SCHOOL ZONES:
St Heliers School, St Ignatius School and Glendowie College.
CONTACT:
Ferne Butler, Ray White, 021 652 139.
AUCTION:
April 24.
It's fair to say Peter McClure is a long-time fan of St Heliers. His current address is his seventh in the area in the past 35 years. He loves the suburb's "beautiful atmosphere", trees, north-facing aspect, waterfront and the "fantastic village".
Peter's first introduction to 45a Lammermoor Drive was visiting friends who owned the Lawrence Sumich-designed 1990s house previously. "I loved where it was," Peter says, citing its quiet and sunny secluded spot down a driveway. He also liked the generous spaces and warmth.
When he bought the house three years ago, he set about making it his own, engaging Pacific Environments and Precision Construction to renovate and include his number-one requirement -- a big, wrap-around deck on the upper level.
The completed deck is now one of his favourite features. It has a glass balustrade so views over the leafy valley are unimpeded. A large portion of the deck is covered by a Louvretec pergola. "You can cop the sun all day here," Peter says. "And it's always sheltered. You don't get the south-west winds here and if you're sitting down on the bean bags you can't really see another house."
Interior designer Claire Yildiz helped choose paint colours and window treatments, as well as refreshing the kitchen with new cabinet fronts, a central island unit, topped with composite stone, and Gaggenau and Miele appliances.
The kitchen and adjoining casual living area has new American oak timber flooring and flows through to a carpeted formal dining room and then to a formal living room with a gas fireplace as its focus. Claire arranged for a solid timber unit to be custom-made for this room. At the flick of a switch a TV rises out of the unit. It's completely hidden when not in use.
Custom furniture was also made for the nearby master bedroom -- a set of drawers and a bedhead with built-in bedside tables. Light switches are discreetly integrated. The twin-basin master en suite is freshly renovated and the walk-in wardrobe has a new storage system.
Image 1 of 5: The lure of the 'fantastic' village and its pleasing waterfront has never waned -- even after three decades. Photos / Ted Baghurst
The entire house has excellent storage everywhere. The kitchen has several pull-out units, making pantry and crockery easily accessible. Downstairs is a walk-in linen cupboard and the three downstairs bedrooms all have copious storage.
Peter did consider using the largest of the downstairs bedrooms as his room. It has an en suite and, like all other downstairs rooms, opens on to a terrace. Peter uses the middle bedroom as his office. A large living room next to it would be perfect for teenagers, as well as a family bathroom with a large bath.
New, quality anodised aluminium joinery with double-glazing is throughout the house.
"This is the warmest house I have ever lived in, bar none," says Peter. As well as underfloor heating downstairs, two heat pumps and the gas fireplace keep upstairs cosy.
"It's always so warm in winter, but cool in summer."
Peter describes his home as "very practical". It's only a short distance from the carpeted garage, through the laundry and into the kitchen to carry groceries. The house is secure, with an entrance gate and is fully alarmed.
"And there are no lawns to mow," says Peter, who would rather be surfing than grappling with a mower.
He is selling now because with adult children living away, the 367sq m home is too big for him on his own. He's planning on a smaller property -- naturally in St Heliers.
