Remuera: Ahead of its time

She may have seen some changes over the years, but this old girl is looking as good as new. By VICKI HOLDER.

Horace Massey would have approved of the alterations that have taken place around this property since he designed the home in 1929. Each renovation has sensitively incorporated modern improvements with a sympathetic eye to the original traditional English style. Consequently, nothing seems out of place.

Even the garden, which the present owners have reworked to suit their laid-back lifestyle, is structured along formal, classical lines. Its simple materials and quiet planting complement the feel of the house.

Standing slightly below the road, the home has always looked quintessentially English. It stands upright, like a little doll's house clad in exposed cedar weatherboards with a tall, pitched, tiled roof. It's only at the back and inside that the changes have taken place.

The most significant alteration was by architect Robert Railley in the 1980s. Existing living areas were extended north to the rear. He added a delightful conservatory with terracotta-tiled flooring off the formal lounge. On the other side, he put steps down from a revamped kitchen to a casual living area.

Adding a fireplace on a hearth surrounded by shelves on the walls, this cosy room with pale oak parquet floors has the warm, inviting feel of a library. While lovely in winter, it opens outdoors on one side, making it cool and airy in summer.

Railley also extended further along the property with a separate guest suite or office opening through french doors to the garden. The present owners use the space as an office for there are already three generous bedrooms and two bathrooms upstairs.

The 1980s kitchen is separate from the other living areas with a huge floor-to-ceiling wall of storage snaking along the room. As it sits next door to the dining room, it would be no great loss to sacrifice a small bit of this storage to create a handy link for serving meals.

The current owners have repainted all the walls for a more cohesive, cool, alabaster backdrop enhanced by simple, elegant curtains. White plantation shutters dress up a bay window in the lounge.

They have also removed some of the big trees to open the back garden to the sun. A quartzite pool set among terracotta tiles maximises the enjoyment of this peaceful and private rear section. An outdoor fireplace lets them linger 'til late in the evening, undisturbed by neighbours or traffic noise.

It's surprising just how quiet it is here. Much has to do with the way the house is positioned on the section and the solid nature of the building. However, the designers purposely avoided putting windows in the walls on the roadside of the house. You might think it would make the interiors dark, but it doesn't affect the light, for it pours in from the back and side.

Horace Massey was an architect ahead of his time. Features like the abundant storage cupboards and internal access from the entry foyer to garaging below are standard today, but seldom found in most older homes. As keen boaties, the owners have treated the lower level to a nautical look, cladding the walls in painted tongue-and-groove that requires little maintenance.

The gardens in front were replanted to include mass-planted, sweet-smelling gardenias under the jacaranda and crabapple trees to lure guests to the front door.

This romantic character home of immense charm is all set to steal somebody's heart.

Vital Statistics

ADDRESS: 738 Remuera Rd, Remuera.

FEATURES: English character home by architect Horace Massey built in 1929; beautiful leadlights; two fireplaces; four bedrooms - three upstairs with separate guest suite or office downstairs; three bathrooms plus powder room; formal lounge opening to conservatory and casual sitting room; separate dining room; garage for cars with internal access through laundry; level, landscaped garden with pool and outdoor fireplace.

SIZE: Land area 1007sq m.

TENDER CLOSES: 4pm, March 11.

AGENT: Leila Macdonald, Barfoot & Thompson, Remuera. Ph 524 0149 bus; 021 928 926 mob.