Pushing the boat out of Herne Bay

68 Argyle St, Herne Bay. Photo / Supplied

68 ARGYLE ST HERNE BAY

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2.5

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SIZE: Land 731sq m (approx); house 342sq m (approx).

PRICE INDICATION: CV $3.45 million. Auction December 2 (unless sold prior).

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 2pm-2.45pm or by appointment.

ON THE WEB: www.bayleys.co.nz/4101203

SCHOOL ZONES: Bayfield School, Ponsonby Intermediate, Auckland Girls' Grammar School, Western Springs College.

CONTACT: Karen Spires, Bayleys, ph 375 8488 or 027 273 8220.

FEATURES: Picture-perfect, renovated return-veranda villa, melding past elegance with modern conveniences. Three living areas plus study, master suite, harbour views from upstairs and great flow out to grounds with heated pool and spa.

It seems fitting this tall, turn-of-the-century return-veranda villa admires the sea. It's been the blissful mooring for a former Team New Zealand sailor and his family for nearly a decade.

Jeremy Scantlebury was Team New Zealand's pitman when they won the America's Cup in 1995 and defended it in 2000 and continues to sail professionally today. He and wife Jodie reckon this double-storey character beauty has been the perfect blend of party house and nurturing family home.

They bought it in 2001 after returning from Seattle, extensively renovating it into a lovely home for daughters Olivia, 9, Mia, 6, and delightfully mad Spoodle puppy Maddie.

The property has a secure front fence and gates, but the home's elevation means its grandeur can be admired from the street. Passersby note elegant features such as leadlight windows and two levels of verandas, the upper one offering lovely harbour views.

Meanwhile, the front grounds are completely private, harbouring one of the property's two lawns and one of its two puriri trees, invariably cooing with birdlife. A front door framed with leadlight glass is the usual entry point into this exquisitely polished home for visitors and residents alike. The double garage has two exits, but the most-used one is a stairwell delivering travellers steps away from the front door.

Jodie smiles, noting the inevitable upturned heads of first-time visitors taking in the big hallway. "People are always blown away by these ornate plaster ceilings."

In fact, the hallway encapsulates many of the key character features which sold her on the home. It's fronted by large geometric leadlight windows, graced with a gorgeous plaster ceiling and glows with the timeless welcome of mellow wooden floors which extend through all living areas. Near the hall's seating nook you'll find a nifty hallway panel which springs out, revealing under-stair storage.

Three rooms parade along the sunny north-western flank. The front formal lounge opens to the veranda. Its ornate ceiling and character fireplace have witnessed some rip-roaring dinner parties. The plaster craftsmanship continues in the ceilings of the adjoining lounge, accented by a character fireplace with geranium tiles and a sumptuous window seat.

The family room/informal dining-kitchen looks picture-perfect. One of the couple's prime aims when renovating was to amp up the home's flow. Jodie recalls: "When Mia was a couple of months old and Olivia was a toddler we opened up the whole side of this room to add bi-fold doors. Jeremy was away sailing so our lovely builder, Aden Horne, used to hammer panels up each night to keep the girls and I secure!"

They removed an old brick chimney from the room, created flow to the neighbouring lounge and installed servery-style kitchen windows plus the wall of bifold doors maximising flow to the outdoors.

A retractable canopy atop the patio creates a loggia-style al fresco dining area. The kitchen inside was overhauled to look recipe-book delectable. It includes marble benchtops, ceiling-height cupboards, a walk-in pantry and a handy nook containing the home's second office.

Those with an eye for detail will see the antique wall sconces illuminating the downstairs powder room match the lounge and dining room's chandeliers. All once glimmered in a French hotel.

Upstairs there's a restful library area on the landing. No wonder Jodie loves the front master suite. It is light and airy under another lavish plaster ceiling. It opens to the veranda, which enjoys an outlook round the harbour to the bridge and Rangitoto Island. Its walk-in wardrobe has plentiful capacity and its en suite is really a full bathroom with bath, wall-to-wall marble-topped vanity storage and darkened wood floors. Jeremy's office at the front of the house opens to the veranda, too, and is laden with geometric leadlight windows, including a hexagonal beauty.

The children's quarters are mighty fine. One bedroom opens to its own balcony and another adjoins a sunny playroom (alternatively a parents' gym). A single bedroom and a bathroom continuing the use of marble (and incorporating the laundry) complete this level. There's a drop-down ladder to attic storage.

Landscaper Suzanne Turley re-landscaped the private grounds. A big in-ground heated pool and a spa pool are swathed in Hinuera paving, while night-lighting accents the semi-formal gardens and lawns.

"It's a great entertaining house and a fabulous family home," Jodie sums up. Listening to her, it's clear she enjoys transforming beautiful homes, and after nine years in this one the Scantleburys are excited by the prospect of repeating that process.