SCHOOL ZONES:
Royal Oak primary, Royal Oak Intermediate and Onehunga High School.
CONTACT:
Janice Hamilton-Cox, 0272 322 356, or Philip Cox, 0274 888 968, Barfoot & Thompson.
AUCTION:
July 13.
Walking down the pathway through her flowering violets, Carol Hope can't help but be reminded of the privilege of living here, right on the edge of Cornwall Park. It's a habit of mindfulness that Carol and her husband John have enjoyed whenever they can, in the 18 years since they moved here.
Together they'll head out past their garden of shrubs, vegetables and fruit trees and tread the discreet pavers that lead to the stile in the corner behind the feijoa tree. Up and over the post and wire fence and they are in the park, among the trees and the farm animals, including pheasants and paradise ducks.
"This is country life right in the middle of the city and it's beautiful," says Carol. "It is a huge privilege."
When Carol and John left their former home in the Waitakere Ranges they wondered if they'd ever get this close to nature again given their specific list of requirements for their next home.
They needed a home for them and the youngest of their two adult sons but it needed to be one in which John's elderly, recently widowed father could enjoy some independence. When they found this four-bedroom home with its adjoining two-bedroom guest wing with separate entrance and single garage, they couldn't believe their luck.
"It was an answer to our prayers," says Carol.
They walked into the two-in-one home that had well-proportioned living and dining, well-equipped bathrooms, plentiful storage and pleasing transition areas for every family dynamic.
Image 1 of 8: This family has enjoyed city living with green, open spaces just over the back fence. Photos / Ted Baghurst
Within its weatherboard exterior, there is one common interior wall in the living areas that separates the two wings. It is the work of the designer who put together the mid 1970s extensions and alterations to the much smaller original house built in 1953 to give each wing a peaceful, private view out to the park.
In both wings ground floor living opens to the paved courtyard, lawn and gardens. In Carol and John's quarters there are two bedrooms on the entry level and another off the landing above the double garage.
Upstairs there is a sunny sitting area near the adjacent large study/sewing room and the master bedroom suite with its separate walk-in wardrobe and separate en suite.
There is still more to this home behind closed doors. Generous storage includes the double linen cupboard, kept warm via the log-burning wetback that heats the water in winter.
Down the driveway and through the front door by the single garage, the guest wing proved ideal for John's father to run his own life and venture "next door" to join the rest of the family. Following his passing, it was home for Carol and John's son and daughter-in-law for a time and a popular bolt-hole for out-of-town friends and family.
This home has been the family's favourite go-to spot for celebrations. One Christmas there were 21 stockings hanging around the french doors.
But for Carol and John, the time has come to downsize into a home that will hopefully have some of the verdant ambience of this property.
