Mt Eden: The secret garden

An historic Mt Eden villa offers sanctuary just minutes from the city centre. VICKI HOLDER discovers it has weathered the years in style.

From the second floor of this home in a quiet Epsom cul-de-sac, you can see cows grazing on Mt Eden. It's so peaceful and hidden away the owner says it's like living in the country. Yet it's right in the heart of it all, within walking distance of Auckland Boys and Epsom Girls Grammar Schools, Mt Eden village and Newmarket.

The original villa for the area, the home was built on an expansive property, then moved to the rear of the site several years ago, making way for neighbouring homes on full sites in front. Sensitive planning helped safeguard everyone's privacy.

Though the property is smaller than it once was, it's still large, incorporating a spacious, north-facing outdoor area overlooking a beautiful solar-heated, salt-water pool. The pool is embraced by pergolas entangled with vines and a long, paved terrace, as well as a lawn that can be mowed in five minutes.

The garden within this oasis, with its own sub-tropical microclimate, offers ever-changing colour. The moment the cherry blossoms stop flowering, purple racemes of wisteria drape heavily from the pergola on the other side of the pool. Then the roses come out and the bower vine above the terrace starts to bloom.

To describe the house as a villa is somewhat misleading. It has been updated to a more contemporary design over the years, in several stages. A fire in the 1930s caused a lot of damage and many of the kauri floorboards were ripped out and replaced with rimu and particle board. The most recent owner loved the look of gleaming timber floors and laid eucalyptus flooring in the entry, hallway and family room. The only kauri boards remaining are in the semi-en suite guest bathroom off the entry foyer. The family bathroom at the other end of the house features rimu, which is not unlike the eucalyptus in board width and patina.

At one stage a spa and sauna room was added to one of the four downstairs bedrooms. It's still a popular spot, especially now bifolding cedar shutters open it up on two sides to the terrace, with the pool only metres away.

The most recent owner pushed the house out and extended the upstairs level. Hence, it gained additional space in the garage, the family area and in a dedicated adult sanctuary in the roof.

The double garage now has the benefit of good storage in the roof, as well as a workshop and big laundry behind. The open-plan family area eased further into the garden, creating space for a dining area off the large kitchen and a spacious casual lounge. Bifold windows and doors draw completely back so the room has the open-air feel of a conservatory in the summer.

While the family gathers in this large convivial space, a formal room provides a restful retreat through cavity doors. The house has gas underfloor central heating, yet a Jetmaster wood-burning fire is coveted during the winter. Pale cream curtains drape across large north-facing windows. As the sun pours inside, timber blinds help control the heat. This room also extends out to the terrace through French doors.

Beneath a tall, gracefully curved roofline, the adults realm is an elegant hideaway where the walls are painted dusky grape. About 50m of curtaining in three layers of dove grey and white drapes across the windows and the French doors, which step out to the balcony. From this lofty point, beneath a curved timber soffit, you can see many of Auckland's volcanic cones. On a clear day, you can see the Coromandel peninsula. Even the view of One Tree Hill from the tiled en suite is impressive.

But this is not only a great family home - an office positioned adjacent to the front door means the owner's medical clinic clients don't have to traipse through the house.

It's a home that has it all - a great location, convenience, space, privacy and plenty of luxurious style.

Vital statistics:

ADDRESS: 2 Shipherds Close, off Shipherds Ave, Epsom.

FEATURES: Extended and renovated villa hidden in private garden setting; five bedrooms including large master suite upstairs; office at front door; double garage with additional storage, workshop and large laundry; good outdoor living around solar-heated, salt-water swimming pool; spa and sauna room with bifold plantation shutters.

SIZE: Land area 984sq m.

TENDERS CLOSE: 4pm, November 14.

AGENT: Peter and Lisa Cleave, Unlimited Potential, Remuera. Ph Peter 529 1509 bus; 021 756 246 mob; Lisa 529 0269 bus; 0274 522 223 mob.