Remuera: Unbeatable

Its location, views, luxuries and unusual terraced floor plan make this home extra special, writes VICKI HOLDER.

Following the contours of Mt Hobson, this dramatic, modern home steps up the hill for panoramic city and twin harbour views from its parade of sunny rooms.

Nestled peacefully at the top of a quiet, very private, leafy right-of-way in Remuera, the house claims nearly all of the available land. From boundary to boundary, it takes full advantage of its beautiful aspect.

All four bedrooms and the living areas face north, spilling out onto small, private balconies and wrapping around a stunning heated weir pool. Traffic and utility areas are the only spaces that forgo the sun and views, as they are sensibly arranged along the south side.

Such a compact property ensures minimum work around the garden - perfect for owners who spend most of their time working and travelling overseas. But young children don't miss out when they're at home. Through a gate from the easy-care garden, the living areas extend to wide, open, farmland on Mt Hobson.

It's a sophisticated home with beautifully decorated, serenely elegant rooms in pale colours offset by darker feature walls in muddy tones.

Although it's only nine years old, the house was recently refurbished with a new Italian kitchen from Creazioni and Italian bathroom fittings. When the owners were making changes they also installed a two-person lift leading from the triple-car basement garaging to the main living level on the middle floor.

The large, tawa-floored entry bypasses generous storage cupboards and two double bedrooms, which share a bathroom between them. Like the other bathrooms in the house, it's warmed in winter by heated floor tiles. A dark-stained timber veneer vanity is matched by a timber and glass storage tower on the wall. The door and drawers are opened with simple, little, metal door pulls. Sculptural pewter and chrome tapware and a cone-shaped, white, porcelain toilet add elegant finishing touches.

Stairs rise to another bedroom with a built-in desk and an en suite. The master suite is on another level up. Bigger and more luxurious than the other two bathrooms, the master en suite features a wall-to-wall, double, glass shower with an array of interesting shower heads. There's also a bath where the owners can soak beneath the window. A spectacular curved glass vanity is supported by heavy stainless-steel arms joined by a towel rail.

A galley kitchen connects the private spaces with the public areas of the house, which are accessed by different flights of stairs. Beside a small casual breakfast area, it looks across a black granite benchtop through a semi-enclosed balcony with a window that frames sweeping views. It features the latest, sleek Italian design in a smart combination of cream lacquer enriched by the warm tones of cherry wood. The double Smeg oven and gas hob are enclosed in a broad cooking recess beneath a robust, square, stainless-steel extractor. It's not just the dishwasher and fridge that are integrated behind cupboards, as the laundry whiteware and a sink are inconspicuous at one end. The drawers glide open and shut with exceptional ease, and the pantry cupboards have roll-out metal drawers so you don't have to reach into dark corners to find things.

The low, arched ceiling of the kitchen opens to a tall, pitched roofline, where a relaxed family sitting area is heated by a gas fire. Open the gracious Georgian-style bifold doors and step straight into the white marble swimming pool.

As it continues climbing the hill, the tiled living area leads to a sunny, formal, dining space. It's overlooked through a balustrade and pillars by a formal lounge, which opens through french doors to a terrace and neatly groomed lawn. In soothing sea foam colours, the lounge is a wonderful place to entertain. Flowing between the indoors and out, it offers complete privacy with panoramic views from one of the highest residential points in Auckland.

An unusual home with its terraced floor plan climbing towards the sky, it reminds you of idyllic holidays spent in the little villages of Europe. A location such as this elsewhere in Auckland would be hard to find, which means the home would be virtually impossible to recreate.

Vital Statistics

ADDRESS: 231 Remuera Rd, Remuera.

FEATURES: Modern home on compact site at end of private right-of-way; refurbished with top-of-the-line Italian bathroom fittings and new cherry wood kitchen; panoramic twin harbour and city views; heated, white marble swimming pool; tawa floors; four bedrooms, two with en suites and two sharing semi-en suite; family and formal living areas with family and formal dining areas; gas fireplace; access to farmland on Mt Hobson.

SIZE: Approx 280sq m, excluding balconies.

TENDER CLOSES: June 25.

AGENT: Linda Galbraith, Harcourts, Parnell. Ph 307 2320 bus; 021 966 028 mob.