KEY POINTS:
A family took a cottage on a large piece of land and redeveloped it into a resort-like property.
31A Castor Bay Rd, Castor Bay.
When they returned to New Zealand in 1993, after years of living in Tokyo and Hong Kong, Jim and Debbie Centre knew they'd found their dream spot when they bought a 1940s cottage on the crest of Castor Bay Road.
Surrounded by mature pohutukawa trees on a large site, they knew the property was perfect for their dream home.
``It was a small 1940s cottage occupied by the original elderly owner, Mrs Frater of the Frater family - early developers on the Shore [hence Frater Avenue in Milford],'' says Jim.
``People told us to bowl it down, but we wanted to build a grand home in the same style as the original cottage - and in a style that was classic so that it would not date.''
The couple auditioned several architects, eventually selecting Graham Pitt, who ``really listened to what we wanted, and gave us more,'' reckons Jim.
As well as room for their favourite activities - snooker, swimming, tennis, barbecues and gardening, the couple also wanted to make the most of the views. All that was laid out in a 20-page brief.
Fourteen years later, Jim is completely satisfied with Graham's thoughtful design. To details such as matching the original weatherboard profiles, French doors and windows, Graham added wide hallways, sun and view-catching bay windows, and a Juliet balcony off the master suite.
The couple specified an iron staircase banister and front gates to match those in Coco Chanel's Paris apartment. The bevelled glass on the interior French doors is better than the original.
All these features enhance the couple's collection of Chinese and Japanese furniture and objects, rounded out with Jim's Canterbury rugby memorabilia (their pooch is called Mertz after Andrew Mehrtens).
Jim's favourite spot is the billiard room, which had to accommodate play around a full-size table and include built-in drinks facilities.
Debbie and 12-year-old daughter Amie are more enthusiastic about the tennis court, pool and garden. Debbie has recently added classic roses and box hedge gardens to complement the sub-tropical and native planted gardens in the rest of the spreading property.
Regular tennis doubles are held under the lights every Wednesday evening, and the couple have hosted 20 couples to North Shore Hospice's annual tennis tournaments.
Winter entertaining often revolves around rugby tests with a crowd of friends in front of the roaring fire and TV, or dinners for up to 30 people in the formal dining room and lounge.
Work is not overlooked with Jim's 30-year career in computers contributing to a wired-for-everything study that overlooks the garden .
Upstairs, Graham accommodated three double bedrooms and a luxury master suite. There are views from Rangitoto to Waiheke, the city and beyond. Even the raised bathtub has a great outlook.
But Jim reckons he is now thinking about retirement as ``the knees and the back seem to ache a little more these days, even though I love gardening'', so he is heeding the call for a smaller property and more time to travel with Amie and Debbie.
VITAL STATISTICS
BEDROOMS: 4
BATHROOMS: 2
GARAGES: 2
SIZE: Land 1670sq m, house 360sq m.
PRICE INDICATION: $3 million-plus. Tender closes December 14.
INSPECT: Sun 1-2pm, or by appointment.
ON THE WEB: www.bayleys.co.nz # 451020
SCHOOL ZONES: Takapuna Normal Primary, Westlake Boys and Girls High schools.
CONTACT: Stephanie Glennie or Peter Christoffersen, Bayleys North Shore, ph Stephanie 477 2350 or 021 766 112; Peter 477 2349 or 021 220 8681.
FEATURES: Original 1940s cottage completely renovated in 1993, with three living rooms (one big enough for a pool table), full size tennis court and swimming pool, immaculately landscaped grounds protected by mature pohutukawa trees. Views to city, harbour and Rangitoto.
