Relax in the big easy

18a Tiri Rd, Milford, Auckland. Photo / Ted Baghurst

18A TIRI RD MILFORD

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SIZE: Land 639sq m, house 462sq m (approx).

PRICE INDICATION: For sale at $3.59 million.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 1-1.45pm.

ON THE WEB: barfoot.co.nz/456741

SCHOOL ZONES: Milford School, Takapuna Normal Intermediate School, Takapuna Grammar School, Westlake Boys' High School, Westlake Girls' High School.

CONTACT: Pam Riley or Aaron Reid, Barfoot & Thompson, ph 489 5084, 021 949 401 (Pam) or 021 119 1926

FEATURES: A large seven-year-old home on a quiet street a short stroll from Milford Beach. The house has six bedrooms, a study, a rumpus/home-theatre room, and spacious separate formal and informal living areas, both of which lead out to a private sunny backyard with a pool.

When Laurie Guthrie's husband first walked into the big house for sale at 18a Tiri Rd in Milford, he planted himself on the couch and declared the place sold.

He rang Laurie: "I've seen a house. I'm going to buy it."

Replied Laurie: "No, you're not!"

Laurie, who was out of the country, forbade him from signing anything until she could get there. But she, too, was convinced. The couple and their two young children had spent several years posted overseas, and they were coming home with a dream of an easy family lifestyle.

They knew the townhouse they owned in Ponsonby wasn't going to suit their new demographic. The big nearly-new home five houses back from Milford beach, on the other hand, had plenty of bedrooms, formal and informal living areas, a rumpus/home theatre room and easy flow to a private palm-fringed north-facing lawn and courtyard with a swimming pool. It was designed by architect John D'Anvers, with hints of the style of Frank Lloyd Wright.

"I just loved it," says Laurie. "It just had a nice feel. It's nice to be by the beach but not on the beach. It was a big place with seven split levels, but it seemed to flow well. I didn't think we had enough kids to fill it, but we do now!"

Shortly after they moved home they discovered that Laurie was pregnant again. The children are now 3, 5 and 7, and the house has served as a perfect family home. By day, life revolves around the large kitchen and spacious family room, where the bifolds to the backyard stay open almost year-round. In the evenings the adults can retire to the northwest-facing formal dining room and cosy fire-warmed lounge, which also opens up to the lawn via bifolds.

When they bought the house, the formal and informal living areas were separated only by glass doors but Laurie had a wall built to better delineate them. Thus the family chaos stays in one room while the other (usually) remains a pristine adults' retreat.

Laurie employed a similar trick in what's now the guest bedroom. With a strategically placed wall, Laurie created a separate study, with its own sunny terrace, while retaining a bedroom (with en suite) that's bigger than your average master bedroom.

With the guest bedroom, the master suite and four other bedrooms - as well as the choice of living and playing areas, including a large hidden rumpus room - the home comfortably accommodates the busy young family plus Laurie's teenage stepdaughter, Laurie's parents, who visit from Scotland, and her chihuahua (the "cat" of the family).

However, there are two other members of the household who Laurie regrets are not properly catered for. Her adored bigger dogs, an Italian spinone and a Wolfhound, end up spending a lot of time at a kennel because they need a large outdoor space to race around in. So Laurie's looking for a home that will better suit them - as well as the three children and two adults.

Laurie's not looking far, though. She says the North Shore is perfect for a sports-mad young family. She loves the beach and being a flat walk from Milford and Takapuna and a short drive from the city.

So perhaps it's now Laurie's turn to ring her husband and say, "I've seen a house. I'm going to buy it."