When lorraine bartlett's adult children were helping her shift to auckland from the waikato, they wanted a place that would make their mum feel at home.
They knew they had found the ideal place when they came across this second-level apartment in the northridge building in stanwell st, just offparnell's gladstone rd.
The northeast-facing corner apartment has a lovely feeling of space and the light streams into the living areas.
There is a wide balcony, accessed through glass slider doors, and the city views stretch over the tree-lined streets of parnell, across the cbd including the vector arena and the sky city on the ridgeline, and then on to the harbour and bridge.
That northeast aspect is important, says lorraine, as it allows the all-day sunlight to come into the apartment, starting in the morning through the two wide and high windows beside the kitchen and dining and then, in the afternoon, through the glass slider doors.
The extended eave that provides shelter to the deck is at the right height to let low winter sunlight in, ensuring the apartment stays warm - but never too hot - the higher, more intense midday sun is shielded.
Daughter sharee tells how the family bought the freehold apartment in 2012. "Selling points were being on a quiet street, the wonderful views and being close to the motorways," she says.
2A/28 Stanwell St, Parnell Herald Homes apartment. Pictures / Supplied
"The access to the motorways from here is incredible, I have two or three to choose from. And it has also been easy for people from out of town to find me," says lorraine. "As they say, location, location, location."
On gladstone rd there is the popular rosie cafe, a pharmacy, wine shop, butcher, greengrocers, fish'n'chip shop, the rose gardens and bus stops. Parnell district school is nearby, too.
"It is a nice place to wander," says sharee. "Not too far from the supermarket or newmarket, it's very central. This apartment is a little gem."
When they bought the apartment it was configured as two bedrooms plus office. The family has changed the layout to now have one bedroom, one bathroom and a separate walk-in wardrobe. In doing this they have added more storage and opened up the living area.
As you come into the apartment, the bedroom is on your left, the walk-in wardrobe on your right. Then the hallway opens to the lounge, dining and kitchen area with access to the balcony. The bathroom opens off the lounge.
2A/28 Stanwell St, Parnell Herald Homes apartment. Pictures / Supplied
The kitchen is a generous space with good storage, granite bench and a high rimu shelf to hide activity in the kitchen.
There are 36 apartments on five levels in the northridge building, and the body corp is managed by crockers, with a manager onsite during the day.
The apartment includes two car parks, one under the building, the other is a car port. Other residents are mainly owner-occupiers - a mix of families, people who work in the city and some retirees.
The family is selling because now mum has adapted to apartment living she wants to be even closer in the city centre.
