APARTMENT 3I CARLISLE BUILDING 7 EMILY PLACE AUCKLAND CENTRAL
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ON OFFER:
Large, freehold loft apartment has three bedrooms, one bathroom, separate powder room/laundry plus secure underground car park with storage locker.
FEATURES:
Separate powder room/laundry plus secure underground car park with storage locker.
New York, New York is the reason Blake Enting bought this apartment in Emily St's Carlisle building and also why he is now reluctantly selling it.
"In 2005 I spent a month in New York with friends," says Blake. "We hired a beautiful apartment one block from the Empire StateBuilding. The couple who owned it worked in design and advertising and had the space filled with beautiful art, photographs and books. It captured my heart and I made a decision then and there: 'I will one day have something like this'.
"I spent two years looking at heritage buildings all over central Auckland. I didn't know much about Emily Place or Britomart until after I bought. Instead it was the space -- the floors and mainly the light that did it. Light is everything.
"Character is so hard to find, but its impact on your life and soul on a daily basis cannot be underestimated."
Since he bought in 2006, Blake says the area around his apartment has transformed into a buzzing, fun area of restaurants, bars, shopping and weekend lifestyle. "The Saturday farmers' markets are fun to browse, the coffee excellent all around the area.
"It is a wonderful urban lifestyle. Okay, no back lawn, but you're living in among it all. The best thing about living here was going out, day or night, then coming home and hearing the hum of the city quietly in the background, but having our own quiet, private, big and light space."
During his time living here Blake painted the walls and ceilings in Resene Double Alabaster, re-wired the apartment, installed premium ECC lighting, skinned windows in ceramic UV film to protect artwork and books, fitted new carpet and appliances (except oven and fridge), and revamped bathroom to add a laundry.
Image 1 of 3: Light, spacious, full of character and with all fittings modernised, you can move right in
The two-storey apartment is on level three, under the apex of the building frontage. The first storey has the open-plan living space with handsome parquet flooring, solid wooden pillars and stainless steel benched kitchen plus french doors opening to the balconies.
A spectacular stairway leads to the top floor including master bedroom and walk-in wardrobe, a second bedroom, spacious bathroom with black slate flooring, freestanding egg-shaped bath and separate large shower. There's also a study/third bedroom.
While based in New York, Blake has rented out the apartment for around $750 a week. The building is about half owner-occupier, mostly a mix of older and younger professionals.
"We've agonised over the decision to sell for two years," says Blake. "We are uncertain how long we are going to be in America, but what we think is that when we come home, if ever, we will have children and want more outside area.
"I'm selling so we can start building a new dream. I fully realised this one and loved every single minute of it."
