SCHOOL ZONES:
Takapuna School, Takapuna Normal Intermediate, Takapuna Grammar, Westlake Girls and Boys.
CONTACT:
Victoria Bidwell, Bayleys, 021 947 080.
We don't need to go away in January like many people do because we've got everything we could want right here. We're about 20 steps down to the shoreline and an easy stroll to Takapuna." As reward for years tripping round the world on corporate transfers Kerry and Carolyn Gleesonbought themselves front row seats to the Kiwi lifestyle they'd been missing.
Their big waterfront Takapuna property with its gated waterfront access gazes directly at the sea sparkling around Rangitoto, the vista framed by the gnarled boughs of aged pohutukawa.
Kerry says: "I don't know how many times we've photographed that view."
He ran Gillette's New Zealand business before the company relocated him, Carolyn and their two children to Australia and San Francisco for around a decade. On their return they looked Auckland-wide for a property epitomising the lifestyle they'd been missing, finding this Terry Hitchcock-designed home in 1998.
Carolyn says: "It's such a sanctuary. I was struck by its peacefulness after living in LA, which was lovely but noisy. You don't hear traffic noise down here off this long driveway so you feel like you could be miles from anywhere."
Kerry says: "We don't need to go away in January like many people do because we've got everything we could want right here. We're about 20 steps down to the shoreline and an easy stroll to Takapuna."
Privacy permeates as the bulk of the grounds are elevated a few steps above sea level and planting shields the house from passers-by on the Takapuna-Milford coastal walkway.
Image 1 of 8: You cannot get much closer to the beachfront than this, a home where you can watch the dolphins in Takapuna's sparkling gulf waters. Photos / Ted Baghurst
Their imposing Brett Ave shared driveway simply labelled "10" leads to eight properties, three of them waterfront.
Carolyn says: "People are often surprised to come down here and find we're right on the waterfront."
The eight properties, developed from a land cache formerly owned by sawmilling family the Nicks, share common grounds including a tennis court. Rock walls shield Number 10B's 1800sq m of additional exclusive use land.
Hitchcock designed the detailed cedar lead-roofed home, which has thick solid plaster internal walls, triple garaging and a single carport, to accommodate an ancient pohutukawa tree not far from its entrance.
Carolyn says: "He built it around the tree and he built it for the views."
Kerry adds: "It took us months to discover all the little vistas he'd created around the house."
A double-height foyer showcases American oak parquet flooring a craftsman told them he spent three months on his knees laying. A splendid view of the ocean immediately beckons through the roomy living room-kitchen.
Sarked cedar ceilings are a hallmark of the home and this one is gabled, reigning over plentiful doors and windows blurring the lines between inside and out. Kerry points to a stone-chip seawards patio, saying "the best place to sit is down there with a coffee looking out to sea. We've seen dolphins and orca lolling around out there."
The kitchen with gardened entertaining patio alongside was reinvented a couple of years ago with dark wood cabinetry, engineered stone benches and three ovens, including a steam one.
Bathrooms and powder rooms have also been renovated.
A dining room and second lounge gaze seawards, inviting expansive entertaining. A western wing opening to the heated pool has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a toilet, laundry and a big end family room used as Kerry's office.
They had their bed raised to better admire the upstairs master suite's spectacular sea view, sometimes waking each other up to exclaim over sights such as passing cruise ships.
The suite with walk-in wardrobe and svelte en suite harbouring a curvaceous freestanding bath neighbours another big upstairs bedroom with lounge area and balcony.
Children long grown, this home's been larger than they have needed for years. However, they only now feel able to prise themselves away from this outlook and position to downsize.
