SCHOOL ZONES:
Murray’s Bay Intermediate, Rangitoto College, Murray’s Bay School.
CONTACT:
Andrew Doreen, Precision, 021 747 334.
SET SALE DATE:
Wednesday May 6, 4pm.
Martin Wellesley's beachside upbringing on Auckland's North Shore inspired him to build this house with his own two young boys in mind.
When he sold his disaster recovery business in 2007 while he was in his 40s, he felt he finally had the time to devote to having a family. After sons Dallas, now 4, and Jazz, 5, were born, he began looking for a property in the East Coast Bays on which he could build two houses -- one for him and his boys and the other to sell.
The single-titled, cliff-top, 1012sq m property he bought in Bournemouth Tce in 2013 was perched above Murray's Bay with spectacular views of the Hauraki Gulf that take in Motutapu, Tiritiri Matangi and Kawau islands.
The sloping property, which sits above the North Shore Coastal Walkway, had a run-down 1960s weatherboard house on it that had been built as a bach, with rooms gradually added haphazardly.
Martin has now finished a nine-month build of his first house, which is closest to the street, and is building the cliff-side property he has decided to live in with his boys.
"It was always going to be a take your pick scenario," he says.
He decided to design both houses himself and employed architect Henry Linn of PTG Architecture to draw up the plans.
"Design is a pleasure for me. I enjoy making spaces work. I have also designed two other private homes and two commercial buildings. So that was helpful when it came to designing these properties."
The two-level house on sale is constructed of cedar weatherboards with a concrete base and is oriented for northeast living to make the most of the sun all year round.
The five-bedroom, three-bathroom home is well laid out for family life, with generous living areas on both levels that can accommodate teenagers or guests and allows for separate living spaces.
"I like to describe the house as a luxurious one-bedroom apartment with an attached convention centre," says Martin, referring to the self-contained downstairs level which has three of the five bedrooms and separate garden access.
Image 1 of 12: A two-level, streamlined beauty in a prime area features big, flexible living spaces
The home's impressive street frontage includes a vertically battened cedar fence, which is anchored by plastered concrete block, echoing the home's construction.
Striking vertical cedar "fins" break up the home's horizontal weatherboards and silver-grey Peruvian tiles create textural contrast at the front entrance. Floor-to-ceiling doors and windows in the main living spaces capitalise on the home's elevated site and its sweeping sea views, with 2-7m stud heights in the main living areas adding to the sense of space.
Martin opted for a black and white colour palette which is softened by American oak flooring and plush silver-grey carpets in the bedrooms and master bedroom front lounge.
The upstairs level includes an open-plan kitchen, family and dining room which look directly out to the sea and open to a deck that also links to the master bedroom. A "secret" slide away door between the dining room and upstairs powder room and laundry can be opened for daily use or closed to create a more intimate feel for dining.
Connected to the master bedroom, en suite and walk-in wardrobe is a small, fifth bedroom which would make an ideal nursery.
Downstairs, where you enter the house, are three double bedrooms, all with separate external access, a double internal-access garage and a rumpus room-cum-living room with access to the swimming pool.
This living space also includes a kitchenette and a bathroom services the bedrooms on this level.
