This is streets ahead in Kohimarama

10 Tulagi Place, Kohimarama, Auckland. Photo / Ollie Dale

10 TULAGI PL KOHIMARAMA

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SIZE: Land 880sq m, house 174sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: 2008 CV $1.04million. Auction July 6 (unless sold prior).

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 2-2.30pm.

ON THE WEB: barfoot.co.nz/456392

SCHOOL ZONES: St Thomas School, St Ignatious School and Selwyn College.

CONTACT: Karin Cooper, Barfoot & Thompson St Heliers, ph 0274 912 158 or 575 9079.

FEATURES: Spacious home with deck on a large site at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac. Options to enjoy as is, pursue consented plans for garage extension and pool, or explore subdivision potential (residential 6a /one per 375sqm).

The upmarket and friendly cul-de-sac in which one Kohimarama family lives has been almost as important to them as their pretty 50s home.

Matthew and Leigh moved into their weatherboard house a decade ago this month, when children Claudia, now 12, and Jack, 11, were small.

And over the past 10 years visitors have commented on two things; their prime spot at the tip of the neighbourly little no-exit street, and how surprisingly spacious the home is, given that first glance suggests something cottage-sized.

Leigh can't speak highly enough about raising kids "off-thoroughfare", recalling them safely mastering bikes, skateboards and RipStik caster boards on the cul-de-sac's asphalt.

"Jack was riding a two-wheeler from about the age of 2," Leigh remembers with a smile.

"We've stayed 10 years because it's just been lovely living here, and it's such a friendly street. Just the other weekend we had dinner with one lot of neighbours and drinks with another the next evening."

Even before they'd met their neighbours, the property had plenty that appealed - "the character, warmth and space of the house and its great proximity to parks and recreational facilities".

It's a short walk to take their Maltese terrier Paddy off-leash at Madill's Farm, or for a stroll to Kohi's beach and cafes.

At 880sq m, there's subdivision potential in their residential 6a-zoned property.

There's a big front yard, stretching from the parking spot for Matthew's beloved 8.5m boat to the double carport. The house is set well back, with window frames painted black to co-ordinate with its dark concrete-tiled roof.

The home features two living areas, four bedrooms plus an office or rumpus. Sun shines into the northwest-facing open-plan kitchen/living/dining area. It has French doors flowing out to a big sunny deck under a pergola, with another deck behind.

The family have made some upgrades, but the house was already renovated when they bought it. The roomy kitchen with granite benches worked well from day one, and was great for entertaining, with friends congregating around the bar seating.

A wood-burning fireplace heats the living area.

You'll often find the children upstairs in the big second living area, which is the sole upper-level room, with views over Madill's Farm to the sea.

Bay windows are a feature of the bedrooms.

These extend along two wings, radiating out from the main level's open-plan living space. One wing has the master suite with heat-pump, walk-in wardrobe and double-basin en suite. The other houses another three bedrooms (one used as an office), the family bathroom, plus a separate laundry.

Add into the mix the spacious basement room with its own entrance, and the home's versatility really starts to show. It's used as a guest bedroom, but would work well as a work-from-home office or rumpus room.

Both Leigh and Matthew run their own businesses. They were planning their "next phase" at the sheltered property, only recently getting plans consented for a double garage and swimming pool and extensions enabling swapping the master suite and second living area's locations.

Then daughter Claudia egged them into visiting a property, which they ended up buying.

Leigh says friends are surprised to hear they're relocating.

"We've always known we've had a lovely spot and we'd never really talked about moving."

However, she can understand Claudia and Jack's building sense of excitement about moving. "After all, they can't remember ever having done it before in their lives."