SCHOOL ZONES:
Bayfield School, Ponsonby Intermediate, Western Springs College, Auckland Girls Grammar.
CONTACT:
Karen Spires, Bayleys, 027 273 8220.
AUCTION:
September 14 (unless sold prior).
Kimberly Sumner reckons this polished Herne Bay villa has provided the ideal urban sanctuary while her busy family has juggled two businesses, three children and their accompanying onslaught of activities.
Add their new 11-week-old cocker spaniel puppy Teddy plus ragdoll cat Zoe into the mix and you may marvel at how restful and organised their Northern Slopes home looks.
Kimberly says: "This place really nurtures us.
"My husband Matt and I are not naturally tidy people so it was important to add in lots of storage when we renovated. If you're a busy household you can't be tidy if you don't have the systems to support that.
"And the fact we live in a lovely, close-knit community here makes life easier. For example I alternate with two other mothers taking our daughters to netball practice."
She's particularly fond of the way their upstairs parents' retreat provides a restful foil to the hubbub of day-to-day life.
She and Matt own Ponsonby's Accent Your Dentists plus Kimberly is a women's business and prosperity mentor, often seeing clients in this home.
They'd been in a big bungalow in Western Springs before buying this place nine years ago. They wanted to move closer to the dental practice and for the children to attend sought-after Bayfield Primary School.
Kimberly says this was quite a step up from their previous locale but they managed to secure this property as then it was one of the plainest on the street. She wasn't keen on the 1900s villa's flow, or renovations such as a lowered ceiling, but could see potential.
After living here for a couple of years with children Gabby (now 13) and twins Josh and Ben (now 12) and getting a sense of the place, they renovated and redecorated throughout.
Image 1 of 8: A renovated and revitalised villa has a place for everything and everything in its place. Photos / Ted Baghurst
A carport forms the fore of off-street parking for two cars. The tidy, irrigated front garden has a classical vibe.
Matt's stepbrother Hamish Grotrian designed the wide-ranging renovations carried out by Wishbone Construction. They included replacing an awkward front entrance, reinstating appealing front fretwork and installing double glazing.
A glass-panelled front door by a local artist and the high-stud hallway lend a sense of grandeur to the centrally heated home. It has front leadlights and character fireplaces in two of its three downstairs bedrooms.
There's another traditional fireplace in the elegant second lounge with bay window.
A marble-breast fireplace and window seats with storage add ambience to the living-dining-kitchen spread. This opens to decks and the attractive rear garden.
Kimberly appreciates being able to tuck mess away in the scullery with second dishwasher when they're entertaining.
A powder room, children's bathroom and an in-cupboard laundry, exhibiting the skills of their much-appreciated cabinetmaker Paul Stables, complete downstairs' layout.
Rear grounds feature climbing roses, a timber playhouse and shed. There's also a vegetable garden with beehive.
They've added big balconies on two sides of upstairs' large master suite which has sunset and harbour views. There's a dressing room plus a spacious double-basin bathroom with separate shower and bath.
Kimberly says: "I'm a big fan of integrating some relaxing time into my schedule so love taking a bath up here. Another lovely thing about this bathroom is you look out at the Chelsea sugar factory as you're brushing your teeth."
The family are selling as they'd like to take on another project and want different things from a property now their children are getting older.
