The home was only 5 years old when she bought here and was one of five dwellings a developer had created by subdividing the grounds where a grand home once stood. Of those five houses, this was the only single-level home, although the true value of that didn't become apparent in Julie's life until a couple of years later.
That was in the mid-90s, after keen golfer Julie had enjoyed the pool and nurtured the garden, indulging her love of white blooms. Then, a couple of years before her second husband, Robert Nicholas, died, she was diagnosed with the degenerative disease Parkinson's.
But she's been able to enjoy this home for many more years thanks to its flowing single-level living.
Westbourne Rd quietly feeds off Remuera Rd less than 1km towards Newmarket from Remuera Village. It's double-Grammar zoned, well stocked with multimillion-dollar character homes and handy to key private schools.
Number 21 is well down the no-exit street, and privately located behind its front double garage, additional open-air parking pad, fencing and gardened front entry.
Fine Arts graduate Julie chose painting as her primary medium and particularly likes the home's foyer for hanging art. The layout's north-facing stretch of lounge, dining room and kitchen-family room are great entertainers. Their smooth flow through French doors out to the courtyard is invaluable in warmer months.
"It's a very good design," says Julie. "My friends always say it's their favourite house."
Sunshine continues to stream in as the courtyard's cherry tree leaves turn gold, its warmth bolstered by the living room's gas fire and gas central heating throughout. This living flank has double doors between the living and dining rooms, a lovely green outlook including a view of Rangitoto Island.
Julie has been conscientious about maintenance and has redecorated and upgraded the home, including modernising its kitchen, which has two ovens, a dishwasher and gas hob.
Three good-sized bedrooms off a rear hallway have northeasterly Remuera views towards Portland Rd. The master bedroom has an en suite, a walk-in dressing room and French doors out to the swimming pool and spa. (A low temporary barrier around the pool prevents Julie's beloved Australian terrier Kitty, who is blind, from taking unexpected dips). As well as outdoor entertaining around this gardened courtyard there is a level lawn at the rear of the grounds.
A roomy bathroom, separate laundry and guest toilet round out the floor-plan.
"It'll be hard to say goodbye to this home because it's just been such a wonderful place to live," says Julie, who is moving to a retirement village.
