Herne Bay: No pussyfooting around the penthouse

The arrival of two new furry members of the family means designer Jennie Dunlop has to pass on the apartment that bears her personal touch.

6c Shelly Beach Road, Herne Bay.

Just when Jennie Dunlop and her husband Peter thought they were going to be living the footloose life of empty-nesters, along came a couple of problems.

Their names are Timothy Nigel and Lulubelle; two Persian cats that have made the couple rethink their plans for penthouse living.

Jennie and Peter, who have a 27-year-old son living overseas, bought this just-finished penthouse apartment in a three-storey block off the plans in 2002, but their circumstances have changed in the interim.

"I know it sounds pathetic but we actually bought two Persian cats in the middle of all this happening and we're not sure that they'll like living here," says Jennie, who has her own interior design company, Dunlop Design. "We're going to move in and see what happens but we've also got the place on the market."

In an ideal world, the couple had planned to split their time between the apartment and their beach house at Piha.

Well, the cats may be tough to please but there's a lot to like about the apartment with its breathtaking views of the Waitemata and beyond through floor-to-ceiling glass.

"With the tight size of the site, the designers have angled the building well for the sun and the views," Jennie says. "And with the low-rise nature of the building you've still got the urban views and the greenery, whereas in a high-rise apartment you have to walk on to the balcony to see anything other than sky."

The apartment has a large, open-plan living area with a north-facing balcony, while the master bedroom has its own small balcony. The kitchen has beautiful clean lines and Fisher & Paykel Iridium appliances. Bathrooms have floor-to-ceiling tiles, and the main bathroom has an inviting stand-alone bath.

Jennie has added her own finishing touches to improve on what is already truly desirable living. Apart from attending to the furnishings, she changed the colour of the carpeted areas to a darker hue to anchor the rooms, which have predominantly neutral colours. She added a kitchen island with a composite granite top and a larger gas Jetmaster fireplace in the living room. She also changed the cabinetry in the dressing room off the main bedroom to provide tidier storage and more space for shoes.

There are stylish elements everywhere: from the his-and-hers wash basins in the main bathroom to the skylights, which are rain-sensitive. The limestone floors in the living areas and bathrooms are heated, and the home has a separate laundry.

Jennie says she found it difficult working on her own home because "you tend to be fitting it in around your other work and your other clients".

But she feels that she has realised her vision for a special site.

"At this time in our lives we're looking at peace and serenity."

But unless Jennie can configure pet access to a penthouse apartment it looks like she and Peter will be searching for that serenity elsewhere.

Vital Statistics

SIZE: 187sq m.

PRICE: $1.8 million-plus. Body corporate $10,500 (approx).

INSPECT: Open homes Sat/Sun 3pm-3.45pm and Wed 5pm-5.45pm.

CONTACT: Wayne Bulog, ph 361 6479, mob 0274 723 557, or David Simons, ph 361 6485, mob 021 277 7579, Unlimited Potential.

FEATURES: Luxury penthouse with lift; built-in sound system; video phone security; gated complex with basement car park; gas fire and underfloor heating; separate laundry.