area where our elderly German shepherd Oscar can enjoy himself when he's not sitting on the front veranda barking at cats he's too old to chase."
Celeste and her husband were quite content with the front double off-street parking pad. However, she can also see new owners might feel a natural next step is evolving under-house storage-workshop space into a basement garage.
Inside, an impressive hallway arch emphasising the stud height and toasty gas central heating make instant impressions.
Image 1 of 12: Delightful touches from the past combine with modern luxury and convenience, here. And there's the bonus of fields for play beyond the back gate
There's a lovely ceiling rose in the front master suite, which also has bay sash windows, an en suite and walk-in wardrobe. The three other bedrooms are all good-sized, with ample storage, and Max's also boasts upper leadlight windows.
As well as the family bathroom with bath, there's an extra toilet in the separate laundry, handy when dripping swimmers want to nip in from the pool.
"The formal lounge really makes this a home for all seasons. It's just lovely curling up there in winter, feeling cosy while we watch a movie."
Adding to this lounge's atmosphere are more coloured upper leadlight windows, doors to the veranda and a character fireplace, which could be reinstated as its chimney remains.
People often pause when they walk into the open-plan rear kitchen-dining-living room, commenting on how open and light it is.
Having no rear neighbours reinforces this sense of openness.
Celeste says this space is great for entertaining as it has a wide gas fire and big recessed rear doors that slide open for indoor-outdoor flow.
"We've hosted lots of things here, from birthday parties to rugby club parties. It works really well because you've got two ovens and these big granite benches to lay all the food out on.
"When I'm sitting out under the palm trees by the pool in summer I ask 'why would I need to go to a resort?'"
She says "the Avenues" are like a village within a suburb with a strong sense of community, great trick-or-treating and the annual Trinity St Easter egg hunt her neighbours host.
The family is downsizing but plan to stay in the area.
