True to elegant beginnings in Remuera

45 Portland Road, Remuera, Auckland. Photo / Ted Baghurst

45 PORTLAND RD REMUERA

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SIZE: Land 1214sq m, house more than 350sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: CV $3.6 million. Expressions of interest close November 30.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 12-12.45pm or by appointment.

ON THE WEB: remuerarealestateregister.co.nz

SCHOOL ZONES: Remuera Primary School, Remuera Intermediate School, Auckland Grammar School, Epsom Girls' Grammar School.

CONTACT: Terry King or Diana King, Remuera Real Estate Register, ph 520 6624, 021 484 332 (Terry) or 021 613 884 (Diana).

FEATURES: A stately Arts and Crafts-style home built during World War I and renovated to suit 21st-century family life, with formal and informal living areas, a deck and pool, a separate office and a separate studio apartment.

Bert and Andrea Lamb's Remuera home was built for some serious entertaining - in the days when that meant a wind-up gramophone, bowler hats and a new dance craze called the tango.

But perhaps the tango was far too scandalous for the kinds of receptions held at 45 Portland Rd in its earliest days. Bert and Andrea believe the large Arts and Crafts home was built as a farmhouse between 1914 and 1918 by a mayor of Auckland, though they don't know which one. (Two served in that period, Sir Christopher Parr and Sir James Gunson.)

The layout of the upper level hasn't changed much in the interim, so it's easy to imagine its original guests sweeping into the chandeliered foyer and being ushered into the large lounge for an aperitif by the open fireplace.

It's in this room that Bert was introduced to the formidable man from whom they bought the house 22 years ago - the Right Honourable Sir Owen Woodhouse, retired judge and Privy Councillor, and the architect of ACC.

Though Sir Owen drove a hard bargain, the Lambs could see the house was worth it. Their sons were then aged five and eight, and they knew the property had potential to make a great family home. Though the house retains its dignity and charm, it's no doubt enjoying a more casual lifestyle as it approaches its centenary. Soon after buying it, Bert and Andrea lifted the imposing atmosphere of the interior - once cocooned in dark wood and intricately patterned carpet - by administering a liberal dose of white paint, and raising the carpets to reveal pristine matai flooring that hadn't seen the sun in about 80 years.

As well as the original formal living area, there's now an open-plan informal area, which the Lambs created by knocking down a couple of walls and absorbing a sun porch.

It's here that Bert and Andrea spend most of their time. The large room is bathed in sun most of the day, with the kitchen at one end and French doors at the other, leading out to a private north-facing deck and swimming pool.

Underneath, in an area that once housed a laundry and woodshed, Bert created a "man cave", comprising his office (which doubles as a home theatre room) a home gym room, and a bathroom. He refused to install an internal staircase, to minimise interruptions.

The couple also built a separate double garage, with a large studio apartment above it for guests, and there's more potential for growth, says Bert, in the huge empty attic space under the steep tiled roof of the main house.

Bert and Andrea were careful to preserve the home's character and style, including the (now-painted) panelled woodwork in the formal living area, the open fireplace in the formal lounge, the stucco exterior and stained glass windows.

Bert has also been conscientious about continuing a fine tradition - entertaining. He says the house has been known, under his tenure, to host 150 guests.

With their sons long gone (though one recently returned from overseas and is in the studio flat), Bert and Andrea figure it's time to get a smaller place. "Twenty-two years is a long time in one place," says Bert, who says he'll miss the serenity of the property, which is set back from the road and sheltered from view behind an enormous oak tree.