It was as a young couple, pre-children, that Alison and husband Geoff bought here in 1980. They had been living in Devonport and were enamoured with this home's location, in a quiet street leading to the sea, only a stone's throw from central Takapuna.
The house, as it was then, was not the drawcard. Originally a small cottage, it had evolved over the years to resemble a bungalow. Much of the interior was mustard-hued, and came with shag-pile carpet.
Two years after they moved in, Alison and Geoff embarked on an extensive renovation and extension, raising the stud height of the original house, and adding an upper storey and gracious return verandas on both levels.
They extended the rear of the house with a rimu sarked-ceiling kitchen and family room, with French doors out to a deck.
Apart from the major construction jobs, Alison and Geoff did a lot of the work themselves, juggling full-time employment with their home improvements. "We did anything we could, really," recalls Alison.
When the couple's children came along, the spaces within the house adapted accordingly, becoming nurseries, play rooms and bedrooms as needed. "It's been a lovely family home," says Alison. "It's testament to the amount of time we're been here."
Inside the front door, the home's Wedgwood-blue hallway connects to the family living and kitchen area at the rear.
At the front of the house, the hall opens on to a bay-windowed guest bedroom on the right - Katie's room when she's home.
Across the hall is a formal living room, which flows into what was once a formal dining room and is now used by Geoff as an office.
Steps lead up to the kitchen, part of which was updated nine years ago. This room has double ovens, and a layout that works very well, accommodating several people at a time.
The casual living area alongside the kitchen has been great for parties over the years. Elegant taffeta curtains flank the French doors here, while other beautifully made curtains and roman blinds are found throughout the house. They've all been crafted by Alison, an accomplished seamstress.
Alison's sewing room is upstairs. "It's lovely in here as it gets the afternoon sun," she says. "And when I'm ironing, I get a peek of the sea."
Aimee and Sam's bedrooms are also upstairs, as is a family bathroom. Pointing to a hatch at the end of the bath, Alison mentions that the chute drops down to the laundry below.
"When the children lived at home we all joked that clothes would disappear in there and magically return, all washed and folded."
The spacious main bedroom has a view of the sea and two sets of French doors that open on to the upstairs return veranda. There's also an en-suite bathroom and a walk-in wardrobe.
Alison loves Takapuna and its "great sense of community". She and Geoff will miss Brett Ave, but they're selling after 33 years as it's now time for a change.
