A wind vane on the roof of the garage hints at a former life of the property at 23 Omahu Road, Remuera. Rod Davis, the sailor who was part of the successful 2017 Team NZ America's Cup campaign, arrived with his wife Liz many years ago and their family grew up here.
Coincidentally, the current owners, Matthew and Marie Henry, also share a famous sporting connection. Yes, it's that Henry. Matt is son of former All Black coach Sir Graham Henry.
Matt says that when he and Marie bought the home in 2012, the Californian bungalow had been altered and enlarged to create more space for the Davis' children and to relate better to the big level garden at the back.
The changes were completed to marry the new look with the traditional character throughout. Everything was just as they liked it, so the Henrys haven't needed to re-do a thing since they bought it.
"We were living in Grey Lynn with three young children — Kate was aged one, Finn two and Olivia four," says Matt.
"We'd outgrown the three-bedroom villa with one living area. Yet, we loved character homes and still wanted something with character but needed a bit more space. It also had to face north-west for sun.
"This came up and it ticked all those boxes — a nice big backyard, sun, and facing the right way.
"We felt it was somewhere the family could grow with. It's a good useable home."
The open-plan living addition built by Davis has been perfect for socialising, says Matt, with a large timber island bench in the kitchen and french doors opening wide to a paved patio.
"Even in mid-August, sun streams in all day. We spend a lot of time in this part of the house.
"We can keep an eye on the children who love to play in the big beech tree, climbing up and down ropes on to platforms and shooting down the slide.
"The backyard was one of the key attractions as somewhere the kids could play. It engages with the living area so well. It's all part of the one big space."
In the original part of the house, along the wide timber panelled hallway, the formal entertaining rooms include a handsome timber-panelled dining room with a traditional fireplace.
It opens into both a light-filled sunroom, which extends into the garden, and the lounge featuring a corner window seat and leadlight windows.
Three of the bedrooms, including the substantial master bedroom, line up along the ground floor, while 11-year-old Olivia has a lovely upstairs room with views.
Adjoining the landing, a big study is versatile as another living space, or it could even be another bedroom.
All bedrooms have big wardrobes and, in the deep eaves, there is extra "storage for Africa", says Matt.
Although they love the home, Matt and Marie have decided to live closer to Marie's parents in Cambridge, so Matt can commute when needed. They'll miss living here.
"From a practical perspective, it's been so easy with all three children, being able to walk to school and not having to get in the car," says Marie.
"It's a great location, just down from the village, handy to everything."
23 OMAHU RD, REMUERA • 5 bedrooms, 3 bathroom, 1* parking spaces. • Land 1104sq m, House 295sq m. • Price: CV $3,425,000. • Inspect: Sat 25 Aug, 1-1.30pm and Sun 26 Aug, 3.30-4pm. • Auction: Sun, 26 Aug, 4pm, on site. • Schools: Remuera Primary, Remuera Intermediate, Auckland Grammar & Auckland Girls' Grammar Schools. • Contact: Steve Koerber, 021 864 166, steve.koerber@raywhite.com, nz.raywhite.com/auckland-city/remuera/1933736/
