SCHOOL ZONES:
Hobsonville Point Primary School, Hobsonville Point Secondary School.
CONTACT:
Clare Ellis, Bayleys, 021 614 778.
Last year Jane Yee and Joel Kefali had a front-row seat as renovations on The Block NZ got under way across the road from their home in Mt Roskill. Halfway through the series they bought their large, character home in Hobsonville Point and appreciated it all the more as allthe hard work had been done.
Although they hadn't toiled with hammers and paint brushes, the couple had done "loads of research" on the communities' facilities and schools and made many weekend reconnaissance trips, says Jane.
The need for a bigger house came thanks to their son Victor, 3 and "surprise twins" Maisie and Jude, 16 months. "We had to upsize our car and our house."
Jane, a former C4 television presenter, says because she was going to be more housebound with the three children she wanted a family home that was enjoyable to spend time in, with enough room for everyone.
Joel says Hobsonville Point appealed for its good schools and family-friendly feel.
"It's a great place for kids."
Both Joel and Jane say there's a great sense of community, possibly because Hobsonville Point is a new suburb and everybody who lives there has chosen to.
When they'd decided on Hobsonville Point as the place they wanted to live, Jane and Joel looked at two options -- one, a newly built home, and this property at 2 Sunderland Ave, a renovated 1930s English-cottage style former air force officer's home on a street of similar heritage properties.
Jane says she was initially concerned that being an older home it would be colder than the new house, but she says her fears were unfounded.
Image 1 of 9: This family home mixes traditional charm with modern high-tech capability. Photos / David Rowland, Getty Images
"There are no gaps anywhere in this house."
She credits developers Willis Bond and architects Salmon Reed with doing an exceptional job.
"They haven't jut renovated and extended this home, they have restored it, too."
This particular home was the flagship property for the street and as such has some extra special touches, which sets it apart from its neighbours. It is the biggest house, with an extra bedroom and living area and a double garage.
"We just fell in love with it," says Jane.
"And we had become disillusioned with central Auckland prices. But from here it's equidistant to the city on the northern or northwestern motorways."
Joel, a director who's responsible for Lorde's Royals music video, has a studio in Ponsonby.
"It only takes 20 minutes to get there if the traffic's not busy," he says.
Set on more than a quarter-acre fully fenced section, this home is extremely spacious. There are three living areas, four bedrooms, a "ridiculously big" family bathroom with Duravit fittings, plus a master suite with a walk-in wardrobe and en suite. The kitchen, with a high-spec induction cooktop and butler's pantry, has a composite stone benchtop.
"We would never have imagined having all these luxuries if we were doing our own renovation," Jane says. "Everyone who comes here just falls in love with it. And for the first time ever we were able to host the family Christmas."
Melded in with this home's traditional charm is high-tech capability. There is ultra-fast broadband with ether points throughout the house. There are dimmable switches in every room and demisters in the bathroom.
"When we moved in here we were almost giggling," says Jane. "It felt so grown up."
Despite loving this house and the community, Jane and Joel are selling to be closer to family in East Auckland. Joel's work is taking him overseas frequently and they want to be ready to move offshore easily should the opportunity arise.
