West Harbour - Dream run

A couple are reluctantly leaving behind their dream home now that it's too big for them.

68 Seacrest Drive, West Harbour.For the past four years, Warwick and Heather Jones have had their own slice of heaven.

The stunning home they built in West Harbour was designed and constructed to their exact specifications and has one of the best views in Auckland.

They didn't stint on anything and ended up with a luxurious, spacious house that's very comfortable to live in. It really is, says Heather, their dream home.

``I still keep looking around and thinking to myself, `Why on earth are we selling? This place is incredible','' she says, gazing out of the sliding doors in the dining room across the pool to the Waitemata Harbour and the Auckland cityscape.

However, perfect as the house is, it's now simply too big for the couple. When they built it, three of the four children they have between them were living at home. Now that the offspring have flown the nest, they've decided to downsize.

``It's such a waste for just the two of us,'' says Heather. ``We tend to use only a handful of rooms.''

The couple bought the section for its superb waterfront location - an added bonus is being able to look out the windows and see their boat moored at the nearby West Harbour Marina.

They had some very definite ideas about the house they wanted to build. It had to make the most of the view and be big, with lots of open spaces, but not a ``huge mausoleum with pillars.'' Plus it had to be built using lots of natural material such as stone, wood and copper.

``I wanted something that would look very contemporary and become a classic - not a house that was dated in a few years.''

The Joneses were thrilled with the way their architect Claire Walker listened to their brief.
``She definitely made the most of the view,'' says Heather. ``You can see it from so many rooms in the house, even the guest bathroom.

She thought of little things like putting a glass balustrade on the landing upstairs so when you come up the stairs you can see straight out to the window and the view beyond.''

Downstairs, the formal double-height sitting room, the dining rooms and the informal lounge all have sliding doors opening up to the infinity pool and sandstone patio, and views across the harbour.

The guest bedroom and bathroom on this level also share the same view. The open plan kitchen, which is both smart and practical, is the hub of the house, adjoining all the living areas.

``I love open plan living,'' says Heather. ``I hate the idea of being shut away in the kitchen cooking and not being a part of what's going on in the rest of the house.''

Off the kitchen there's another small sitting area which opens up to a sheltered courtyard that's great for barbecuing and al fresco dining. Also downstairs is an office with an outside entry that would be ideal for anyone working from home.

From the impressive entrance lobby, stairs lead up to a huge landing where sunshine pours in through skylights.

There are four bedrooms up here, although one is now used as a gym and another became a living area for the kids when they were still at home. The master bedroom has a huge en suite and, of course, spectacular city views.

Outside, the house has been beautifully landscaped. There's no lawn to mow, but it does look over a small grassy council reserve that leads down to the water.

``You get the benefits of a lawn without having to do the hard work,'' says Heather.

That piece of land can't be built on, so the house will never lose its amazing views.

``It really is an idyllic spot, and we think the house does it justice,'' says Heather.

VITAL STATISTICS

BEDROOMS: 5

BATHROOMS: 3

GARAGES: 3

SIZE: Land 895sqm, house 460sqm.

PRICE INDICATION: Expressions of interest expected over $1.8 million. Auction September 9.

INSPECT: Sat/Sun 1-1.45pm.

ON THE WEB: www.harcourts.co.nz # HO060806

CONTACT: Sue Noonan, Harcourts, ph 0274 752 012, 416 8176 bus.

FEATURES: Four-year-old plaster and weatherboard home featuring Kiwi schist, copper downpipes and kwila floors. Security gates, wine cellar, internal-access triple garaging, underfloor heating.