Westmere: Moored in the bush

The house is all about modern lines, lots of light, frosted glass, black bean wooden floors and spacious living areas.

Coxs Bay offers boaties and bush-lovers a desirable address within easy reach of the inner city.

Coxs Bay is a part of Auckland's inner city that a number of suburbs - Westmere, Herne Bay, Ponsonby even Grey Lynn - claim as theirs. The first of the inner harbour bays, it looks across to the bush-clad hills of Beachaven, and its park - with sports grounds, board walks and mangroves - stretches as far as Grey Lynn Park and Williamson Ave.

Marina and Brent Oetgen - who fell in love with their 1920s bungalow, despite its 1980s-style alterations, when they rented it in 2000 - have always loved the area.

"We couldn't believe the unexpected views of the park and bay we got from the back of the house," says Brent. "A back yard dropping into bush is not what you think of in Auckland's inner city. It's a totally private retreat."

When the owners decided to move back in with their two teenagers, the Oetgens shifted around the corner, but asked for first refusal if the owners ever sold. That opportunity came up, and 12 months later the Oetgens were back at number 30.

They knew exactly what to do - call architect Andrew Bull. They had loved living in a house he'd designed and knew he could work the same treatment on a renovation. And what a renovation.

While the house frontage fits in with the street's character, concrete pavers, stacked block walls and a sculptural garden hint that this is no typical bungalow.

Sure enough, from the frosted glass front door onwards, the house is a picture of modern lines, unexpected light and layers of finely detailed texture.

"It was great to work with Andrew. He really took us beyond what we thought we needed," says Marina. "His attention to detail was a real education to us, because those unexpected details make all the difference."

These details include striking black bean wood floors, zinc eyebrow roofs above the kitchen and downstairs bedrooms, frosted glass walls and a stacked stone block feature wall.

Brett swears the contractors Andrew assembled were the best in Auckland, and unlike some renovations, this one turned out to be a great experience for the family.

Only one original front bedroom, complete with bay window, remains. The other front room, with built-in black bean wood closets and dresser, was created from the original sunroom and lounge.

A family bathroom was crafted out of a third bedroom, while an entire master suite, complete with sitting room, was added downstairs.

This downstairs space has the slickest details. Floor-to-ceiling sliding doors open to a tiny lawn that drops away to bush. The walk-in closet, with its custom-made rails and theatre-style lighting, has a wall of frosted glass that makes the clothes glow. There's even a lit display shelf for Marina's favourite handbags and accessories. A skylight allows light to flood into the en suite, where tiny windows afford a glimpse of the bush.

The dark wood cabinetry is repeated in the well-designed kitchen, where Smeg appliances and brushed steel handles contrast with a quartz benchtop and frosted glass tile splashback. Marina and Brett love cooking, easily serving a dozen or more at the wide servery bench. A double walk-in pantry keeps crockery and groceries stashed away.

Andrew wanted sliding windows and doors to open the kitchen and dining room to the decks and views. Cedar shutters create shelter from the sun, while the house is kept toasty in winter by central heating. A separate formal living area, also opening to the deck and views, means adults can have their own retreat (there is also a sun-soaked sitting room off the master bedroom).

The original bathroom has been converted into a home office and can be closed off with sliding shoji-style walls. Fully wired, it would make an ideal home theatre.

Storage includes a built-in sideboard in the entry lobby, walls of linen closets and a 34sq m store room downstairs. Currently used as a workshop, this could easily be converted into a rumpus room.

Outside, the low-maintenance garden drops into bush, which adjoins the reserve. While the park and nearby sea sports take care of exercise, the family enjoys the increasing collection of smart cafes and food stores on Richmond Rd and in West Lynn.

So fond are they of the renovation process, Brett and Marina are selling up and planning a new project.

Vital Statistics

ADDRESS: 30 Kingsley St, Westmere.

FEATURES: Redesigned 1920s bungalow over two levels with bush and bay views; three double bedrooms (master with walk-in closet and en suite); family bathroom; designer kitchen and dining room opening to paved terraces; formal living; office; casual sitting room; ground-floor storage room; off-street parking; close to Coxs Bay Reserve, tennis club, boat ramp and shops.

SIZE: Land area 531sq m; floor area 190sq m plus 30sq m basement and 34sq m terraces.

AUCTION: April 9. Interest expected in the low $1 millions.

AGENTS: George Lancaster and Grant Parker, Remax. Ph George 969 0095 bus; 021 736 608 mob; Grant 969 0096 bus; 021 271 6767 mob.