Not only was the house the ideal fit for them, so was the location. "Ponsonby is funky and fun, peopled with characters, and has so many places to eat, shop, have great coffee and meet people," she says.
Stamping a further seal of approval on their new name for the property, on their second night at the house, around Christmas 1998, the couple heard loud crunching noises outside ... the garden was the residence of a family of hedgehogs.
"They became regular visitors to our back door, and it was very common to see the baby in the daylight, eating the dry cat food ... with the cat looking on in disgust! We knew then that we had finally found the real 'Hedgehog Hill'."
Although delighted with their new purchase, Jessica and Steve did change some of the rooms' functions.
"Somebody had joined one of the front bedrooms to the living room to make a formal-style living area," says Jessica. "That didn't suit our lifestyle, so we recreated the second downstairs bedroom and opened up the living-area floor plan to include the lounge with the dining area and kitchen."
Upstairs, they converted an office into another bathroom to serve the top bedroom. An old tub from downstairs fits into the dormer window's contours, perfect for a bubble bath with a view of the SkyTower.
They also made over the garden.
"We re-landscaped to make better use of the space for outdoor entertaining, re-energised the soil for growing (there is a little side area for veges and herbs), plus created a lower maintenance garden by utilising the kind of tropical vegetation that does so well there."
Hedgehog Hill hosted regular get-togethers for friends and family before the couple headed overseas last year to work on yachts.
"We used to have an open house every Wednesday night for friends, family and neighbours; sometimes we had six people show up, sometimes 20. We had space for everyone indoors or outdoors. And the kitchen is great for parties around the central island block."
Coming up the steps to No3 from Georgina St, the front door opens into a classic entry hall with a bedroom on either side, both with french doors to the front porch. The master bedroom on the left has a built-in wardrobe, a bay window with window seat and is decorated in soft colours. "It's very peaceful," says Jessica.
At the end of the hall, a coloured glass door leads into the living room, dining area and the kitchen. To the left of the door are stairs to the next level's bathroom and bedroom. These have city views, as does the master bedroom.
Although Jessica is now based in Europe, the house retains a special place in her heart. "I spend a lot of time there in my head, especially before I go to sleep," she says.
"I remember having a gin and tonic on the front porch and waving at neighbours ... wrapped up in a blanket with a good book in the window seat of the master bedroom ... in the bath with lots of candles and the fabulous view ... or having a glass of sav with our friends in the back garden.
"We are gutted to have to sell it, but it's time to let go. We think the house deserves a permanent live-in owner. We hope and pray that nobody will be able to ever tear down the house and build some modern structure on the land. There has been too much of that in Auckland. It's a great street, full of terrific people, and a wonderful neighbourhood to live in, and we see the house as a piece of history that needs to be cherished."
