SCHOOL ZONES:
Richmond Rd School, Ponsonby Intermediate, Western Springs College, Auckland Girls’ Grammar, St Mary’s College.
CONTACT:
Steven Glucina and Dee McDade, LJ Hooker Ponsonby, 021 888 455 (Steven) or 021 448 832 (Dee).
AUCTION:
May 19
*Plus 2 off-street
About to embark on the massive renovation of a dilapidated old house, the Macdonalds wondered what the heck they'd got themselves into.
"It was just such a scary, daunting project," says Rahima Macdonald, "but we absolutely loved it when it was done and have never regretted it for a minute. The day we were moving in a lady who really liked it drove up, interested in buying it."
In 1987, Rahima and husband Ron were keen to move to Ponsonby as their three children were grown-ups and they wanted to shorten Ron's commute from Torbay to the city, where he works as a valuer.
However, little was on the market bar a single storey, early 1900s house, which Rahima suspects many buyers found too daunting to take on.
She believes its time-worn nature was the result of having been a rental after an early Ponsonby family had owned it for many years. There was no off-street parking, the kitchen was primitive and the bathroom was a celebration of patterned formica.
Architect Greg Jones re-invented the home, adding much-needed street appeal and a second level underneath. Rahima, who's now retired, took charge of the minimalist decor aided by having done a Nanette Cameron interior design course and having the advice of an ECC lighting consultant. Silver Fern Landscapes overhauled the grounds.
The two-storey home now exudes street appeal, inviting with its upper-level veranda and side-by-side entry-level garages fronted by parking pads. Downstairs is elegantly outfitted, with the entry hall flanked by doors to the two internal-access garages followed by a polished laundry room.
Climbing the lofty staircase you're struck by the high stud and light-filled nature of the upstairs level, where living unfurls across an open-plan rear kitchen-dining-living room flowing out to easy outdoor entertaining.
"We love this living area because it's so light and bright with such good access to outdoors," says Rahima.
"It's lovely to open the doors right up. In summer we live outdoors a lot."
Image 1 of 10: Good bones dressed in a new, stylish skin make a turn of the century villa irresistible
The living area features a wide gas fireplace, kauri floors and double Miele ovens in the kitchen.
"My absolute treat was this marble," she says, pointing out the luxurious Carrera marble down the back of the big kitchen island, highlighted with under-lighting. It is also used in the splash-back.
In the garden, edible elements enhance the framework provided by a white camellia hedge around a level lawn, with shaped bay trees, espaliered pears and citrus down the side of the house.
"I wanted a flat back garden and here it's totally enclosed and really private and safe. Ron is teaching our little grandson, Thomas, how to play soccer out the back."
The high stud is also emphasised in this level's bedrooms, two of which have cupboards above their wardrobes. The hallway, the master bedroom and one other bedroom all have French doors opening to the front veranda.
The master with walk-in wardrobe boasts an additional dumper head in its double shower en suite. This level also has a study which can be a fourth bedroom and an upmarket main bathroom.
"It's a lovely, warm, cosy house in winter, which you can heat up in 10 minutes. Ron was born and bred in Scotland and we put in central heating and double glazing."
Visitors, including Rahima's quilting group, always comment on how much they like the home and its high stud.
The couple enjoy entertaining at home and being able to stroll to Ponsonby's restaurants and cafes. Saturday and Sunday mornings Ron nips just down the road to Good One Cafe for takeaway coffee to enjoy while they read the newspaper.
