Glendowie: Soul of the Seventies

This Glendowie house with great architecture and beautiful views has inspired its artist owner.

A 1970s house with good bones has been updated in a sympathetic fashion, writes Donna Fleming.

411 Riddell Road, Glendowie.

When members of the Lornie family close the front doors of their Riddell Rd home behind them for the last time, it will be an emotional moment for them all.

Brett and Sally and their daughters Melissa, 17, and Katie, 15, have lived in the house for 16 years, and it's full of happy memories. It's where the girls have grown up - learning to swim in the pool, playing tennis in the driveway and hanging out with friends in their downstairs living area.

Brett has spent many hours gazing at views of the Waitemata Harbour and Tamaki Estuary, and Sally has been inspired to create stunning artworks displayed through the home.

The house has been the scene of many enjoyable parties - with guests spilling out of the living area on to the huge deck and the paved poolside patio. It was the venue for Sally's sister's wedding.

"Leaving is going to be very hard," concedes Brett. "We've loved living here and it's been a wonderful place to bring up a family." But it's time for something new and they've just bought another home they're keen to stamp their personalities on.

When they bought the cedar board and batten home in 1989 it was ready to be updated inside. Built in 1971, the interior features included classics from the era such as shagpile carpet and orange kitchen benches. But the house had been so well designed they knew it would suit them for many years to come. "It's a timeless house," says Sally. "Fashions have come and gone but this house has always been cool. I think that's due to great architecture."

The three-level house, down a right-of-way, was designed by Swan Railley Architects. When the Lornies decided to add on a dining room 10 years ago they called on the services of Lindy Leuschke, who came up with an extension that looks like it has always been there.

Other changes to the house over the years include moving the kitchen from the ground floor to the living area, extending the deck and adding a flight of stairs to the pool. A year ago they updated the main bathroom, putting in underfloor heating and tiling. In truly decadent 70s style, the house came complete with a sauna and plunge pool. The pool's gone now but the sauna is still used.

The main living area is cosy in winter thanks to a gas fire. In summer, eaves stop the all-day sun (the house is north-facing) flooding straight in the floor-to-ceiling windows and creating a hothouse. Two walls of windows and sliding doors mean unobstructed views from Rangitoto to Musick Point. "We see whales and dolphins regularly and there are always lots of boats to watch," says Sally.

The downstairs TV/living room, which is mostly Melissa and Katie's domain, has a stunning parquet floor and French doors leading out to the garden, heated swimming pool and spa pool. The Lornies have landscaped the grounds around the pool and a pretty sheltered area at the front of the house. There is also a private accessway from the property to the Tamaki Estuary, and sprawling Churchill Park is across Riddell Rd.

Though the Lornies are excited about moving to nearby Mission Bay, it's going to be hard to walk away from the house they've loved for so long.

"This place has soul," says Sally. "It's really very unique and I just hope whoever buys it loves it as much as we have."

Vital Statistics

SIZE: Land 1027sq m, house 230sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: Interest expected over $1.7 million. Auction August 10.

INSPECT: Sat, Sun and Tues, 1-2pm.

CONTACT: Bob Gordon, Barfoot & Thompson, ph 575 9079 bus, 025 759 025 mob.

FEATURES: Architect-designed three-level cedar board and batten house down right-of-way, open plan living/dining/kitchen with expansive sea views, electric deck awning, gas fire, second living area/TV room, Swedish-style sauna, heated swimming pool and spa, double internal access garage with lots of storage space, off-street parking for up to five cars, access to Tamaki Estuary.