Remuera: An easy life

An owner who wanted to go modern has created a city home of distinction where convenience and luxury sit side by side.

By VICKI HOLDER.

When Peter Bolot decided to move on from memories associated with his beautiful family home on the northern slopes of Remuera, he didn't move far. A large property became conveniently available just a few doors up the road, sheltering beneath Mt Hobson.

"I liked the area and views very much and it was close to my work," says Peter, who has a dental practice in Newmarket.

As to the style of the house, Peter opted for a totally new direction. His previous home was a grand, two-storey home - the essence of English tradition and "quite feminine".

Says Peter: "I was looking for something more hard-edged and functional for a man living alone. I wanted to go modern and had seen [Brent] Hulena's work. Discussions with him confirmed he was easy to work with. He also allowed a strong input from the owner."

Although Peter sought change, there are things about his old home reflected in the new. The Brent Hulena design in many ways mirrors the traditional, formal room arrangement of Peter's old house, simply because it worked so well.

As in the old home, a cosy book-lined library still sits to the right of the entry - an enticing place to curl up with a book or watch TV in peace. To the left of the foyer, soaking up the sun and views, a series of adjacent formal and family living areas line up along the sunny northern aspect, separate but linked through cavity doors. The living areas overlook a stretch of lawn and step down to a gas-heated swimming pool.

Another aspect that has been repeated is the stud height, which was particularly important for Peter, being a tall man. "I really like the volume created by the stud heights. And while no room is very large, there's a feeling of light and space."

Letting northern light stream inside, floor-to-ceiling glass doors open every room to terraces and a panoramic view over Remuera to the harbour. Even the bedrooms on the second level open to decks so the entire house seems to flow outdoors. Yet between the windows and doors, there is still plenty of wall space for Peter's substantial collection of art and decorations.

One of the best things about building the new home was being able to incorporate many innovations and luxuries that would have been far more difficult to include in his previous home. For a start there is the security aspect. A tall fence surrounds the house and access is only through electric entry gates controlled by remote or from video phones.

Inside the gates, visitors encounter a tall floor-to-ceiling entry door that opens to a massive, light-filled foyer lined in pale, textured limestone. Limestone floors throughout the ground floor living areas are heated to ensure the home is particularly warm in winter. Air conditioning was also incorporated.

While the formal entertaining areas are all light and bright, the kitchen reminds that this is the business end of the house in contrasting sombre tones. Tall benches and the splashback are fashioned from concrete terrazzo, giving a sense of strength and durability. Cooking takes place on the double Ilve oven that sits behind a long, deep island bench and breakfast bar. Stone-hued cabinetry and stainless-steel appliances blend into the moody colour scheme, while lights behind glass door fronts introduce vibrancy. Bifold doors slide across the terrazzo benchtop for easy access to the shelves inside.

Handy to the kitchen, a huge laundry makes a practical work room, offering generous floor-to-ceiling storage space along one wall.

Limestone stairs march up through the foyer to arrive at a skylit landing where floors switch to the rich, traditional look of dark-stained timber.

Peter's bedroom takes up an expansive area on the sunny north-west corner merging with a home office. Both his dressing room and bathroom are generous. The bath and shower enjoy the warmth of the sunlight behind large panes of frosted glass designed for privacy. The Duravit bathroomware includes a bidet.

Two more bedrooms have en suites and large wardrobes. When Peter's children, grandchildren and guests come to stay, nobody needs to queue for bathrooms or feel hemmed in. The spaces are ample yet still there's more under-utilised space downstairs in large rooms beside the double garaging. One of these rooms, which opens to a covered terrace and the garden, is used as a gym. Combined, the whole area offers flexibility. There's space for a media room or perhaps a self-contained apartment for teenagers or guests.

Large, modern and extremely luxurious, Peter Bolot's city home is as practical and convenient for a large family as it is for a single man seeking to make life easy for himself.

Vital Statistics

ADDRESS: 1 Westbourne Rd, Remuera.

FEATURES: Modern, two-year-old home designed by architect Brent Hulena with harbour views; three double bedrooms with adjoining office; three bathrooms, including one en suite plus extra guest bathroom; formal lounge, dining and family area; library; large extra rooms downstairs - possible media room and self-contained apartment; internal-access double garage; air conditioning; heated limestone floors; gas-heated pool; security gates with remote and video entry; close to Remuera, Newmarket and Parnell.

SIZE: Floor area 395sq m.

PRICE: $3 million to $3.5 million.

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