SCHOOL ZONES:
Hobsonville Point Primary, Hobsonville Point Secondary.
CONTACT:
Geoff Polglase, 027 487 4663.
AUCTION:
March 11 noon on site (unless sold prior).
Fashion designer Cecilia Tuan and graphic designer Aaron Deverick wanted to put their own stamp on this 3-year-old Hobsonville townhouse, built by G J Gardner, and the result is an airy, attractive home with soaring ceilings and loads of natural light.
"They welcomed our input in terms of the layout and gave us exactly what we wanted," says Cecilia.
"We were living in a cold, damp unit in Newmarket and every week we'd come out to Hobsonville to check on progress. It was really exciting for us, watching everything come together.
"It's actually funny that we should end up here on what used to be an air base because I grew up on one in Taiwan before moving to New Zealand when I was 13. I fell in love with Hobsonville before I even knew about its past and when Aaron told me, I just knew it was meant to be."
While the pair describe themselves as minimalists, they still wanted some striking pops of colour in their domestic lives and there's a fascinating story behind the bright yellow front door and kitchen splashback.
"My grandmother was Chinese royalty and second cousin to the emperor. Each royal family's bloodline is signified by a colour and hers was yellow so it felt very natural to make it our signature shade," says Cecilia.
In terms of useability the house couldn't be more perfect for Cecilia, who works from home with her fashion design and wholesaling.
24 Corsair St. Hobsonville, Auckland. Photo / Ted Baghurst
"I'm overseas a lot but when I'm here I use the big loft above the garage where there's room to lay all my fabric samples out on the floor and pick the right one for each design."
The kitchen, with its scullery and acres of useful bench space is combined with the dining room to make a huge space and that was a definite requirement for the couple.
"We entertain all the time and have lots of visitors to stay. That's why we needed five bedrooms and four bathrooms. It's worked very well for us and it would be perfect for a big family."
Cecilia made sure that the build included a giant walk-through wardrobe in the master bedroom, along with an elegant en suite.
24 Corsair St. Hobsonville, Auckland. Photo / Ted Baghurst
The house is fully insulated and warmed by a heat pump. Cecilia says the power bills here are lower than at their previous home in Newmarket.
"We used the very best materials and thought hard about issues like energy use."
With a small back yard and patio, the garden is easy-care yet there's still plenty of room for outdoor living.
The section is relatively small at 370sq m, but clever use of space makes it seem bigger.
Hobsonville is developing fast and Cecilia says that new shops have been appearing regularly over the last couple of years.
24 Corsair St. Hobsonville, Auckland. Photo / Ted Baghurst
The local schools are new and well-equipped and restaurants, cafes and gyms are being built to cater for an ever growing number of newly arrived locals, drawn to Hobsonville Point by its easy motorway access and friendly way of life.
"There's a real community spirit here, even though it's a fairly new development," says Cecilia.
