Hassle-free heritage - Grey Lynn

A replica villa has the beauty of a bygone era but with modern comforts.

35 Castle Street, Grey Lynn.

Ever wished your house-hunting could unearth character without the compromises? Do you long for heritage without the headaches, whimsy without the warped floorboards and swollen windows?

Knowledgeable builders have mistaken this home for a stunningly renovated turn-of-the-century dwelling despite the beguiling double bay villa being only 10 years old.

Owner Kate Milne says, ``It has so much character with all the wonderful advantages of basically being a newish home. It's fully insulated and has no drafts or condensation. We've got two little children and it has been such a big plus for us having Finlay and Laura in rooms that are warm and dry.''

Design-savvy Kate admits to being a bit of a perfectionist, a trait a real estate agent must have recognised when enticing her and husband Simon to the villa six years ago with the declaration, ``Kate, we have found your house.'' Kate obviously agreed. ``We bought it even before they had their first open home.''

The couple understand the site previously housed a condemned home accessed from Stanmore Rd, owned by an elderly gentleman whose horde of cats didn't mind missing floorboards and faulty sanitation.

In the early 90s, new owners abandoned plans to replace the irreparable building with a contemporary home because of the property's Residential 1 zoning, which recognises the area's heritage.

Those owners then poured their energy into creating a heritage-style home sympathetic to the broad corner site and open to the sun. One was a designer, and the tale goes he had the new villa's roof removed and re-made after deciding its pitch wasn't right.

As subsequent owners, the Milnes appreciate his fervour. ``He took a huge amount of trouble and pride to make the home lie beautifully on the land. The design is very balanced and the layout is not at all like traditional villas as you have got all your living areas on one side, facing north.''

Kate thought she was also going to be indebted to the elderly former owner when garden renovations unearthed a buried chest. ``I thought the old man had buried his treasure in the garden,'' she exclaims, before quietly divulging feline remains were inside.

The house's symmetry entices as you approach the leadlight bejewelled double front door, behind which is a perfectly-centred alcove displaying fresh blooms. Behind this again is an elegant formal dining room.

Sun bathes the wooden floors of the living areas to the right, warming a sitting room, living room and kitchen that are each defined enough to create intimate spaces yet open-plan enough to flow.

At the other end are three carpeted bedrooms and a bathroom with integrated laundry. In the master bedroom the view through the walk-through wardrobe cleverly highlights a leadlight window, which bathes the over-sized en suite with golden light.

Other improvements have been adding a storage-filled garage, topped with a loft which transforms from study to fourth bedroom when the children's adoring grandmother comes to stay.

The other has been establishing gracious structured gardens where flourishing greenery with year-round good looks complement sunny outdoor entertaining areas and return verandahs.

The couple are selling as they want to tackle another project, but it has taken them some time to come to terms with parting with the villa, which is a short stroll down their quiet street from the West Lynn shops.

``We just love this house so much. We were about to put it on the market last March, but the weekend before the first open home we decided we weren't ready. That gave us a bit more time to feel that we've really put our mark on this house and now we're completely looking forward to making our mark on another one.''

VITAL STATISTICS

BEDROOMS: 3+

BATHROOMS: 3

GARAGES: 1+ 3

LAND: 396sq m, house 153sq m (excluding garage & guest room).

PRICE INDICATION: CV $840,000. Auction this Wednesday, July 26.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 3.30-4.15pm.

ON THE WEB: www.barfoot.co.nz #343957

CONTACT: Gillian Brodie, Barfoot & Thompson City, ph 307 6340 bus, 021 906 811 mob, 308 9574 a/h.

FEATURES: Meticulously designed and constructed replica double bay villa with contemporary benefits such as a modern layout that maximises the sun, full insulation, draught-free windows and multiple living areas. Set in stunning formal gardens on a private corner site.