Glendene

The Blackledges have added their horticultural touches to the grounds, which were already attractively landscaped when the couple moved in 12 years ago. Picture / Geoff Dale

Having loved the house and nurtured the gardens at their Glendene property, the owners feel it's time for another generation to delight in it.

It was love at first sight for Ruth and Colin Blackledge when an intuitive real estate agent took them to visit this Glendene property 12 years ago.

Having built their previous home, the couple had no plans to move. Half-jokingly, they described their dream home to a real estate agent, who happened to have a property on the market that exactly fitted the bill.

"You just get a feeling, don't you," says Ruth. "I walked in here and thought 'this is for me'. I fell in love with the old-fashioned villa look and I could see there was a lot of potential in the garden. I knew this was the place - I was meant to be here."

The property was perfect for the couple, who are keen gardeners. Not only is there a Palmers garden centre just metres down the road, but the home had previously been owned by the Palmer family, so its gently sloping 1750sq m, north-east-facing section was attractively landscaped with mature plantings.

A wide, paved driveway sweeps in a graceful curve from the front gate towards a spacious parking area at the rear of the property, while a winding path guides visitors past roses and a robinia tree to the front door. There, a round stained-glass window on the front porch marries with three others in the main bathroom just inside the front door.

Built in 1932 with a sympathetic addition at the rear in 1980, the house retains much of its original charm, with leadlight detailing, bay windows and dark wood ceiling beams features of the four bedrooms at the front of the home. The three double bedrooms and one single bedroom all have copious wardrobes.

A short hallway leads to the spacious open-plan living areas. Decorated in cream with wooden trim, the kitchen is linked to the dining room by a breakfast bar, offering the benefits of open-plan living while still concealing messy workspaces.

The dining room steps down to a living area, heated by a wood fire and with french doors leading to a pergola-covered bricked patio perfectly placed to catch the morning sun and wide views to the north-east.

A second large living space faces north, with four sets of french doors on two sides opening out to a covered wooden veranda. Currently decked out as a formal lounge, it would also make a wonderful rumpus or play room for children.

Another small living area is currently utilised as a television room. "I'm one of these people that doesn't like the TV in the lounge," says Ruth.

An internal-access garage opens off the living area and also houses a second bathroom, ideally located for a quick wash after a day in the garden.

There's also a separate laundry with more storage space and access directly to a rear courtyard, where the washing line catches the afternoon sun. It backs on to one of the double bedrooms, so it could easily be converted into an en suite.

Since she retired from the printing business her husband still runs, Ruth has made a career out of caring for the property. There's not a blade of grass out of place on the immaculately manicured lawn, and not a speck of dust in the 270sq m home.

"My husband does the donkey work and I do the weeding," she says. "I've got a good handyman husband, so I'm lucky."

A double garage accessed through a wisteria-covered archway at the rear of the property and a carport offer covered parking. A gardener's shed houses essential tools.

Mature natives, such as totara and a variegated pohutukawa, line the boundaries, while underplantings include colourful fuchsias, agaves and ferns. Dotted throughout the garden, park benches and a wrought-iron table and chairs create secluded venues for private contemplation.

It is with some sadness that Ruth and Colin pack up 12 years of memories, but with its large lawn, fairy paths, swings and playhouse crying out to be explored by a new generation of children, Ruth hopes the home will be bought and enjoyed by a young family.

"I feel it's wasted on us," she says. "It's too big for us now. We've loved being here, but now we've got to downsize."

Vital Statistics

ADDRESS: 4181 Great North Rd, Glendene.

FEATURES: Immaculate four-bedroom home with two bathrooms, three living areas, open-plan kitchen and dining room and wood burner; internal-access garage plus carport; separate double garage and shed; extensive established gardens; north-east-facing terrace and decks; views.

LAND AREA: Land area 1750sq m; floor area 270sq m.

AUCTION: March 5, on site, at 1pm. Interest expected from $400,000.

AGENT: David Moy, Harcourts. Ph 827 3030 bus; 837 3322 ah; 021 951 267 mob.