SCHOOL ZONES:
Waterlea Primary School, Royal Oak Intermediate, Mangere College.
CONTACT:
Paul Robinson and Pauline Anderson, Harcourts, 021 047 6773 (Paul) or 021 770 799 (Pauline).
AUCTION:
On site 12.30pm June 25 (unless sold prior).
Ian Gronert reckons he and wife Helen enjoy a few extra months of summer since moving to this north-facing home with far-reaching views on the side of Mangere Mountain.
Ian says: "I'm an island boy who grew up in the subtropical climate of Norfolk Island and doesn't like winter. Before here we were living south-facing on the other side of the water in Hillsborough.
"I used to look over here and say, 'We'd get another few months of sun over there.' And we do."
In 2010, the couple came house-hunting in Mangere Bridge where Helen grew up and bought this 1967 two-storey Hardiplank-and-block home.
Ian says: "In its day this place would have been built to a higher spec than average but it had got pretty dated so it was the potential that attracted us." They agree its most unusual aspect is its upper-level views, which come with an element of surprise as people often don't anticipate them from street-level. Helen says: "People come up to the top of the stairs and say 'Wow, will you look at that view.' And the sunsets -- oh boy."
Ian says: "It's so serene living every day looking at a view which looks right into the distance and includes lots of water. When you look out at it, it really earths you." When the Gronerts moved in, friends would ring them and joke "Is that the weather station?" because they can anticipate weather sweeping in.
Their outlook starts at the Awhitu Peninsula and stretches past Puketutu Island, the southern end of the Manukau Heads and the north head of the Waitakeres. It continues past Laingholm, Titirangi, and Hillsborough.
Former advertising man Ian does building and handyman work in semi-retirement, so was well-qualified to tackle completely renovating the home. The pair still chuckle about a bright orange spa bath they removed, which was so ugly even the inorganic scavengers rejected it.
Image 1 of 8: The sunsets from the upper level of this north-facing home are unrivalled. Photos / Fiona Goodall, Getty Images
The home is in a slightly elevated position but sits on level grounds, the rear part of which are fenced off, suiting children or pets such as the couple's husky, Dora. There's off-street parking in addition to two internal garages.
Ascend the timber-sheathed stairwell and the big kitchen-living-dining room with heat pump admires the view beautifully. The Gronerts made this space open-plan.
Ian says: "In winter you get lovely sun right the way into this room. With the sun, the double glazing and mid-floor insulation we installed and insulation in the roof, it's a lovely cosy place to be.
"Why wouldn't you have a north-facing deck?" explaining his rationale for building one to supplement a west-facing balcony. The deck has a cantilevered awning and big glass stacker doors creating a 3.5m opening out to it.
Helen drove design of the kitchen. It includes generous bench space, a walk-in pantry, an integrated wine fridge and widely proportioned Scholtes oven, rangehood and drawers.
Upstairs also has four bedrooms, including the master. It has a nice outlook and en suite access to the newly renovated upstairs bathroom.
Downstairs, the set-up could work well for parents or older children as it is effectively self-contained. It consists of a living room opening to a patio, a kitchen, bathroom, laundry and two bedrooms. The grounds include a good stretch of level lawn, a vege garden, border gardens and a decent-sized shed.
The couple are moving to Whakatane. It was Ian's base when he went scuba diving years ago and they re-discovered its delights on a recent road trip.
