When Kylie and Matt Skilton used to walk past this house they would admire its traditional lines and wide street frontage.
Six years ago, walking home from St Heliers village, the couple saw it was for sale — their search for a bigger home was over.
They soon found something else special about it: it has two two street frontages, to Benbow St and Devore St.
The house is relatively new to St Heliers — it was barged across the Waitematā Harbour from Takapuna around 20 years ago and is thought to be more than 100 years old.
"It's a distinctive character home that stands out in the street," says Steve Williams, of Ray White.
Says Matt: "At this end of the street there's a steep incline and this deters a lot of through traffic, which has made it a lot safer for kids riding bikes." Says Kylie "It's a great atmosphere here."
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The couple have modernised the home, its deck and garden for easy entertaining and family living.
This wraparound deck is on both sides of the kitchen/dining area. Nearby is a vege garden and a hinged decklid hides the below-ground sandpit.
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Further round, there's a netball hoop the couple's two school-age daughters have used.
It's near the double carport and steps that lead to the family room.
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The casual lounge with its large corner windows attracts the late afternoon sun. In keeping with utility areas at the rear, the laundry is behind a roller door, next to a storage cupboard under stairs.
The changes they've made are most evident at the front of the house. They've re-orientated the kitchen to bring in more natural light through new windows above the stainless steel servery bench.
There's toe-kick lighting under the perimeter cupboards and the same high-quality features and fixtures in the large scullery behind a cavity sliding door.
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Throughout the ground floor, they sourced timber to match the existing American oak.
The result is a seamless connection from the front door, the ground floor guest bedroom and en suite into their kitchen/dining area and the extended lounge with gas fireplace.
A work transfer to Tauranga means Matt and Kylie have had to change plans. And in a stroke of good luck, they have already found a house.
57 DEVORE ST, ST HELIERS
• 4 bedrooms, 3 bathroom, 2 parking spaces.
• Sale: Set date of sale July 4
• Contact: Steve Williams, Ray White, 027 295 6153; Caroline Yau, 021 618 211
* PLUS OFF-STREET PARKING
