SCHOOL ZONES:
Bayfield Primary, Ponsonby Intermediate, Auckland Girls’ Grammar School, Western Springs College.
CONTACT:
Jan George, 0274 784 119, or Aaron Haabjoern, 021 469 226.
*Plus double carport
Sixteeen years ago Jenny and Mike Corry wanted to simplify their lives so began looking for a townhouse.
Having lived in character homes in Herne Bay since the 1970s, they were ready for a change.
But, as Jenny says, they just couldn't find anything they liked.
When they saw thistwo-storey villa, on the corner of Herne Bay Rd and Bella Vista Rd, for sale, they were tempted to have a look - much to the bemusement of the real estate agent who had been trying to find them a townhouse.
But Jenny and Mike were drawn in by the charms of the villa, which has return verandas on both levels detailed with ornate fretwork.
"When we walked in the door here, this home just wrapped its arms around us," says Jenny.
And it's easy to see why, as the home has all the character features of a kauri villa such as a high stud and large sash windows that make the most of the light and views courtesy of its corner site, which is give privacy by tall hedging.
Jenny says she has been told the home was probably built in the late 1800s and was likely to have been architecturally designed as it doesn't have the standard features of villas of the day.
One of those features is the elegant staircase that ascends to the first floor in one flight as you come in the front door, which is framed by leadlight windows.
On the ground floor, two formal rooms - lounge and dining - with working back-to-From these carpeted formal rooms you transition to a kitchen/family room with wooden floors that opens to a large courtyard.
"That's one of the things we like about this house; there are lots of place to be," says Jenny.
Off the southern side of the kitchen/family room is a laundry and bathroom.
Image 1 of 6: 20 Herne Bay Rd, Auckland. Photograph / Ted Baghurst.
A feature of the kitchen, which has a servery out to a covered part of the courtyard, is the brick firewall painted white in keeping with the home's neutral colour scheme, which is given texture by the use of Anaglypta wallpaper.
Jenny says she and Mike are Francophiles so when they decided to remove the kidney-shaped swimming pool and create a courtyard, they went for a French theme with a petanque area down some steps.
The raised courtyard, with its ivy clad walls and water feature, has the feel of a French village square.
Also out here is Mike's office/man cave - "I don't know what he gets up to in there," says Jenny of the brick-walled structure.
Opposite that is access down to the double garage, which has a double carport in front of it.
Upstairs there are three bedrooms with two of them wrapping around and opening out to a corner deck with a pergola and north-facing harbour views.
One of them was the designated master bedroom but Jenny and Mike decided they liked the third bedroom because it gets the morning sun.
It also has a sunroom/nursery, a walk-in wardrobe and en suite with double vanities.
The old master bedroom, which also opens out to the return verandah, has been set up as Jenny's office space, from where she can enjoy the wide views.
After more than 40 years living in the area, the Corrys now have plans to spend more time at the holiday home they have owned for a long time on Waiheke Island.
