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ST MARYS BAY. The charms of a central yet tranquil St Marys Bay home with great views had an American movie executive who stayed there keen on a repeat performance.
Helen Moore and her husband Mike rented their elegant two-storey home to an executive involved in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe movie while they took an overseas vacation three years ago.
Helen says "He loved it so much that we got a call late last year asking if he could rent it again while the movie's sequel was filmed. We had to say 'Sorry, but we're living in it'."
Their home is close to Jervois Road cafes, yet its position down a secure right-of-way delivers a serenely private setting from which to admire some fine views of the harbour.
Helen lived only one street away when she bought the section in mid-1997 and had the home built, before meeting and marrying Mike.
"We like the area so much that now we've bought only 200m away," she laughs, explaining their living requirements have changed since their seven-year-old granddaughter and extended family moved in with them.
An automated gate secures the lush citrus-lined driveway the property shares with two other homes. Cypress trees rise above walls cocooning the front-of-house courtyard garden that incorporates lawn and a paved covered patio area.
For those not entering via the internal access-double garage at rear, entry is via the copper-accented front door. Helen loves the warmth of copper, investing in copper downpipes and a copper roof accented by timber-lined eaves.
Inside, a wrought-iron balustrade curls upstairs to the upper level where the couple spend most of their time.
Their master bedroom suite with walk-in wardrobe and en suite enjoys views over Rangitoto and opens to the pergola-topped end of the deck. The other end is covered and popular year-round thanks to its overhead outdoor heater and clear drop-down, all-weather screen.
This end has a superb outlook over Westhaven Marina and the Harbour Bridge, which can also be admired from the open-plan kitchen-dining-living room just inside the bifold doors.
This open-plan spread has rimu floors and a gas fire. The expansive kitchen radiating round a central island includes granite benches and a silver tower formed by a stainless steel rangehood topping the stainless splashback, gas hob and stainless drawers. The rear courtyard off the kitchen luxuriates in afternoon sun and its bubbling water feature is included in the sale's chattels.
The two bedrooms and second lounge on the ground floor open to the secure front courtyard garden. Nearby are a bathroom, laundry, storage room and one of two studies. This layout may appeal to those wanting work-from-home flexibility.
Helen outfitted the home with joinery that is timber inside and aluminium outside, plus air-conditioning and a central vacuum system.
Outside, the home is creamy-coloured Niwala stone on the lower level and solid plaster above, both over Eterpan substrate with a cavity system.
Helen says the home has been an "absolute delight" to live in and is pleased moving nearby means they'll stay part of the local community, which celebrates occasions such as Christmas and Guy Fawkes in nearby Selby Square.
