SCHOOL ZONES:
Rudolf Steiner, Titirangi Primary School.
CONTACT:
Lynn Lacy-Hauck, Ray White, lynn.lacy-hauck@raywhite.com, 021 1900611.
AUCTION:
March 16, 6.30pm.
When artist and property developer Gerard Commissaris and his wife Andrea, a translator and landscape designer, came to look at this Titirangi section 23 years ago, they had to be content with viewing it from the neighbour's driveway.
"The land was covered in blackberries and gorse and we couldn't geton to it," says Andrea.
It is hard to imagine that scenario now when you visit the family's large villa set on an expanse of manicured lawn and garden, mature trees and native bush, plus thriving vegetable gardens.
The family had been living at Cornwallis with their three children, then aged 6, 4 and 2, who went to the Steiner school in Parau.
They settled in, taming the land, moving a villa from Parnell and building a one-bedroom cottage which could be rented out.
"Everything you see here apart from the native bush, we have planted," says Andrea. "We planted fruit trees and a vegetable garden, and we had chickens. We were almost self-sufficient. It was a paradise for the children to grow up and our youngest was born here.
The mature garden setting now gives the impression the villa has been here longer than two decades. In that time bedrooms and an en suite have been added to the rear.
Image 1 of 7: Relocated villa is a special family home. Photos / supplied
The solid kauri door at the front of the villa features a stained glass window with intense blues, opening to the long corridor with arches punctuating the expanse of space as you walk further into the home. Off to the left is the open plan kitchen and dining room leading to another veranda, the garden and pool.
On the right of the corridor is the lounge with a commanding fireplace, a Norwegian Jotul framed by a kauri surround and mantelpiece.
Continuing down the hallway you have the bedrooms, the master with en suite and a spa bath by windows that open out to the garden area with kowhai and willow and a private swing seat, and a second bathroom. Several bedrooms open through French doors to the verandas and garden areas. The one-bedroom cottage sits on the other side of the thriving potager vege gardens.
"Everything centred around the kids, the swing, the sandpit, the treehouse, the cricket pitch, the rugby posts," says Andrea.
"We have a pathway through the bush on our land to our exclusive jetty on the estuary at Little Muddy Creek. At high tide we would kayak to Laingholm Beach for an icecream and back again."
The family lived here for 20 years, shifting to Devonport three years ago. They may be selling their home but they are keeping wonderful family memories.
