Jane Scott says she and husband Ash Hare kept driving back and forth past this upgraded 1910 home, trying to figure out where it was.
The couple bought here intent on revitalising this as their own home, using life coach Jane's love of interior design and Ash's construction company.
"Whenwe bought here four years ago almost all the old colonial detailing had been removed, the ceilings lowered and the front veranda filled in," says Jane.
"But we knew we could bring it back, making it even nicer than it had been before by adding lots of extras to make it the ultimate family home."
They recognised the appeal of the location within this quiet, friendly community. The bus to school stops outside and the corner site intersecting Second Ave lets light flood in.
"And it's easy to go swimming in a little cove over the road that's one-and-a-half minutes walk from our front door."
The couple overhauled the villa in two stages aided by heritage architect Stephen Jones and interior-savvy friend Sally Holland.
Living onsite at one stage entailed walking the plank over muddy winter grounds to a temporary kitchen in a shed.
The extended, repiled, fully insulated home includes gas central heating and alarm zones for the villa, garage and the shed's premium reincarnation, the summer house.
Jane says: "Our neighbour across the road said, 'It's a Swiss job' meaning everything is high quality from the ground up."
Even the ceiling of the carport adjoining the heritage-style single garage is intricately beamed. The fully-fenced property with intercom and bespoke gates promises great privacy as the ficus tuffi hedge grows.
Image 1 of 6: Careful restoration has retained heritage, while placing family life at the heart of a gracious Devonport villa. Photos / Michelle Hyslop
The return veranda villa once again sports elaborate detailing. The high-stud interior showcases assiduously restored sash windows and beamed ceilings, a couple of which have the original metal ceiling roses.
The hallway displays original kauri floors, feature lighting throughout, storage cupboards and a fine archway incorporating corbels hand-carved by a modern craftsman.
Jane says: "Comparing them to the ones you buy off the shelf is like comparing a dress from a budget shop to one from a designer."
The master suite's walk-through wardrobe has nifty pull-down storage maximising the ceiling height and leads to a sumptuous fully tiled double-basin en suite.
Like the main bathroom, with its marble-clad bath and double shower, the en suite features Italian tiles and tapware, and marble bench-tops.
A restful lounge opening to the veranda could be used as another bedroom.
The rear lounge-kitchen-dining space with solid kauri floor, fitted study alcove and laundry is truly expansive. A decorative paint-finish artist painted and waxed cabinetry around its gas fireplace.
Jane prepares healthy food in the svelte kitchen where European appliances include dual ovens and two integrated fridge freezers.
There are two sinks, a dishwasher and dish-drawer, a wine fridge and a view straight out to the Harbour Bridge.
The open-plan living flows out to a patio deck from which you can admire the landscaped grounds, and where Manx cat Zephyr tries to teach canines Wilson and Poppy that he is top dog.
The summer house could be used for guests, teens, or as work-from-home. Lined with painted battened ply for extra character, it houses a large carpeted bedroom/room with kitchenette, a wardrobe and an upmarket ensuite.
The couple bought the house planning to stay for many years, but though Jane will continue to practice in Auckland, they have now decided to live a life more connected with nature on a larger block of land.
