Freshly polished 50s gem in Remuera

9 Shera Rd, Remuera, Auckland. Photo / Supplied

9 SHERA RD REMUERA

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SIZE: Land 1322sq m, house 265sq m.

PRICE INDICATION: Properties with similar land and house size have sold for $1.9 million plus. Auction May 22.

INSPECT: Sunday 12-12.40pm.

ON THE WEB: rwremuera.co.nz/RMU20628

SCHOOL ZONES: Victoria Avenue School, Remuera Intermediate School, Auckland Grammar School, Epsom Girls' Grammar School.

CONTACT: Heather Walton or Nicholas Dallyn, Ray White Remuera, ph 021 432 167 or 520 7663 (Heather), 021 444 744 or 520 9100 (Nicholas).

FEATURES: Remuera home built in the 1950s and elegantly renovated and extended in a style sympathetic to its Modernist roots. On a large site with choice of outdoor living spaces, including a pool area, several decks and terraces, a flat backyard and a tract of bush.

When Jeremy and Donna bought their Remuera home, the large section was so overgrown it was several months before they discovered a sizeable pool in the backyard.

"Out the back was this absolute jungle," says Jeremy. "You'd have to take a search and rescue team with you to get down to the back."

The previous owners had got part-way through renovating the 1950s cedar home but hadn't reached the backyard before their situation changed and they sold the house.

It was just as well, in hindsight. They'd planned to build a double garage out back and draw the driveway right around the house. Today it's evident that this would have been an unfortunate decision.

For Jeremy and Donna have created an urban oasis that maximises every square metre. They built a double garage on the roadside and banished the driveway altogether so they could transform the front of the property into a private outdoor retreat, with landscaped entranceway, 12m lap pool, spa pool and fireplace.

Meanwhile, they filled and levelled the backyard to create a cricket-friendly lawn, while preserving a patch of bush beyond as a green escape for the kids. An area to the side of the house became a concreted outdoor space that's been put to good use by the couple's three sons and their skateboards.

The previous owners, however, could not be faulted for the work they'd begun on the house, which was built in the late-1950s by architect George Kenny. He earned a New Zealand Institute of Architects Award for his efforts and lived in the house for the rest of his life.

Jeremy and Donna's predecessors hired architect Malcolm Bowes of Architectus to gently bring the home into the modern era while preserving its Modernism-inspired roots.

It was evident they had been working front to back before renovations abruptly stopped. When Jeremy and Donna bought the house, the hall began and ended at a piece of Gib board.

They had created a funky living area and an elegant master suite upstairs, but the other bedrooms were downstairs. For several months Donna slept upstairs and Jeremy and their three boys, then aged 2, 3 and 5, slept downstairs.

The couple got Malcolm back on the job, and he whisked away the Gib and designed a stairwell to reunite the family. He also added a large room at the back of the house that could function as an office or bedroom.

Jeremy and Donna say the house has been a brilliant family home, with plenty of indoor and outdoor spaces for kids and adults - and all their friends.

Upstairs, the living areas are created from a large cube, with a kitchen and fireplace in the middle, separating the space into a family room that opens out onto a terrace, a stylish lounge that opens out to the deck and a formal dining area that shares a deck with the master suite. Downstairs are two bedrooms, a bathroom and an additional lounge, opening out on to the private outdoor games area. The office is on a split level between the two.

Jeremy and Donna are reluctantly selling to pursue a business venture.