SCHOOL ZONES:
Westmere School, Western Springs College.
CONTACT:
Terry Rowe, Barfoot & Thompson, ph 027 499 6370.
*3 off-street
Cross her heart and hope to die, TV3's entertainment editor Kate Rodger swears she's ready to sell this solid workingman's cottage this time.
Her strong attachment to it caused a bit of a false start, you see, when the sturdy concrete circa-1920s home was briefly put on the market eight years ago.
"We had one open home and then I just lost it.
I wasn't ready for it to be sold back then but now I am," she grins. "I'm bizarrely emotionally attached to this house."
And why not? The chunky honey with splendid rear views of Western Springs' lake has been part of her life for around 17 years. She's lived here for several stints over that time, between being overseas and elsewhere.
It provided an especially welcome mainstay after 47-year-old Kate and 30-year-old partner Tristan Alfred discovered out of the blue they were expecting. Kate moved back in here with Tristan when pregnant, and their son Max is now nearly 2. When she was in her late 20s her younger brother, then based overseas, suggested buying together to get a foothold in the property market. Kate checked out about 100 properties.
"I'd be a hopeless property investor because I'm so emotional about my purchases. I've always loved these houses and knew I wanted this as soon as I walked in.
"That was despite it being sold by a builder who was only half-way through renovating. So there was a big hole in the living room floor where he'd just ripped out a wall to open-plan it and rear french doors to nowhere, no deck or anything."
But it had solid construction with character charm, kauri floors, a new kitchen and neat rear views.
"I stood in the kitchen, looked out the french doors and said 'Oh my God, that's Western Springs Park and that's the lake!' and that was it."
Dad Ian helped a builder construct a substantial two-level back deck.
In 2006 Kate and her brother decided to sell to free up his money to renovate his marital home. Their dad stepped in to buy a share after Kate abruptly realised how much she hated the idea of selling.
Image 1 of 5: TV film reviewer Kate Rodger and family have loved their cottage with its views of the lake and Waitakeres
"Some people call them porridge houses," she says, speculating that might reference their porridge-like textured exterior.
"They were built to house railway workers who were building a tramway."
This one's on a quiet road and has off-street parking for at least three cars. It's charming as is, with potential to extend. It has an air ventilation system plus ceiling and underfloor insulation.
A central hallway divides the sunny open-plan living-dining-kitchen from three good-sized bedrooms with a bathroom nearby.
"I've watched so many movies here, for my job," Kate says in the lounge.
That's as close as celebs such as Brad and Angelina have got to this place but lots of familiar TV3 faces such as Hilary Barry and Mike McRoberts have been over.
The rear kitchen is on gas and includes bull-nosed stainless steel benches, a dishwasher and french doors to the partially covered deck.
"We built it in two tiers to roll down towards the view. Evenings are just mint, sitting watching the sun going down over the Waitaks.
"We've had big gatherings here timed around concerts at Western Springs. And I love the zoo noises we hear. One of the first things Max learned to do was to roar, mimicking the lions.
"It's been so perfect here for the first two years of Max's life. And we have Tristan's 6-year-old daughter Jaeda here every second weekend and in school holidays.
"But now Tristan and I are ready to find somewhere new we choose together as a family."
