Glendowie: Suzanne's waterfront wonderland

Oozing luxury at every turn, the home of TV presenter Suzanne Paul is a romantic hideaway where relaxing is the name of the game. By VICKI HOLDER.

Always on the go, TV presenter Suzanne Paul once found it hard to relax. However, when she built her dream home - a romantic Italianate villa hidden away on the Glendowie clifftop - all that changed.

"It's a relaxing house - a bit too relaxing," says Suzanne. "Last summer, I used to walk the dog and swim in the pool to cool off. Then I would lie there and look out at the sparkling water and the trees and not move, which is great for me, because I'm not good at sitting still. This place calms me down."

A bit of a "softy", she cranks up the heat in the pool to around 30 degrees so she and her guests can swim for most of the year. And they can always take a dip in the spa pool downstairs in the park-like, subtropical garden.

These hedonistic delights are part of a suite that's dedicated to entertaining. The huge downstairs area contains a lounge, billiard room and bar-cum-kitchen that opens through bifolds to an expansive barbecue terrace. The large home theatre, wine cellar, gym and stunning his-and-hers, mosaic-tiled bathrooms are to the rear.

"I wanted a separate floor for entertaining," says Suzanne. "I have just had a party and there was food and bottles everywhere, but at the end of the night I could walk upstairs and leave it. Life carries on as normal on the top two floors until I come down a few days later when I'm ready to face the mess."

Suzanne loves having people over and the luxurious self-contained, two-bedroom guest apartment over the triple-car garage makes it easy. It's connected to the main house via a covered walkway that sweeps around the enormous circular parking forecourt.

"There's enough room for everyone here," quips Suzanne. In fact, there's almost enough room for everyone in her bedroom suite alone. On the top floor, it opens to a broad terrace that soaks up the sun and enjoys fabulous Hauraki Gulf views.

Because Suzanne doesn't fancy sharing her bathroom, she has her own sumptuous marble en suite with a make-up corner, pretty Duravit Art Deco-inspired fittings, spa bath, shower with spray column and tapware studded with sapphires, rubies and diamonds. Her dressing room next door rivals Smith & Caughey for space. "His" en suite is masculine with dark marble tiles and dark-stained timber with square profile fittings. It extends to a dressing room with fitted drawers for belts, socks and underwear and racks for suits behind dark-stained timber sliders.

Two more large bedrooms on the top level feature ceiling fans to reduce the humidity at night in summer. Smart wiring switches the heat or fans on automatically. The air conditioning and under-floor heating are so effective that Suzanne wears T-shirts all year round.

The main living area opens from a portico and a grand, marble entry. It sprawls across the middle level to vast decks that offer grandstand views. Two lounges - a formal and family room with gas fires - flank a big dining room and gourmet kitchen equipped with everything imaginable to make cooking a pleasure, including two Gaggenau ovens, a micro-oven, pull-out stainless-steel pantries, gas and electric hobs, a built-in vegetable steamer and an extractor fan. There's even a built-in step ladder "for short people" concealed in the toe-kick.

Suzanne retreats to her workspace in two adjoining studies with an en suite behind the living area. There is a large laundry and a workroom en route to the guest quarters.

Lacking for nothing, this enormous luxury waterfront hideaway is fit for a movie star.

Vital statistics:

ADDRESS: 473 Riddell Rd, Glendowie.

FEATURES: Just-completed three-level home; beach access; Hauraki Gulf views; separate lounges with gas fires; three bedrooms plus double office; two-bedroom self-contained guest quarters with lounge and views; seven bathrooms; entertainment wing with games room, gym, lounge, wine cellar, bar, home theatre, bathrooms, heated pool, spa and barbecue; master bedroom with his-and-hers en suites and dressing rooms; smart wired; fans in bedrooms; air conditioning; under-floor heating; video camera security and automatic remote-controlled gates.

SIZE: Land area 1931sq m; floor area 745sq m.

INTERNATIONAL TENDER: Closes 4pm, November 18.

AGENT: Rob Anderson, Bayleys, St Heliers. Ph 575 0760 bus; 025 281 6900 mob.