Sandringham: Added Value

Myrtle Cottage, 36 Eldon Road, Sandringham

Back in the 1930s the Winstone concrete company built a cluster of cottages in Sandringham to show what could be done with its product.

They resemble little whitewashed dolls' houses, with quality art deco touches such as leadlight windows and rimu architraves.

When chef Philip Gipson saw this one 25 years ago he loved its quaint style. He named it Myrtle Cottage simply because he thought it suited this "little old lady" of a house.

Like its neighbours, it is compact and cosy inside, with an open fire in the lounge and lots of windows to bring in sun all day round. It also has central heating.

Eighteen years ago Philip had a conservatory added to the west-facing rear of the house to make the most of the afternoon sun and increase the house's size. He has his dining table in the octagonal section, and it would also suit a couple of couches or window seats to laze on at the end of the day. An alcove off the octagon houses his desk and computer.

"It used to have a glass ceiling, but was too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter, so I replaced it with a plaster ceiling," says Philip. Heat pads behind the plaster can be set on a timer, so the room is warm by the time you have breakfast there in the morning, and again when you get home later in the day.

An arched doorway leads through another alcove, past lit showcases with leadlight doors recycled from the original airing cupboard, into the modernised kitchen. Philip, who has worked as a chef at some of Auckland's flashest restaurants of past decades, including Top of the Town and the White Heron, created a hatch between the kitchen and the lounge so he wasn't cut off from his guests at home.

The conservatory also opens into a cobbled courtyard which Philip calls his "fairy garden". With its flowering trees, water feature, and a chimenea on which he cooks in summer, it has a magical quality. Along the side of the house is his "Le Jardin" - a bigger flower garden featuring queen palms and sculptures. There is space for seats to capture the northern sun, and an implement shed. Philip recently added ornamental shutters to the windows down this side of the house to balance the original shutters at the front.

"The section was just bare grass when I moved in," he says. "I'm rather proud of the gardens now."

Philip is hoping to move to Mangere Bridge where he can start a larger garden, and have a harbour view.

Cedarlite Conservatories custom builds the kind of conservatory on Philip's house. One like his, with an office alcove off an octagon, would cost $25,000 to $30,000. Check out www.cedarlite.co.nz

Vital Statistics

SIZE: Land 501sq m, house 100sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: Interest expected above $450,00. Auction May 22.

INSPECT: Saturday 1-1.45pm, Sunday 10.30am.

CONTACT: John Stempa, Cahill Real Estate, 0800 211 597, 021 991 597.

FEATURES: Original Winstone cottage opposite Balmoral School; conservatory opens to private northwest facing courtyard; Morris & James fountain; cedar shed; garage.