NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Property

Keeping outdoor scene green

NZ Herald
12 Feb, 2019 04:00 PM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

20 Kimberley Road, Epsom. Photo / Supplied

20 Kimberley Road, Epsom. Photo / Supplied

The great outdoor living experience created by the owners of this large, handsome villa had drawn many compliments from visitors — and the surprise patronage of a tradesman.

The renovated bay villa in the heart of Epsom is home to Rebecca Thomas, her husband Andrew Thomas-Dick, their three children, and labradoodle Marley.

As well as renovating elements of the 1910 home they commissioned landscapers Greenscene to overhaul the 809 sq m grounds.

These now feature lush green planting, creating privacy around the outdoor entertaining set-up with pool, spa, decks, and stretch of lawn.

Rebecca says: "We love entertaining and eating outside with people and this is perfect with the great indoor-outdoor flow and lovely garden."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The couple both run, their 12- and 16-year-old daughters do triathlons, and their 18-year-old son is a keen surfer.

20 Kimberley Road, Epsom. Photo / Supplied
20 Kimberley Road, Epsom. Photo / Supplied

"So being outdoorsy types it was important to us that the outdoors here was just as good as the indoors."

Before the kids outgrew it the property included a rear tower with flying fox, which Rececca was surprised to one day return home to find a tradesman sweeping down it.
She says: "I really didn't mind but he looked a bit sheepish."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

FOR MORE PROPERTY NEWS AND LISTINGS GO TO ONEROOF.CO.NZ

They moved to this property from a smaller Epsom home in 2005, wanting their son to be in-zone for Kohia Terrace Primary School, a short walk away. They're handy to Mt Eden, Newmarket, the airport and Cornwall Park.

Rebecca says: "We really wanted a villa and I loved this home's high ceilings which help make it feel so special." The ceilings are battened and the floors polished native timber.

Its five-bedroom spaciousness was ideal as their family grew. It welcomed lots of visitors, too, including Scottish-born Andrew's friends and relatives.

Early on the couple had front gates installed, one for pedestrians, the other for the driveway leading to the double carport.

20 Kimberley Road, Epsom. Photo / Supplied
20 Kimberley Road, Epsom. Photo / Supplied

Clipped bay trees line the front veranda. Much of the lighting is heritage style, except for the two Kartell Bloom pendants which Rebecca chose for the extra-wide hallway.

Rebecca says: "When the kids were young a neighbour asked, 'What's that funny noise coming from your place sometimes?' It was them racing up and down the hallway on their little plastic ride-on cars."

There's generous storage throughout. There are five bedrooms, including the master with en suite and his-n-hers wardrobes.

The family bathroom has a clawfoot bath. There's a separate laundry A rear guest room opens to outdoors.

The couple installed central heating, taking away the role of the character fireplace in a separate formal lounge and another fireplace in the dining room.

Rebecca says: "That separate lounge is a lovely place for Andrew and I to enjoy quiet time together."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
20 Kimberley Road, Epsom. Photo / Supplied
20 Kimberley Road, Epsom. Photo / Supplied

The open-plan living/kitchen area has a renovated kitchen harbouring a wide oven and flows out to outdoor entertaining. A rumpus/gym room downstairs is accessed from one side of the home.

A tilting umbrella can shield the rear outdoor dining area, or be angled to view the setting sun.

Landscaping includes full rear fencing masked with mature trees and climbers. A side stretch of lawn good for children to play incorporates a pebbled trampoline area.

Rebecca says: "It's pretty, green and private out here with an outdoor sound system, lighting and plenty of room to sit or lie around the decks."

Their son is off to Otago University this year and as both daughters attend St Kentigern College, Rebecca and Andrew know they're not utilising their double grammar zoning and think they will move a little closer to the girls' school.

20 KIMBERLEY RD, EPSOM
• 5 bedrooms, 2 bathroom, 2 parking spaces.
• Land 809sq m, house approx 231 sq m
• Auction: 6pm Wednesday 27th February at 95 Manukau Road, Epsom (unless sold prior).
• Inspect: Sat/Sun 2-2.30pm.
• Schools: Kohia Terrace School, Auckland Normal Intermediate, Auckland Grammar, Epsom Girls' Grammar.
• Contact: Mike Robson, Harcourts, 021 484 288 and Lorraine Marshall, 027 349 6969.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from Property

Property

Buyers scratching their heads over sale of multi-million-dollar home

Property

'Bittersweet': Kiwi rich-lister sells neighbouring mansions for over $28m

Property

Like Queenstown but 'normal': tiny lakeside town where houses are cheaper and buyers pay in cash


Sponsored

Tired of missing out on getting to global summits to help grow your business?

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Property

Buyers scratching their heads over sale of multi-million-dollar home
Property

Buyers scratching their heads over sale of multi-million-dollar home

The award-winning property sits on a 3.37ha section surrounded by suburbia.

16 Jul 02:00 AM
'Bittersweet': Kiwi rich-lister sells neighbouring mansions for over $28m
Property

'Bittersweet': Kiwi rich-lister sells neighbouring mansions for over $28m

15 Jul 06:24 PM
Like Queenstown but 'normal': tiny lakeside town where houses are cheaper and buyers pay in cash
Property

Like Queenstown but 'normal': tiny lakeside town where houses are cheaper and buyers pay in cash

15 Jul 08:19 AM


Tired of missing out on getting to global summits to help grow your business?
Sponsored

Tired of missing out on getting to global summits to help grow your business?

14 Jul 04:48 AM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP