T here is little to suggest from the street outside Rod and Margaret Coleman's home in Hobsonville that it has views of the sea — until you step inside and take in the harbour and Hobsonville Marina.
Rod, retired from his panel and paint business, says: "It was the wonderful harbour view which convinced us to buy a section and build here 34 years ago."
Margaret, who used to work in the office of the business, says: "We used to come up here at night before we started building just to look out at the view and watch the lights."
The couple had lived for 18 years on the Te Atatu Peninsula but wanted to be closer to the business in Kumeu.
They bought this section overlooking Limeburners Bay, which housed brickworks from the 1800s to 1920s.
Their outlook encompasses a wide swathe of harbour stretching past Kauri Point, the Sky Tower and CBD, past Mt Eden, Mt Albert and Pt Chevalier round to Te Atatu Peninsula.
"Of course the Sky Tower wasn't there when we built," says Rod. "We have the added bonus of overlooking Bannings Reserve, a little-used, flat expanse of land great for children to play on."
They upgraded all the joinery to modern profiles, reorganised the layout and extended, creating a smart contemporary looking home.
Margaret says: "Almost every room in the house, including the office, has a view."
Rod used his experienced panelbeater's eye for colour to choose Resene Gravel for the exterior. It's so striking that passersby have stopped to ask what the colour is.
As well as an oversized double garage with internal access, they have ample off-street parking, including a spot where they park their campervan. It would also fit a boat.
A fenced front lawn and garden preface a covered entrance accented by a schist column, opening into a wide double-height foyer.
The open-plan living-dining-kitchen (it's an entertainer's kitchen), its hardwood floors and 2.7m stud height, plus the neighbouring family room, offer a harbour view and open to a large deck. This layout has witnessed great parties, dinners and other functions.
An office with a shuttered internal window looks through the open-plan area to the view.
The foyer also opens to a side patio. This level is rounded out with a bathroom, laundry room and an additional front lounge with its own entrance, which could suit a home office or fourth bedroom.
Upstairs, peaked ceilings enhance the spaciousness of three bedrooms accompanied by a family bathroom. These include the master with its own balcony, walk-in-wardrobe and en suite.
The upper deck steps down to a lower deck which in turn steps down to the garden, which Margaret initially developed with an eye for foliage for floral art.
The couple plan to downsize.
20 WISELEY RD, HOBSONVILLE • 3bedrooms, 2 bathroom, 2 parking spaces. • Land 997sq m, house 301sq m. • Auction: Sat 23 March (unless sold prior). • Inspect: Sat/Sun 1-2pm. • Schools: Hobsonville School, Hobsonville Point Secondary School. • Contact: Terry Jones, Wallace Stratton, 027 492 0529, Janet Jones 021 745 730.
