The low-maintenance aspects of this brick and cedar home appealed to Keith and Elise Williams when they went hunting for a new home nearly 30 years ago.
An equally strong drawcard was that the three-level, 300sq m home had plenty of space for them to pursue their separate hobbies without tripping over each other, says Elise.
"We've been able to spread out downstairs and do our own thing without getting in each other's way, and keep the upstairs tidy for our main living."
Elise is a keen landscape and portrait artist, and Keith's passion has been a prized US Army 1942 Indian motorcycle that he owned and rode, sometimes at vintage rallies, for more than four decades until a few years ago.
So it has suited the Williams perfectly that the basement of this three-level home has a large studio and a workshop adjoining its double, internal-access garage.
Their two sons, Jeff and Brennan, had already left school when Keith and Elise decided to shift from the family's large weatherboard house in Remuera Rd.
"The house needed painting all the time so we wanted something that would be less work, and which was also in the eastern suburbs closer to the seaside," says Keith, who likes yachting and being able to walk to the beach.
The Williams are only the second owners of the Hampton Drive house that was designed by architects Haughey, Woolford and Gillespie, and built in 1978. Keith and Elise have loved the home's well-considered layout, modern feel and wooden interior detailing including matai ceilings with rimu beams in the lounge, living and dining rooms.
The house has been beautifully maintained over the years and today looks almost as it did when it was built, with its original features intact.
These include custom-made cabinetry in most rooms, Japanese-style panelled sliding doors that separate the formal dining room from the kitchen and formal lounge, and a large open fireplace that is set into a brick wall facade.
The few cosmetic changes they have made over the years include removing a spa pool, renewing outside decking that opens off the family and dining rooms, and painting the hallway.
Electric central heating keeps the house warm in winter with brick walls helping to retain the heat. The upper level includes a roomy master bedroom with plenty of cupboard space and an en suite and pleasant views out over neighbouring rooftops.
All of the main living is on the middle level where you enter the house. Living spaces here include the formal lounge adjoining the formal dining room, which flows through to the family room and large kitchen with a walk-in pantry and central island.
The light-filled dining room and family room look out to the leafy back garden and behind the family room is a large laundry and sewing room. A mezzanine gallery that steps up from the family room has three bedrooms and the main bathroom opening off it.
After nearly three happy decades here, the Williams plan to move to a retirement home.
