CONTACT:
Daniel Horrobin, Ray White, 021 595 976; Damian Piggin, 021 828 583.
AUCTION:
Dec 10 (unless sold prior)
Downsizing from a large family home in Glen Eden to an apartment in the CBD eight years ago, Ruth Marsh still wanted somewhere that felt homely.
Patience paid off when she found this large three-bedroom corner apartment in The Beaumont, across the road from Victoria Park.
"We just loved the spaciousness, the generous proportions of the bedrooms, and having live-in managers, Merv and Sue, who are so helpful. A lot of owners live here. And there are only 29 apartments in The Beaumont.
"It felt like home, whereas some apartments are so boxy," she says. "And it gets so much sun being on the end of the building."
The north-facing apartment certainly bathes in sunlight. The lounge and dining area catch morning and afternoon sun through the main window and the ranch slider, which opens to the deck. The bedrooms, too, get plentiful sun.
The freehold apartment has a bedroom on the left as you come in, and then the hallway leads to the next bedroom, bathroom (with laundry cupboard) and the master suite with bedroom, en suite and walk-in robe, and accessing the balcony through its ranch slider.
Turning right instead when you enter, the kitchen is on your left -- it has a stainless steel bench, Smeg oven, F&P double Dishdrawer, and Electrolux double door fridge freezer -- and the open plan lounge and dining.
"The feature that captured us was the lounge's floor-to-ceiling window looking out to the park -- we always used to say someone else mows the lawns. We also have a lap pool here and we don't have to do the maintenance for that; it's wonderful to have that extra time.
"I could always find a sunny spot in the lounge to sit down with a cup of tea, and people watch.
"This is so close to Wynyard Wharf. And if you work in town it's just a stroll across the park at a reasonable hour rather than getting up early and commuting."
Image 1 of 5: Victoria Park across the road is almost like having a garden without the work. Photos / Supplied
As you move around the apartment, the views change from the greenness of Victoria Park, to urban College Hill Rd and plane tree-lined Franklin Rd, which will soon light up at with its annual Christmas display. There is also a peek of the sea in the distance at the end of Beaumont St.
Another bonus of apartment living is the noticeable saving on fuel, says Ruth. "Instead of filling up the car up with petrol a couple of times a week, we buy petrol once a fortnight.
"And we didn't buy takeaways as often, as we have New World next door. You don't have to think about food until dinner time.
"We had quite a few visitors and they loved the beer selection there."
Favourite haunts nearby were Wynyard Wharf and the Viaduct, and the Leys Institute library up the road in Ponsonby.
"I love walking so I would do a circuit across the park to Wynyard Wharf and back. And Marcello's Caffe, we used that a lot, and we have been to Euro a lot over the years."
While Ruth waits for the apartment to sell, she is renting in Princes Wharf.
She imagines her apartment in The Beaumont will appeal to a family maybe with a son or daughter at high school or university, or perhaps a professional couple working in the city.
