Choose best of both worlds in Freemans Bay

45 Franklin Rd, Freemans Bay, Auckland. Photo / Supplied

45 FRANKLIN RD FREEMANS BAY

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SIZE: Land 523sq m, house 300sq m plus (approx).

PRICE INDICATION: Interest expected from $1.6 million upwards. Auction on site August 28 at noon (unless sold prior).

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 2-2.30pm.

ON THE WEB: premium.co.nz/30772

SCHOOL ZONES: Freemans Bay Primary School, Ponsonby Intermediate, Auckland Girls' Grammar, Western Springs College.

CONTACT: Pene Milne, Premium, ph 021 919 940.

FEATURES: Architecturally restored and refurbished trans-villa offers home and income with additional studio space on garden level. Appraised rental income of $750 a week in upstairs apartment or allowance made for easy reinstatement to huge six-bedroom, four-bathroom family home. Large amount of off-street parking plus small garden and multiple balconies.

Back in 2002, the long-time former owner of this well-loved but distinctly well-worn home in Freemans Bay's leafiest street decided the time had finally come for it to be nipped and tucked into the 21st century.

Being of a practical bent, she wanted to retain its existing use as a home and income while keeping its external appearance. Another aim was to introduce the gloss and mod cons that a large home in this increasingly desirable location should contain. By employing architect Jennifer Cook and a crack team of builders under Nigel Tizard, she achieved just this.

Roll on a few years and the present owners, Fran Bremner and Vince Abela (also an architect), moved in and - as architects tend to do - have put their mark on the property, too. Although not much needed changing because, as Fran says, "it was and is just like a new house", they felt they had to make a few changes - "more to make it ours than anything else". So they relocated the kitchen next to the big rear window and gave everything a new coat of white paint.

Vince also drew up plans and obtained the necessary building consent to enlarge the dining area, open up a few more links to the outdoors and revamp the master bedroom. Here, however, they paused. The house as it was worked well for the whole family. "We call it our vertical village," says Vince. "We have two sons and one of them lives in the flat upstairs; the other has the nearly self-contained studio below us. They have their independence and the security of the family fridge, and we see them all the time without having to share our living room. We all have the best of both worlds."

However, this is a house of many surprises. Although this sort of layout works well for a family whose offspring are nearly independent, a younger family could also be catered for: Jennifer's plan had allowed for an easy conversion back into a huge six-bedroom, four-bathroom home. An alcove in the third bedroom on the middle level that Vince uses as an office is where stairs could be punched through to link with the flat upstairs and studio below.

For now, the layout works just fine. The middle level, where Fran and Vince live, comprises three large bedrooms, two bathrooms (one en suite) and a huge kitchen, dining and living area. The top flat with its two bedrooms and another huge living area is where Fran rushes up to watch fireworks, admire the sun setting over the Sky Tower, or simply to visit Son No1. Balconies and walls of French windows in this direction allow the interior to be filled with light in the day and city drama at night.

"It's the closest thing Auckland has to a New York skyline," she says, acknowledging that the little balcony with the divided stable door off the main bedroom is a special place, too.

"You can really see the owner who did the modernisation skimped on nothing. There are all sorts of little touches like this."

But Fran and Vince are on the move as Vince is aching to build his own completely green home, ideally not too far away. Although keen to design a home that incorporates total energy efficiency, he admits leaving won't be easy.

"We have grown to so enjoy the community around here, and the way everything we need is within walking distance. Finding a nearby site will be a challenge, but we're up to it."