Remuera: Cleverly crafted

This striking home with timeless appeal unfolds to reveal hidden pleasures. By CHARLOTTE COSSAR.

Offering an idyllic lifestyle in the heart of Remuera, this house halfway down popular Seaview Rd is strategically placed to maximise outdoor entertaining with stunning views of Rangitoto Island and the harbour, as well as provide a multitude of living spaces.

Set slightly back from the road, the entrance is impressive with tall columns defining guests' arrival. Strong lines are created through tiles that sweep up the stairs to the double-height portico. Bordered by lush plants, visual interest is achieved through the strong horizontal lines of the structure and through the spectacular front door.

Formerly from a church, the kauri doors - which originally had glass insets that have been replaced with matching wood - open to the entry. A wall of glazing floods the area with natural light and reveals the two wings of the house. Stepping down to the private domain or up to the living area, the entrance, flush with tiles and looking out over a terrace beneath, marks the start of an exciting journey.

On one side are two double bedrooms, a study or single bedroom and an award-winning bathroom.

Extensive glazing lights the hall and, through doors, opens to a terrace joining the two bedroom wings. All with wooden shutters, the bedrooms have adequate storage and are decorated with neutral decor.

The bathroom is impressive. Unusual in detailing, it is a pleasant reprieve from glass and tiles.

A shining example of how versatile stainless steel is, the corner shower and the bath surround look fantastic. The shower, with a porthole frosted window, reflects the room creating a sense of space, and the white bath is stunningly offset by the chunky edging of the stainless casing. An oval tilting mirror breaks the linear lines and sits above a generous basin with a wide lip ideal for displaying bathing accessories.

Sweeping through this area and over to the other side are the original floorboards of the house that was demolished and rebuilt from the ground up.

The master bedroom wing is capacious. Also opening to the terrace, the room has a large walk-in wardrobe and generous en suite. Bathing is a pleasure in the double walk-in shower graced with mosaic tiles, while on the other side privacy is provided for the toilet through the continued wall. Fronting this wall, double oval sinks sit in a large vanity, and a chrome ladder towel rail continues the stainless theme.

The bedroom has vast sliding windows and shutters, which both peel back to reveal the sea and Rangitoto.

A generous-sized laundry with access to the double garage has quality storage and is flush with a stainless benchtop.

The stainless steel detailing is not the only theme of this exceptional home. Throughout, square windows complement the pitched and double-height ceilings and offer visual interest.

Upstairs, the generous living area, with its pitched ceiling, is a relaxing and comfortable space. It successfully houses the kitchen, dining area and lounge, and opens to a vast deck with jaw-dropping views of Auckland's most famous island.

The award-winning kitchen is an entertainer's dream. Gleaming with stainless steel, used for cabinetry, benchtops and in appliances, a large island with a small upstand delicately hides the workings behind. Along the back wall, cupboards hide cooking essentials and clutter, and pull-out organisers keep ingredients in order. An Ilve four-burner cooker takes a central position.

Symmetrically positioned under the roofline, the kitchen floats effortlessly, yet visually grounds the whole living space. On both sides, sliding windows and shutters allow natural light and air to flood the area, and small rectangular windows above the double bifold doors that lead to the deck provide ventilation year-round. However, with a timber sarked overhang on the deck, entertaining can always be enjoyed outdoors.

Optimising sensational living with cleverly crafted public and private space, this home in one of Remuera's popular streets exemplifies the best of modern lifestyles.

Vital Statistics

ADDRESS: 75 Seaview Rd, Remuera.

FEATURES: Ken Crosson-designed home with exceptional views of Rangitoto; three bedrooms and a study (or four bedrooms); two bathrooms; award-winning stainless-steel kitchen; laundry; central vacuum; outdoor entertaining areas, including a terrace and a deck; landscaped gardens; internal-access double garage; central vacuum; copper pipes; central heating.

SIZE: 579sq m.

TENDER CLOSES: 4pm, March 25.

AGENTS: Bryce Holmes and Barry Thom, Unlimited Potential, Remuera. Ph 529 1478 bus; Bryce 524 6009 ah; 021 908 293 mob; Barry 529 1031 ah; 0274 921 747 mob.