This house had to fit the heritage look and there are elements of those big concrete villas here and elements of the Caribbean plantation-style, too."
The Simon family bought this property and its early 20th-century villa 10 years ago and lived here for several years while they worked on the planning detail of this home with its pool house, saltwater in-ground pool and conservatory, all swathed in densely planted tropical gardens.
Richard and Greg designed the conservatory that was inspired by Greg's love of the Wintergarden in the Auckland Domain.
It is Jo's favourite spot for a late-afternoon cup of tea, overlooking the kitchen garden with its raised planters and the orchard in the back landscaped garden with its ordered planting of citrus, feijoa trees and a passion-fruit vine.
Richard and Jo worked together on the kitchen design, with its island bench of honed Italian Calacatta marble and the extended stainless, perimeter bench with cupboards that store all the accoutrements for dining close to the table.
The downstairs bathroom has an exterior door for those coming in from the pool and who'll have already rinsed off under the outdoor shower by the pool house.
The two guest bedrooms overlooking the garden have double doors adjoining them, rather than a wall.
This versatility has already proven itself; one of the rooms has worked as an office, and as a sitting room.
Dressing one as a single bedroom and the second as a double has worked well, too, says Jo.
Behind closed doors there is another important upstairs-downstairs connection in the laundry chute that is in the children's lounge close to their bedrooms and the master bedroom.
Up the stairs, which were chosen to complement the French oak flooring, underneath the carpet is all solid concrete.
Jo explains: "So many people compromise and go for timber for their middle level believing that it is cheaper but making it solid concrete means that the house is solid, it doesn't creak and it is so quiet."
In the master en suite is the same marble vanity as in the kitchen and power points that are visible only when the under-bench drawers are pulled open. Outdoors, there is a fireplace and a barbecue in front of the pool house.
Greg and Jo Simon are keen to build another home. Once again the site will determine their architectural direction, just as it did here in Jervois Rd a decade ago.
