20 Glendowie Rd, Glendowie, Auckland. Photo / Ted Baghurst
Grand new designs were on Nicola and Tony Dodds' minds when they bought this waterfront property in Glendowie for its spectacular views.
The couple moved here eight months ago with their sons Brandon, 16, and Nathan, 15, from a two-level home in Kohimaramara they had renovated and lived in for six years.
"That was a really nice house in a lovely spot near the beach on a flat piece of land. But it did not have a view of the water and we had always dreamed of having that," says Nicola.
"So we bought this property not for the house, but for the views and because it has such a great piece of land."
The two-level, 1990s plaster and weatherboard house at Glendowie Spit is at the beginning of a quiet cul-de-sac that has the Glendowie Boating Club at one end and the Churchill Club nearby.
The 1280sq m property that the previous long-term owners had landscaped with subtropicals including more than 50 palm trees, has water views across to Half Moon Bay.
"Living here feels as though you are somewhere beautiful in Fiji," says Nicola. "We call it 'the bach' because it is like being permanently on holiday and you feel as though you are away from it all."
Nicola and Tony had planned to remove the existing house and design and build afresh to get exactly what they wanted.
Doing this would have maximised their views that are already some of the best in the street because they are unobstructed by trees.
But they have now decided to sell the house to take up an unexpected business opportunity.
It took about two years of searching to find this property that is zoned "mixed house suburban". This means it can be subdivided into two sections and possibly three.
Being in zone for Glendowie School and Glendowie College, where Brandon and Nathan attend school, is also a drawcard, with the college just a few minutes' walk up the road.
The east-facing house is well positioned on its large, private site that has spacious, well-kept gardens that flow directly off front and back patios.
The front garden includes a solar-heated pool and the west-facing back garden has tiered lawns and is bordered on one side by a wide, herbaceous border.
A long driveway on the south side of the house leads to the home's main entrance and to an internal access garage that is large enough to fit two small cars.
The ground level includes an open plan living room, kitchen and dining room as well as a separate formal lounge with stunning views and a large, semi-open plan office.
This flexible space leads off the kitchen and was previously used as a formal dining room.
A wing that extends off the garage includes a laundry with outside access, the main bathroom, a separate toilet and two large bedrooms.
These both open to the back garden and one is big enough to make a great separate TV lounge.
Stairs near the entrance lobby lead up to the second level, which includes three bedrooms and the second bathroom.
In their time here, the Dodds have found the house easy to live in and have made only a few changes, including installing two heat pumps.
They love the community feel of Glendowie, which is a great suburb for families and retirees and is what Tony describes as "a destination suburb".
"There is no through traffic in St Heliers so it is peaceful here. On the other hand, it is convenient to be only five minutes' drive from St Heliers."