Setting the standard in Remuera

20 Ridings Rd, Remuera, Auckland. Photo / Geoff Dale

20 RIDINGS RD REMUERA

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SIZE: Land 919sq m, house 208sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: CV $1.69 million. Auction on-site November 21 at 3pm.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 2pm-3pm.

ON THE WEB: rwremuera.co.nz

SCHOOL ZONES: Remuera School, Remuera Intermediate, Auckland Grammar, Epsom Girls' Grammar.

CONTACT: Terry and Diana King, Ray White, ph 520 9100 or 021 484 332.

FEATURES: Original homestead designed by leading Auckland architect on a large north-facing section in a sought-after Remuera street, close to Remuera and Newmarket and in double- Grammar zone.

"A grand little house" might well have been architect Surrey S. Alleman's brief to himself when he designed the home of his dreams in the 1920s.

Alleman designed several other private residences in Auckland's eastern suburbs, as well as commercial buildings including the Otahuhu Civic Centre, the Helena Rubenstein Factory in Onehunga and Tappenden Motors on Stanley St in Parnell.

But he was best-known for his mid-1930s design of Garden Court on Mission Bay's waterfront - a two-storey brick complex of 20 flats which was marketed at the time as having "every labour-saving device possible", plus state-of-the-art fixtures and fittings.

Like Garden Court, which is almost unchanged, at least on the outside, since it was built 75 years ago, Alleman's own Ridings Rd residence has stood the test of time.

The two-storey Arts and Crafts-style home has had only three owners, including Alleman, and is almost exactly as it was built, with its original double-brick base, cedar weatherboards and "Rosemary" roof tiles intact.

Original internal features include three different patterns of leadlights, designed to complement details in the house such as panelled wood walls and elaborate door handles. There is also a hidden cupboard or "priest's hole" in the dining room which still has its swing doors through to the kitchen - a feature originally intended to make table-waiting easier for the maid.

Current owner Hobbe Numan had admired number20 ever since he and his family moved into a house two doors down 30 years ago. So he leapt at the chance to buy it when the previous owners sold up 18 months ago after living there for 42 years.

"I love these old houses," says Hobbe. "This one has the wonderful quality of being a grand little home. The spaces make you feel as though you are in a bigger house because the proportions have been worked out so beautifully."

That sense of grandeur begins with the home's street appeal. Sitting high on a gently sloping, north-facing, 919sq m property, it has views over Remuera's northern slopes and is sheltered from southerlies by nearby Mt St John. Inside, a central wooden staircase anchors the house and leads from the entrance hall up to a landing on the second floor with four of the five rooms on this level, including the original bathroom, opening off it.

The other rooms include the master bedroom with picture windows to the east, a second large double bedroom on the western side and a north-facing sunroom that leads through to a small bedroom.

Downstairs, leadlight doors lead from the formal drawing room to the dining room. This, in turn, connects to a decent-sized kitchen with kauri cabinetry and a cubicle with built-in bench seats and a small table for informal meals.

Although the drawing room is not large by today's standards, its clever configuration includes two discreet sitting areas - one around the large open fireplace and the other by north-facing windows which have views out over the front garden.

Also on this level are a small maid's room and a study, which has doors opening on to the front porch and could double as a fourth bedroom or second living space.

After living in Ridings Rd for three decades, Hobbe says the location is hard to beat.

"We are in a no-exit street full of large sections, so it is perfect for kids to play in. We are surrounded by good schools and there's a tennis club across the road.

"Regardless of whether you are going north, south, east or west, we are completely central. There's a great little shopping area a few minutes away in Bassett Rd. And at the end of the street you can cut through a little lane and walk to Newmarket in 10 minutes. What more could you want?"