Tony and Sue Lusk's Orakei Rd home is a peaceful, welcoming sanctuary for this family who have loved living here for 48 years.
The couple had been married for a year and were expecting the first of their three children in 1967 when they bought the 1600sq m property, down a long driveway and on to Waiata Reserve.
Tony says Sue wasn't keen at first as the two-bedroom, 1923 bungalow, whose previous owners had included writer Sir James McNeish, was "in shabby nick". But she was won over by the property's quiet location, large section and how close it was to the reserve, a 1.59km-long stretch of council land that runs below the ridgelines of Victoria Ave and Orakei Rd and was a wilderness in the 1960s.
The Lusks lived in their northwest-facing house for two years before tackling the first of two renovations, done in 1969 and 1979. The home's footprint remained largely the same but its interior was remodelled to improve flow, create two more bedrooms and make the most of the sun by adding extra windows and window seats.
Changing the layout of the living spaces on the top level included shifting the kitchen from the south to the east side and creating excellent indoor-outdoor flow by adding 60sq m of decking off the two main living spaces.
The basement level was developed into a sunny, usable space that now includes two bedrooms and a bathroom and has internal access to its gable-roofed double garage.
They have fitted cupboards and under-seat storage in the garage because Sue keeps the overflow of her large art collection here as there's ample space on the Lusk's driveway to park cars.
The garage is also large enough to be used as a rumpus room or teenage retreat.
As the house was developed to meet the demands of a growing family, Sue, a keen gardener, cast her artistic eye over the large section, which has been landscaped into a series of gardens.
Image 1 of 7: Herald Homes
68 Orakei Road, Remuera.
02 June 2015 NZ Herald photo by Ted Baghurst.
On the western side of the house, beyond the end of the driveway, is a semi-circular amphitheatre made of South Island schist pavers interplanted with ground covers and herbs.
The amphitheatre steps down to a large level lawn. A gate in the back fence leads to the reserve below.
Tony and Sue have fond memories of their three children roaming free in the once overgrown reserve which used to have several bridges over a stream that was full of native fish and eels.
"We were one of three families living close to each other with children who spent hours playing together -- making bamboo huts, feeding the native fish and the birds," says Sue.
The reserve, which is now well maintained and includes a leash-free area for dogs, is full of birds including woodpigeons, tui, grey warblers, rosellas and moreporks: all come on to the Lusks' property where several native trees and shrubs have taken root over the years.
Camellias, rhododendrons, azaleas and magnolias thrive in Sue and Tony's garden, which also has fruit trees including feijoas, a fig and a quince. Citrus trees thrive in the north-facing brick-paved courtyard, which joins the deck off the informal living and dining room.
This sunny room, like those throughout the house, is thoughtfully decorated to showcase Tony and Sue's large collection of art works and artefacts and to feel as welcoming and as restful as its outdoor setting. "I have had a great deal of pleasure making people feel comfortable here," says Sue.
Among those visitors are the couple's four grandchildren, who love having free rein of this much loved and well cared for property.
